Do You Think Trading is Gambling?

Discussion in 'Psychology' started by nysestocks, Jan 17, 2009.

Do You Think Trading is Gambling?

  1. Yes

    140 vote(s)
    44.7%
  2. No

    173 vote(s)
    55.3%

  1. I won't bother looking for a link because in truth I probably wont find one that is not opinion. But on the same token you can not find me a link of where it is NOT gambling that is not based on opinion either. There are people that say it is gambling, and people that say it is not. But unless you are a dodo bird, a rookie, or absolutely delusional, you understand as a trader that you are with 100% certainty gambling. Just because you do it in a 'proffessional' environment or whatever conclusion you want to come up with to try and mask it, it does not change what you do. You put money at risk in order to increase that money. Some people choose to believe gambling is something you do for fun, or a bad habit. Opinion doesn't change the actions that occur and because of those actions trading is gambling. If you choose to believe otherwise, that's fine, I don't.
     
    #181     Feb 2, 2009



  2. Do you think SCI stands outside the NYSE once a month with a banner that says 'Trading IS Gambling'?

    I think he does. Haha!
     
    #182     Feb 2, 2009
  3. JSSPMK

    JSSPMK

    SCI, you are wrong. Officially trading is not classed as gambling, that is not an opinion, but a fact.
     
    #183     Feb 2, 2009
  4. gam⋅ble   /ˈgæmbəl/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [gam-buhl] Show IPA Pronunciation
    verb, -bled, -bling, noun
    –verb (used without object) 1. to play at any game of chance for money or other stakes.
    2. to stake or risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance: to gamble on a toss of the dice.
    –verb (used with object) 3. to lose or squander by betting (usually fol. by away): He gambled all his hard-earned money away in one night.
    4. to wager or risk (money or something else of value): to gamble one's freedom.
    5. to take a chance on; venture; risk: I'm gambling that our new store will be a success.
    –noun 6. any matter or thing involving risk or hazardous uncertainty.
    7. a venture in a game of chance for stakes, esp. for high stakes.

    in⋅vest   /ɪnˈvɛst/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [in-vest] Show IPA Pronunciation

    –verb (used with object) 1. to put (money) to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value.
    2. to use (money), as in accumulating something: to invest large sums in books.
    3. to use, give, or devote (time, talent, etc.), as for a purpose or to achieve something: He invested a lot of time in helping retarded children.
    –verb (used without object) 14. to invest money; make an investment: to invest in oil stock.



    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Origin:
    1150–1200; ME gamenen to play (OE gamenian), with substitution of -le for -en; see game
    Prove to me where it is FACT and not an opinion. It may be thought out and accepted as not gambling, but that doesn't make it so.

    Do you believe in the theory of evolution? or that humans came from a higher power? There are arguments on all sides but no complete facts with 100% certainty.

    What is accepted as common knowledge and what is 100% fact are very different.

    Again, believe what you want. Most will agree trading is gambling. I truly feel that if you don't think that you are naive and just kidding yourself. If that's what makes you feel better about being a trader, then by all means, fool yourself into believing you do not gamble. But you do. Investing never has a guarantee. If you can start guranateeing trades then you are not gambling. But since you can not do that, you are putting your money at risk for a reward, taking a chance. Sometimes you take very little risk, sometimes you take larger risk, but it is always there and there is always a chance that you will be wrong and lose money. Wether you want to believe it or not, that is a gamble. Just because you feel you are taking less risk trading the stock market as opposed to say playing roulette does not change anything other than your disolusinoal thought process. Yes it is widely accepted that trading is not gambling. But it is not fact. Ask real traders and they will tell you it's just as much gambling as rolling the dice, you just can have an edge. Most people who gamble do so for fun or are degenerates. Some actually do it for a living and learn how to have an edge.
     
    #184     Feb 2, 2009
  5. JSSPMK

    JSSPMK

    Our governments have made it a fact, you can e-mail your opinions to the IRS for instance, see what they say to you.

     
    #185     Feb 2, 2009
  6. So you're the type of guy that goes with whatever the government says? What does that mean to me. So you're saying in the government's opinion it is not considered gambling. Does that make it 100% fact? No. It is ACCEPTED to not be gambling. Just that. It's quite simple. Did you graduate grade school? I don't understand how it is so difficult for many of you to grasp the concept. No wonder why you're still in disbelief. You do know that the easter bunny doesn't exist right? Santa clause doesn't ride a sleigh with flying reigndeer, and trading no matter what you care to make yourself believe is gambling.
     
    #186     Feb 2, 2009
  7. Just curious. Do you believe that your trading system has an edge? What is this number for you:

    Win% * AverageWin / (1-win%) * AverageLoss

    Let's say for your last 60 trades.
     
    #187     Feb 2, 2009
  8. ElCubano

    ElCubano

    edge smedge....I garauntee that the sun will rise tomm. Can your edge garauntee you positive money at the end of 60 trades??? nope , even if it does it can not be gauranteed...again gambling falls under a huge spectrum. All you can do is put odds/edge/whatever u want to cal it ,in ur favor and then let it roll....that in essence is a gamble.
     
    #188     Feb 2, 2009
  9. Investing - Yes. A good trader uses proper Money Management and is in total control. That is if you don't hold anything overnight in this wacked market:cool:

    Good Luck.
     
    #189     Feb 2, 2009

  10. There is no such thing as total control in the stock market. That would mean it's guaranteed. If you have total control you will have the outcome known. That does not happen unless you're a crook or cheat. Then you're not gambling. But since you DO NOT have toal control there is ALWAYS, no matter how slight, a chance of losing.
     
    #190     Feb 2, 2009