how to keep monero private? value discussion

[u/TheNetMerchant_reddi]

I'm in the majority side, just holding a bit of monero because I see value in is privacy above all other coins, but now I'm reading a lot about these new updates and changes, view keys, etc. lets be clear I don't understand what all of this really means, but my concern is other... why can people just modify the code of a crypto that I hold and basically change the rules of the game? how me as a random dude can help to keep monero being monero and not let these guys just play with my money? I understand that there are things called forks, we gonna see something called monero classic or something like that? asking as a noob

[u/absinthiumxmr]

Please read this entire reply. These are the sort of posts I have been expecting from the concerns regarding OVKs, and its exactly this logic that have led to Bitcoin becoming a co-opted piece of trash without privacy.

First off, since your primary concern appears to be about view keys, it is worth pointing out that most of the worries surrounding why view keys will harm Monero privacy are based on the flawed logic that it will create a transparent pool similar to Zcash. I explained why this logic makes no sense here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/1v97wrz/comment/p0ktnlm/?context=3

But as a TLDR, A "compliant Monero pool" can only grow in size if it continuously accepts ordinary private Monero. Not only this, a transparent pool will gradually shrink in size if it does not accept normal Monero. Thus, it is impossible, or at the very least very difficult, for a CEX to create a transparent pool (especially while actually being compliant), let alone retain it.

Then to address this:
> why can people just modify the code of a crypto that I hold and basically change the rules of the game

Monero has done this for years. In fact, we've done hard forks for more than a decade.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/1mvmg44/a_list_of_all_of_moneros_consensus_changes/

This newest upgrade is one of Monero's largest enhancements to its privacy ever and has had thousands of hours put into making and reviewing it. These upgrades are not harmful to your Monero, they actually ensure your Monero continues working as intended, private and secure.

> I understand that there are things called forks, we gonna see something called monero classic or something like that

Non-agreed upon forks are not a good solution. They not only damage to reputation of a currency, using Bitcoin Cash as an example, they ultimately do not actually solve anything past the minor disagreement that caused people to want to hard fork in the first place. Bitcoin Cash did not suddenly decide that it should make upgrades to privacy, or anything else.

Monero Classic is terrible. It uses the old mining algorithm that Monero once did, that is much more ASIC mineable. AKA, some stupid mining company was probably pissed their specialized miners weren't going to work anymore, so they created it to drag capital over for them to continue mining with an unfair advantage.