You are not long enough on ET. Wait a bit and tell then that you make good money. The stalkers will quickly attack you. If you make money you are not real on ET.
I focus on traders who already trade or those who come from other asset classes to trade futures because this group knows exactly or to a large degree what they want to improve or receive from their broker. Many paper traders are there indefinitely while not proceeding to any type of real trading. They are trapped in the world of "I don't know enough" and "I need guarantees" and that is something that does not exist in trading. This is why they spent all their money on courses, indicators, etc. Even the most skilled traders need to sharpen their skills, learn to trade in new environments, and constantly need to evaluate their performance. I believe that once you bridge the gap of what is trading really is versus the hypothetical model of what people think trading is, then you could potentially formulate a way to cross from a paper to real.
I recognise this. I trade but I am tempted to tell other people how to do it. I try to resist and ask open questions so people can demonstrate and review their thinking. Ahhh, but its hard....
Ya, I personally know an old guy, known him 11 years now, back then he was paper trading a complex type system of futures which he designed himself and which imo seemed quite good from the results he would live chat with me. Anyhow back then he said "I'll be live trading in a couple of weeks". Each year it was the same thing..."I'll be live trading in a couple of weeks...." He could not pull the trigger! The excuse: He wanted near 100% success rate on his paper trading. Lately we have dropped out of touch, that was soon after I told him I had created a totally new concept stock algo and was not prepared to share with him.
looks like majority of trader in the forum been profitable for some time. But I am surprise that there are not that many who pretend to be profitable. lol