I think you and I are saying the same thing. That markets aren't always random, that there are repeatable and profitable patterns in it.
I try to keep an open mind about it, but it's hard. My mentor used to remind me that we don't know much. Usually after I said something completely arrogantly, as usual.
I notice that you don't dare insert yourself into the ACD thread with your anti-TA rants. Why is that?
I have stated those contradictions about certain people for many years. Those people that show up in threads to make negative comments about TA...there are contradictions about them especially the ones that pretend they know every trader on this planet. Thus, they will not slam their friends that use TA. These people and their threads have been quoted by some that bash TA as being a thread "that's useful" and/or "maybe profitable"...I even posted past quotes by some of the bashers that denied such or pretended they don't know these people. For example, as you notice, Maverick74 is a heavy participant of The ACD Method @ http://www.elitetrader.com/et/index.php?threads/the-acd-method.170318/ He's also good friends with a few of the most notorious TA bashers at this forum. That is the biggest TA thread at this forum, the most active TA thread at this forum and most viewed TA thread at this forum. Seriously, anybody that can read can click on the link above and look for the TA bashing people you commonly see invading all other threads...they ain't there in The ACD Method thread. Note: The ACD Method thread is one of the best TA threads at this forum and its listed on this forum's Hall of Fame list. Simply, they know there are some people out there using TA that are profitable. Thus, they know that most traders are not profitable but not because of TA. Reasons why most retail traders are not profitable...reasons higher up on the pole are like poor risk management, leverage/margin abuse, discipline problems, selecting the wrong trading instruments and many other reasons higher up on the list than TA. Just as importantly, they know who they don't like at this forum which is why I think their bashing is more personal than about TA. Seriously, if its not personal...they should be in The ACD Thread...bashing like they normally do elsewhere. The ones I have on ignore are the ones that have either posted brokerage statements as proof that some traders are profitable traders or openly defended certain traders as being profitable along with making an effort to say that these people have a voice that we should listen too. Then when you check them out...you see they're using TA. The clever ones have recently stated those they've identified as profitable are using TA differently or using it with other things. They only admitted such after I reposted their past quotes supporting these individuals. So what...they're still using TA no matter how differently they're using it or if they're using TA with other things. They are still using TA. I'm sure Baron (ET owner) has notice the same contradictions considering he himself is friends with them too and hopefully he'll do more about it than just giving them continuous warnings about such. The real issue isn't the anti-TA crowd and maybe that's why Baron have tolerated them for so long. The issue is these types of threads being started when the topic about Al Brooks or TA has already been discussed so many times...I've lost count. Too many people that come to this forum or already a member need to learn how to use the search function and Google to do their research prior to starting another Al Brooks thread or another TA thread. The other issue is that these topics will continue bringing in view counts...higher ratings sort'uv speak for the forum owner. That's always good for the forum owner to attract more sponsors in which results in more advertising dollars for his business. This is another reason why other forums are so hated in comparison to ET. Other forums doesn't tolerate the anti-TA folks, the anti-retail trading folks, the anti-trading folks...that's why these people are here. They ain't welcome elsewhere if they talk the same way. P.S. ETs ignored system is messed up...I no longer complain about it and others have stopped complaining too. I doubt it will ever be fixed. Conversations look strange. People that get along with each other look like they are talking negative to each other when in fact they're talking to someone else they quoted that's on a ignore list of others. The quote is gone (removed by the ignore list) but the trader replied to the quote...his message I can see...a message that looks like was aimed at someone else. My point, I'm outta here. I no longer understand the conversations in this thread...just weird.
The same challenge goes to all TA price pattern believers. I don't know what ACD is. Is ACD price pattern based? If so I challenge anyone to show a "profitable price pattern" that can be tested and proven to increase the odds of a winning entry by over 50%. Ask yourself how many moves or series of moves in one direction increase the odds that the next move or series will be in the same direction? Without the answer, all of TA is nonsensical for active traders. surf
Why does Brooks ask for donations if his trading method is as good as he suggests it is? I know of other vendors who claim to run charities with part of their profits from vending.