Mali, I have true empathy for you. As some have said on this board, your position on this will create your doom. I have been interrogated by many with this same argument. If you want to find any success in any business you will need to focus on becoming the minority that profits from the majority. Do you think Home Depot feels guilty or second guesses the fact that they're the main reason why so many little neighborhood hardware stores have shut down? Do you think Bernie Ebbers or Jack Grubman really care about how they destroyed so many retirement plans and portfolios, as they took the fifth five hundred times?.
Mali, No worry. I think there is a reason you mentioned the number, 90/100, and in this board, the majority is that 10/100 people. If you find another discussion board where the other profession guys gather than traders, you will have another view. While the opinion post in this thread is so true to every individuals here, which doesn't necessarily mean it is universally true. Every community has a specific own value and view. Best
I'm not sure where you get the equation 'create something = good for society.' Waiters, concierges, tax drivers, etc. create nothing but do perform valuable services for which people are willing to pay. Are they immoral? A trader does not steal or coerce his money from those who do not willingly give. The rules of the market are known (or are knowable) to all participants. A trader makes his living my his quick wits and hard work studying the market. The idea that you have to contribute somehow to society is part and parcel with the gradual erosion of the ideal of individualism, the idea that all men and women should be free to make their lives as they see fit providing they do not abuse the same rights of others. By that measure trading is a wholly moral profession.
I feel that trading can be an exciting endeavor trying to outwit the market. Certainly trading creates value such as liquidity plus providing agency income (commission income) that creates jobs. Suppose one trader creates $200,000 in agency income this can result in four jobs being directly credited to the trader's activity. The ramifications of the trader becomes more important when one considers four families are likely being supported either partially or fully by the trader. All this being said, I feel it is very important for traders to further enhance their professions by contributing to charitable causes.
when your on your game and making money you need the market running through your blood. Even when I am on vacation Im wishing I was home with my trading system making trades.
I know it's been said before, but I've got to say it again: Trading is life. Learning will help you get your head on straight. Execution will throw that nasty subconscious stuff right in your face. I can't think of a better program of self improvement and discovery than developing and following a complete trading plan. Maybe if they taught this stuff in high school we'd have a better-prepared pool of young people joining the workforce and starting families (I sure wish I'd been exposed to it earlier). I think I'll start one of those theme schools like that high school in NY that focuses on the arts- Trader High! We wouldn't need any gov't money, just a little corporate seed capital. I'd have it paying for itself within a year. The profits would go to opening more schools and supporting charities for younger kids. With a little technology investment, the concept could be applied in second and third world nations as well. Instead of forgiving their debt, they could pay it off with trading profits. Just think of the liquidity this would create! Sure, the other side of the winning trades are losing trades, but at the rate the world population is growing, there'll be plenty of beginners to provide liquidity until they become profitable. Oh yeah, this would also speed up the inevitable transition to capitalism in those nations still deluded by the pipe dreams of socialism and communism. That's it! Trading is the panacea for the problems of the world. No, I'm not on drugs; just dreaming of a better future. Uni
>With a little technology investment, the concept could be applied in second and third world nations as well. Instead of forgiving their debt, they could pay it off with trading profits. <P>That can't happen. Trading is not an industry the way housing or autos is. It can't be profitable for the masses nor can it generate wealth for large populations. Trading by definition can only be profitable for a numerical minority while an advancement in science or technology could potentially raise the living standards for entire populations. There is a financial benefit to trading which allows it to be defined as an industry. The business benefit of trading allows some people to lay off risk onto people who will accept it.