Explain VIX ETFs to me like I'm 5

abcppp,
so you want an explanation of these as if you were five?

NO, Because I told you so!

 

contango and backwardation explains all. the vix cannot be traded, only the vix futures.

 

It does not appear that OEC has VIX futures. Do only certain brokers have them?

 

Avoid VIX products, very complex and easier to lose money than trading outright stuff like ES and CL.

 

Maybe those ETFs, yeah, cuz they don't really seem to follow the VIX very closely.

 

How does that suck exactly?

 

Well I mean I guess you can just short all of them and hope one doesn't go up to $1,000:

 

Good luck getting a locate on them to short. I'd hate to guess the fee either.

 

I used to be an equity and equity index option market maker. I don't even claim to fully understand vix futures exactly ... how much chance do you stand ?
Vix stuff is not for 5 years olds ...

 

The VIX goes up and down.

I want to trade something that mimics its movement.

I don't think there's any complex understanding required. I don't care how VIX is calculated; I want to trade something that behaves like the VIX.