Talk:Blockchain/Archive 4

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Initial explanations

After sharpening the definition as explained under the threads "What is a blockchain and how to define it" and "Definition regarding a technical solution vs. definition regarding use" the initial explanations must be improved (by careful changes to the existing formulations) to achieve consistency. Generally the initial explanations shall help to understand the definition and its context. On the other hand leads the context over for the concrete descriptions in the following sections. Therefore I suggest the following improvements to the initial explanations, basing on example 1 "A blockchain[1][2][3] – originally block chain[4][5] – is a continuously growing list[6] of records, called blocks[6], which are cryptographically[1] secure linked[6].": Stefan Konst (talk) 21:00, 2 August 2017 (UTC)

  • By following the order in the definition we should first explain (as to date) the contents of a block. It is ok for me when we are here more concrete, but in my opinion we must let open other solutions which could be described below the initial explanations: "Each block contains typically a hash pointer as a link to a previous block[6], a timestamp and transaction data[7]."
  • Then we should explain the special characteristic of the links (cryptograhpically secure) and move the explanations regarding the network behind this and the next: "By design, blockchains are inherently resistant to modification of the data."
  • Then we should move the typical use to this position, because this explains the motivation why we are talking about inherently resistance and peer-to-peer behind: 'Functionally, a blockchain can serve as "an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way."[8]'
  • Then we can explain how the blockchain is used for it: "For use as a distributed ledger a blockchain is typically managed by a peer-to-peer network collectively adhering to a protocol for validating new blocks. Once recorded, the data in any given block cannot be altered retroactively without the alteration of all subsequent blocks and a collusion of the network majority."

This disentangled explanations regarding the technical solution and the typical use are then the base for all following descriptions. Stefan Konst (talk) 21:00, 2 August 2017 (UTC)

Oppose per the explanation above. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 09:01, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
Are you interested in improvements or not? The old definition and explanations were confusing and inconsistent. Do you really think Wikipedia should give confusing and inconsistent explanations? If you think that the new structure can be improved then explain what you want to change and why. Stefan Konst (talk) 23:28, 5 August 2017 (UTC)

What is a blockchain and how to define it

Although Wikipedia articles should be based mainly on reliable secondary sources (see WP:IRS) and Wikipedia articles must not contain original research (see WP:NOR) this article is not a copy of one single source. The authors of this article have to collect, evaluate and arrange the sources, which becomes difficulty if the sources are making deviating definitions but are describing the same. Stefan Konst (talk) 21:14, 27 July 2017 (UTC)

  • Problem 1: In my opinion the actual definition of "blockchain" in this article ("A blockchain[1][2][3] – originally block chain[4][5] – is a distributed database that is used to maintain a continuously growing list of records, called blocks.[6]") is such a case. It is not cited word by word from a source and the referenced sources are making deviating definitions, but are describing more or less the same (see the list below). This leads to the following problems: Stefan Konst (talk) 21:14, 27 July 2017 (UTC)
" It is not cited word by word from a source" - of course it is not cited word for word from a source - it would have been a WP:copyvio otherwise. However, the claims in it are confirmed by many independent reliable secondary sources. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 08:34, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
Please, I think "fair use" is not unknown to you. The citation after "Functionally..." wouldn't be legal otherwise. But that is not the real problem. The problem is, as described, the deviations and the evaluation of the sources. Stefan Konst (talk) 22:47, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
  • Problem 2: If you look at the word then it consists of "block" and "chain". While "block" is defined in this definition of "blockchain" as a "record", you find no definition of "chain". "chain" must be abstracted by the reader from the following explanation that "each block contains [...] a link to a previous block". Stefan Konst (talk) 21:14, 27 July 2017 (UTC)
'you find no definition of "chain"' - That is because what shall be and is defined is blockchain, not chain, and it has to be defined in the way confirmed by reliable sources, not in the way you, as an unreliable source, approve. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 08:36, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
I have analysed the problem. That is ok for a discussion and that is what we have to do when we collect, evaluate and arrange the sources (see above). Why do you accuse me for things that I hadn't done? If you read the suggested solutions then you will find a perfect reliable secondary source. Which I have then used as the base and improved it with another reliable secondary source. Stefan Konst (talk) 22:47, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
  • Problem 3: You have to read one other explanation until you can read an explanation of the special characteristic ("inherently resistant to modification of the data") of a blockchain. But there is no hint or explanation on what the resistance relies. Stefan Konst (talk) 21:14, 27 July 2017 (UTC)
I do not doubt your motivations are honest, but you are too much placing yourself as a reliable source on how the definition shall look. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 08:38, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
I have analysed another little problem. That is also ok. And why shouldn't I write about problems which I and others have solved many years ago? Stefan Konst (talk) 22:47, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
  • Problem 4: On the other side the definition contains with "distributed database" and "list" a duplicate because "database" ("organized collection") is an alternative/generalization to "list". Stefan Konst (talk) 21:14, 27 July 2017 (UTC)
I see that, in contrast to reliable sources (some of them academic), you are after removing the "distributed database" characteristic from the definition. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 08:41, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
And why don't you have cited them? I and others don't know what there is in your mind (and would be a violation of WP:IRS). I have no problem with "database" instead of "list". "list" was the word which was used by the academic source [6] (see the list of referenced sources below). Stefan Konst (talk) 22:47, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
BTW, the differentiation is already done with the distributed ledger article. Stefan Konst (talk) 05:51, 6 August 2017 (UTC)
  • Problem 5: "database" isn't used in the definitions of the referenced sources, but is a generalization to the used word "ledger". Stefan Konst (talk) 21:14, 27 July 2017 (UTC)
The term "database" is used by reliable sources, as I demostrated at this talk page, so this statement is not based on verifiable facts. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 08:43, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
I wrote "definitions of the referenced sources". I had listed the referenced definitions below and there is no "database". So I fear that your statement is misleading. Please consider also "Definition regarding a technical solution vs. definition regarding use". Stefan Konst (talk) 22:47, 5 August 2017 (UTC)

Suggestion for solution: Stefan Konst (talk) 21:14, 27 July 2017 (UTC)

  • If there is no source for a definition which solves the problems 2, 3 and 4 the authors of this article must find a consensus for an intermediate solution until such source is available.
  • "block" and "chain" must be part of the definition.
  • The special characteristic of a blockchain must be part of its definition.
  • The definition must not contain duplicates. (What could also be a solution for problem 5.)

Suggestion for an intermediate defintion, following the suggested solution: Stefan Konst (talk) 21:14, 27 July 2017 (UTC)

  • Remove the duplicate ("distributed database"): "A blockchain[1][2][3] – originally block chain[4][5] – is a continuously growing list[6] of records, called blocks[6]."
  • Define the "chain", for example:
"...called blocks[6], which are linked[6]."
  • Add the special characteristic, for example:
1.: "...called blocks[6], which are cryptographically[1] secure linked[6]." or
2.: "...called blocks[6], which are linked[6] in a cryptographically[1] secure way." or
3.: "...called blocks[6], which are linked[6] by cryptographic techniques[1]." or
4.: "...called blocks[6], which are chained by cryptographic[1] links[6]." or
5.: "...called blocks[6], which are linked[6] by hash pointers[6]."

Example 5 shows, that the definition could be completely (I have no problem with the uncited "continuously growing" and "record" instead of "data structure" in [6]) based on an improved defintion of the definition from [6]. I would prefer to replace "hash pointers" by citing [1] as suggested in example 1, 2, 3 or 4 to express the special characteristic, in which example 1 is my favorite. Stefan Konst (talk) 21:14, 27 July 2017 (UTC)

"If there is no source for a definition which solves the problems 2, 3 and 4 the authors of this article must find a consensus for an intermediate solution until such source is available." - so, first you try to attack the definition based on reliable sources, and now you claim that an unreliable definition should be assembled instead? That is not how Wikipedia works. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 08:46, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
No, the old defintion wasn't based on reliable sources. It was a misleading and unexplained mixture from differing sources of a technical solution and its use which couldn't be found in that form in the sources. Are you the author of the old definition? I fear that you want to protect your own idea of that what a blockchain should be, but that is not how Wikipedia works. Stefan Konst (talk) 22:47, 5 August 2017 (UTC)

The characteristic "distributed" could be inserted before "list": "...a continuously growing distributed list of records...". But in my opinion "distributed" should not be part of the defintion, but of the following explanation, because distributed could be misinterpreted (just as in the context of "database") in the way if copies of the list are distributed or if the elements of the list are distributed. Stefan Konst (talk) 21:14, 27 July 2017 (UTC)

'in my opinion "distributed" should not be part of the defintion, but of the following explanation, because distributed could be misinterpreted' - aha, nevermind that reliable sources define blockchain as a distributed database. You have got reasons why you don't want that characteristic to be mentioned. Clever but not adhering to WP:NPOV. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 08:50, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
The examples defines the blockchain regarding the technical solution and not regarding its use. Otherwise the citation after "Functionally..." wouldn't make sense. I fear you don't consider the context of the definition and its initial explanations (see also the thread "Initial explanations"). Stefan Konst (talk) 22:47, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
BTW, the differentiation is already done with the distributed ledger article. Stefan Konst (talk) 05:57, 6 August 2017 (UTC)

All following explanations are regarding to the definition above and their border. Following explanations can't be arranged well, if the definition and their border isn't clear, as the next threads shows. So, please let us cleanup the definition to solve the problems below and to improve the explanations following the definition. Stefan Konst (talk) 21:14, 27 July 2017 (UTC)

List of cited definitions: Stefan Konst (talk) 21:14, 27 July 2017 (UTC)

[1]: "But the cryptographic technology that underlies bitcoin, called the "blockchain", has applications well beyond cash and currency.", followed by explanations how the "bitcoin blockchain" works and "Most of the data in the blockchain are about bitcoin. But they do not have to be.".
[2]: "But rather than existing solely as legal documents, those bylaws are hard-coded into a blockchain—a cloud-based, secure financial ledger, of which Bitcoin is the most famous example.", followed by general use of "blockchain" without reference to the "bitcoin blockchain".
[3]: "Most Wall Street firms and many central banks are experimenting with the blockchain, the online ledger system that Bitcoin and Ether pioneered. Banks hope the blockchain, or something like it...", followed by description of D.A.O.
[4]: "Every transaction that occurs in the bitcoin economy is registered in a public, distributed ledger, which is called the block chain.", followed by explanations how bitcoin and the "bitcoin blockchain" works.
[5]: Technical description how "the block chain" is constructed in the original source of bitcoin.
[6]: "Figure 1.5 shows a linked list using hash pointers. We call this data structure a block chain."
In difference to the discussions under "Request for revision" and "Problems with existing formulations" above cited [6] is now from the book which was cited in the discussions instead of the reference to Investopedia. Stefan Konst (talk) 14:14, 28 July 2017 (UTC)

Definition regarding a technical solution vs. definition regarding use

The duplicate of "database" regarding "list" (Problem 4 of the thread "What is a blockchain and how to define it") indicates that the actual definition is a concatenation/mixture of a definition regarding a technical solution by adding a definition regarding use. This mixture can't be found by the cited sources:

  • [1], [5] and [6] are definitions regarding a technical solution (cryptography, "list").
  • [2], [3] and [4] are definitions regarding the use as a ledger ("database").

This concatenation/mixture is not acceptable because it is breaking the rules (WP:NOR and WP:IRS) and it could consternate the reader, which is here to find clearness. Stefan Konst (talk) 13:42, 28 July 2017 (UTC)

In my opinion this article should define the blockchain regarding a technical solution as described in the thread "What is a blockchain and how to describe it" and we have to decide if

  1. we want to create a second article which defines the blockchain regarding use ("A blockchain is a crytographically[1] secure ledger[2][3][4].") or
  2. we sharpen the citation of the description "Functionally, a blockchain can serve as..." and stop the citation after "permanent way", because programmability is a possible characteristic of the ledger, which in my opinion must not be described here.

I would prefer the second way because the work of Anderson gives an inspiration that a "cryptographically secure ledger" could be based on ohter technical solutions as described by Haber & Stornetta and Schneier& Kelsey. Stefan Konst (talk) 13:42, 28 July 2017 (UTC)

"this article should define the blockchain regarding a technical solution" - this suggests violating the WP:NPOV, trying to suppress claims from many reliable sources. That is why I oppose it. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 08:59, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
No, it doesn't suppress the other sources and doesn't violates the WP:NPOV. The explanation of the relation between the technical solution and its use can be directly found after the definition. The old definition violates the WP:NPOV because technical solution and use were mixed and you can't describe the views when you can't explain the differences. Please be more constructive. What do you think about one article regarding the technical solution ([1], [5] and [6]) and one article regarding use ([2], [3] and [4])? Stefan Konst (talk) 23:15, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
"What do you think about one article regarding the technical solution ([1], [5] and [6]) and one article regarding use ([2], [3] and [4])?" - I am now certain that you do not understand Wikipedia policies. Per WP:NPOV, this is not how the information shall be treated. Relevant information must be represented in the corresponding proportion, i.e. not segregated to some separate article. Also, regarding the purported continuity of blockchain research predating 2009: any source predating 2009 is a primary source on itself, and if such a source does not even use the word blockchain, we cannot use it as a history source unless the relevance is established by some independent reliable secondary source. I see secondary sources establishing the relevance of Haber/Stornetta's articles for the blockchain notion, but I do not see any secondary sources establishing the relevance of the other articles you are trying to represent in the text. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 06:34, 6 August 2017 (UTC)
As I noted below, the differentiation was already done long ago (and not by me). The relevant information isn't removed by my changes, I corrected some misleading mixtures which were in that form not covered by the cited reliable secondary sources. The rest of your statements relates to another discussion about history which is not the point here and already solved there. Stefan Konst (talk) 07:04, 6 August 2017 (UTC)
BTW, the differentiation is already done with the distributed ledger article. Stefan Konst (talk) 06:00, 6 August 2017 (UTC)

Changes to definition and initial explanations

The threads "Request for revision", "Problems with existing formulations", "Disputed Accuracy" and "Blockchain != distributed" shows that the actual definition and initial explanations are misleading. As requested I have identified the problems and analysed possible solutions under the threads "What is a blockchain and how to define it", "Definition regarding a technical solution vs. definition regarding use" and "Initial explanations". On base of this I will make (in the coming days) the following traceable changes, choosing the second way of "Definition regarding a technical solution vs. definition regarding use": Stefan Konst (talk) 21:25, 2 August 2017 (UTC)

  1. Sharpen the definition by using example 1 of "What is a blockchain and how to define it".
  2. Disentangle the explanations as described under "Initial explanations".

Please explain here on base of WP:IRS, if you have additional remarks. Stefan Konst (talk) 21:25, 2 August 2017 (UTC)

Why so many repetitions? Do you think it helps your cause? Ladislav Mecir (talk) 09:02, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
Stephen, please feel free to update the text here on the talk page, and also add citations. Then we can discuss something. We only can discuss cited content. Jtbobwaysf (talk) 20:58, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
Hi Jtbobwaysf the cited content can be found in the list at the end of the thread "What is a blockchain and how to define it". The motivation of the changes can be found in the other threads referenced above. It is no problem for me when we use only example 5 of "What is a blockchain and how to define it" as the definition for blockchain and discard the improvement "secured using cryptography". But I think "secured using cryptography" or similar formulations is a useful extension which expresses the special characteristic of a blockchain and is covered by the referenced source [1]. Stefan Konst (talk) 00:26, 6 August 2017 (UTC)
Please keep also the distributed ledger article in mind. I think, that many things which are described here regarding use (sources [2], [3], [4], see "Definition regarding a technical solution vs. definition regarding use") should be moved to that article. Stefan Konst (talk) 06:08, 6 August 2017 (UTC)
Ladislav, I fear your comment is not that level which this discussion should have. It doesn't make sense if you oppose to all and doesn't made suggestions for improvements. Unnecessary to say that is no improvement to return to the old definition and explanations with all their problems. Stefan Konst (talk) 23:50, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
"Unnecessary to say that is no improvement to return to the old definition and explanations with all their problems." - actually, observing the problems you have got with:
* the use of primary sources not established to be relevant for the article subject
* WP:OR attempt to make yourself a reliable source
* WP:NPOV violations trying to remove relevant and notable informations confirmed by reliable sources to a different article
I have to conclude that your changes were not improvements and you do not have the necessary consensus to do such deep changes to the subject definition. In case the consensus does not exist, the reversion to WP:STATUSQUO is the solution preferred by Wikipedia policies. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 06:42, 6 August 2017 (UTC)
* Oppose to "the use of primary sources", I didn't used primary sources for the actual changes. Stefan Konst (talk) 06:53, 6 August 2017 (UTC)
* Oppose to "WP:OR attempt to make", I cited reliable secondary sources, which were not referenced by me, but for example source [6] from you. Stefan Konst (talk) 07:21, 6 August 2017 (UTC)
* Oppose to "WP:NPOV violations", you are misinterpreting WP:NPOV. The informations by the reliable secondary sources were not removed by my changes but rearranged to solve the misleading mixture which was in that form not covered by the sources. Stefan Konst (talk) 07:14, 6 August 2017 (UTC)
* Oppose to "I have to conclude", you want to protect your own definition which is in that form not covered by the sources. And you try to misuse WP:STATUSQUO. Stefan Konst (talk) 06:53, 6 August 2017 (UTC)
I do understand that you oppose this, but, as reliably discovered, you did not achieve consensus with your changes. Also, the definitions are not my own, I am protecting the work of many editors. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 07:39, 7 August 2017 (UTC)
Two other editors made little improvements to my changes and accepted obviously the rest. Their improvements are ok from my point of view. So, until now you are the only one who misses the old formulations. And please consider that we have now with the Princeton University Press book as source [6] a better academic source than before, which covers the definition. I tried to respect the work of the former editors by minimizing my changes, using their words and rearranging their formulations. Stefan Konst (talk) 18:16, 7 August 2017 (UTC)
The definitions regarding use in [2], [3] and [4] are differing but have in common the word "ledger". What do you think about adding an information that non-academic sources uses "blockchain" shortly as a synonym for "ledger"? Stefan Konst (talk) 18:16, 7 August 2017 (UTC)
Also, please, edit the above text. You are not supposed to intersperse your comments in such a way that it becomes undetectable what I wrote. Ladislav Mecir (talk) 07:42, 7 August 2017 (UTC)
Ok, I shifted my answers below your comment. Stefan Konst (talk) 17:30, 7 August 2017 (UTC)

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