There can be a fine line between inviting and pestering. “Should” is a tricky word.

For example, experienced vendors at Farmers Markets know the difference.

  • They display their wares in a hygienic (if selling food products) and attractive manner.
  • Their product pricing and labelling is clear.
  • They offer samples if you approach the table, and are happy to answer questions.
  • They are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their products.
  • They are willing to engage in conversation and focus on human interaction in the moment, whether or not you buy (because if you don’t buy the first time, you might become a customer the next time, or even the time after that).

They don’t tell you that you are stupid if you don’t buy their wares. They don’t badmouth their fellow vendors with competitive products. They don’t follow you around the market (or Twitter) as you browse.

People like to happen upon delightful discoveries, rather than have things shoved in their faces. Even Facebook and Instagram ads try to add value to the platform user’s experience (a funny story, a cute photo, an inspirational message, etc.). If expertly presented, you might even leave with the feeling of something gained rather than something lost (i.e. time and attention you could have devoted to something else instead of being ambushed/pitched).

p.s. I have fallen into the trap of overenthusiastic coin “evangelist” before, like tipping people who have demonstrated zero interest in Bitcoin, before establishing some sort of personal relationship or trust. On the flip side, I recently received an unwanted Nano tip and had to self reflect on the experience.

p.p.s. Sometimes I still listen to content created by people such as Andreas Antonopoulos, to understand the messaging that is being broadcast in the BTC hub and spokes social network. Today, it was an interview on the What Bitcoin Did podcast with Pete McCormack. In the interview, Andreas described the “Bitcoin maximalism” position as being “intolerant” and “doctrinal”, and ridiculed the “There will be only one” mantra as being “Highlander maximalism”. So even though the BSV maximalist position makes sense to me, and perhaps eventually for companies that want use new business paradigms to increase efficiencies and save money, the average person is turned off by hounding (especially if they have pre-established opinions on which Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies they prefer). I do see potential in BSV but while projects and businesses are in their infancy or beta phase, it seems premature to push/”evangelize”. *cough* Lightning torch *cough*

p.p.p.s. None of this probably matters if BSV adoption occurs at the enterprise level (and not initially with mainstream retail consumers, even though Bitcoin is not a product).