So, while I usually agree blockchain/crypto ecosystem is the most degenerate thing since Vista, it's worth being a little objective here.<p>These were not four crypto nerds travelling with a Sherpa, it was a team of four experienced alpinists, accompanied by three Sherpas. The expedition was not planned by AskFM, they only decided to sponsor the expedition in exchange for the potential to make it into dumb promotional material. In all likelihood, the alpinists were going to make the trek with or without the sponsorship, but the sponsorship from AskFM did help cover financial costs. This is no different than Red Bull sponsoring dangerous stunts all the time. For what it's worth, the team apparently rescued a climber from a different expedition along the way down, who most certainly would have died otherwise.<p>That said, the CEO did not handle the situation well. On being accused of this, he called the whole thing a rumour. Later, he conceded how fucked up the whole thing was, but AskFM still hasn't removed the tasteless promotion.
>The statement here is that ASKfm is not at all afraid to rise to challenges. They're conquering Everest because it's out there to conquer. By doing so they claim: if they're bold enough to do it, they're bold enough to turn a social network into a blockchain ecosystem, and they're definitely bold enough to overturn the market with their new product.<p>This nonsense could be an absurd line from HBO's Silicon Valley, and people would have found it hilarious. Instead it's not only real, it's cost _a life_. I can't believe this.
As someone who lives among fellow Sherpa families nearby the Himalayas in Nepal, I come across different individuals/teams wanting to <i>conquer</i> the summit to experience the ridiculous "living on the edge" sensation.<p>Having climbed the beast myself once, I can partly appreciate the fact that the feeling of accomplishment and reward is like no other, but practices like these when an inexperienced group of folks lead to loss of innocent lives is totally unacceptable. Despite our government trying our best to reduce such casualties by implementing strict rules & prohibitions, Sherpas are compelled to go for the climb because it's their only source of income at this remote part of the world.
Sensational headline that does not paint the full story. ASKfm was a sponsor to a routine climb that had gone wrong.<p>The trek, independent of the company, would have happened with or without crypto company's backing.<p><a href="https://www.newsbtc.com/2018/06/04/whos-to-be-blamed-for-the-tragic-mt-everest-expedition/" rel="nofollow">https://www.newsbtc.com/2018/06/04/whos-to-be-blamed-for-the...</a>
Sad, he was a Sherpa hired to help the hikers. Moreover, ASKfm is trying to suppress this tragedy instead of assuming responsibility and maybe taking a moment of reflection about all the crypto bandwagon mess they're in.
This reminds me of a great book I read, "Into Thin Air"[0]. If you're interested in getting a first-hand account of climbing Everest, and what effect novice climbers have had on it, definitely give it a read.<p>[0]<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/0385494785" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/03...</a>
“ASKfm, one of the world's top 10 social media networks”<p>This line in the article feels really weird and sketchy. Especially given that I’d never heard of the site. I don’t see any indication this is true whatever it means. But the fact that they are pivoting to crypto doesn’t make me think they’ve been all that successful in the social media world.
Thousands of people summit Everest every year. This is not 'bold', it is a dumb marketing stunt. I guess I'm aware of their ICO now, and my likelihood of buying their coins can't go below zero, so they didn't hurt their chances, but this is still sad.
That mountain often seems to bring the worst in people. It becomes an obssession. I worked at Intrade for a few months and its obsession eventually killed John Delaney, the CEO of Intrade.
I don't think anyone's going to climb Mt Everest for the sole purpose of getting those tokens. 500K tokens and an expedition costs upwards of $50K? It's not worth it to go get and wasn't worth it to even place up there, especially in the light that a Sherpa died during the expedition. First piece of technological junk on the summit I suppose.
i'm glad google blocked advertising for sbitcoins and their ilk.<p>It seems like the very worst aspects of human nature have congealed on the coin industry. Every huckster and madmen wannabe is pushing their flavor of snake oil.
This must be the first site I ever visited which gave me a choice to opt out of certain tracking/cookies. Is this something real and working, or rather giving a false-ish sense of security/respect for privacy? Other sites do this?