Would winning or losing be cumulataive? Could time have an affect on 100%? Telling you....could that be denial or a statement of fact? Is life uncertain? So then why not believe in God if there are not any answers? Can trading be "Not Gambling" ? Please vote Michael B.
One difference between trading and gambling: if I buy some stock, I get something tangible; if I bet, I don't.
Readers. I concede... this is the first true statement that we can build upon in this thread...now we are getting somewhere... Now.. I will contribute another premise.. A price cannot go below zero...(locking and loading your gun w/leverage and that risk has nothing to do with this premise..lets not go there and yes I understand the risks involved with your broker and a negative balance scenario..its not the point of the premise) Can any assumptions be made as to the "not gambling" aspect yet? or...the opposite of "not gambling"...come to think of it....to be "not gambling"...what would one need to assume? some of you really need to re-wire and identify some of this "worn-out" thread stuff...it is not as black and white and boring as you may have earlier resolved...you might learn something through exhaustion. yes... you can change your vote Actually pay attention to the word exhaustion, as perhaps it can be your indicator of time...look at it as the "oxygen" that is pumped into your trading room (casino)... Don and Bob Bright you are not allowed to contribute
"Not gambling" = "Sitting on your hands"! Seriously, anything we do whether in everyday activities or business endeavours involves a degree of "gambling" (since the outcome is not 100% certain,e.g. you could have an accident or win the lottery, land a new job or get pink-slipped,etc...). The only difference is how you play the probabilities, and of course "luck" (some would say you have to "make" your own luck while others would call it "fate", which as you can see can lead us long way from here...)
I rest my case...see you in Vegas ! Bar a few trading styles,would you not say you control your odds as you select when to put a trade based on your perceptions and beliefs of past, current and future price movements,direction and strength for your chosen instruments..... Yes EVERYONE on this board, including that Livermore fella on another thread has had a few trades that were simply a matter of luck, nothing more, but if thats the case are'nt we then all just lucky enough to have been the right side of random price movements OFTEN ENOUGH with bankrolls that enable accummulation & we then mistake this for skill,knowledge or even worse a "sense of harmony with the markets" - delusions. Most of this probably applies mainly to funds, but just my 2 cents on the matter. Thats why l call myself Cygnus Atratus......constant reminder