If trading is not ethical, then all people who have ever exchanged any good or service are unethical.
The only reasons that cause traders to fail are: 1. Lack of Discipline 2. Lack of Good strategy 3. Lack of Business plan Trading is not a forgiving business. If you consistently break the above rules, you will ultimately fail, even if you are a great trader (Jesse Livermore). Many get into trading because they think it is easier than what they currently do. Eventually they will realise that trading is one of the hardest jobs they will ever do. Most people will fail at trading because they do not have the combination of traits required to trade successfully. How many people for example would you consider disciplined. People are by nature undisciplined. Concerning the ethical aspect of trading. Trading is very hard work. Very few will ultimately succeed. It is more difficult to mold yourself into a successful trader than any other career. By the time you have molded yourself (if you ever do), you have earned every penny. Is the accountant that does not mess his hands less ethical than the construction worker who does? Is the writer that does not mess his hands less ethical than the auto mechanic that does? We all do what we can do and we all try to do the best that we can do for ourselves. Trading is buying and selling, the same as any other business that buys and sells. We try to anticipate opportunities to buy, mark-up, and sell. Sometimes we are successful and sometimes we are not, just like any other business. There is a guy I know that purchased a house for rehab. The market appears to be softening and he is concerned that he will not make a profit on this transaction. So, he may get out at breakeven or a loss, just like any other market trade.
======================== TOC; Did Jesus kill an animal & eat???....Yes , he did, check your new testament, fresh fish fried on coals.Actually beef & lamb is kosher, tastes good and eaten quite often in old Testament. Actually trading stocks/derivatives is some what unusual amoung businesses in that there is plenty of opportunity for sure , but much easier to lose money than most any other business, even with proper position size.
Something that most people don't seem to understand, especially in "zero sum games" like futures. "There is no money lost" - for every "loser" there is a "winner"....right? Even paying commissions there "should" be net overall in stocks (average 8% return plus dividends, stock splits, etc. ) Agree about the eating of animals...not sure of the reference here (haven't read the whole thread).... Just my 2 cents.. Don