Oh I do not doubt that there are many who seek an edge. To find an edge, you need brains, need to work very hard, be driven, and be patient. I think we can confidently agree that most miss all above ingredients....
"Money doesn't buy happiness, but you don't have to be unhappy while you are making money." -Newwurldmn
It is the same in most occupations, granted trading is a league of its own. All I am saying there are few here who brag about their success and flash expensive toys.
I don't think I was the one who brought this up. But I disagree on one of your points, in no other industry is the misalignment so large between wishful thinking and hopeful dabbling on one hand and what is realistically realizable than in the trading industry.
Can't agree more. But from own experience, one usually has to be blessed with an incredible amount of wisdom or otherwise must experience it oneself. I did experience a lot of luxury and acquired gadgets in the past which I found out later I had zero need for. I truly believe that one of the biggest reason why humans acquire goods of luxury they don't really need is to make a statement of affordability. That often highly correlates with a lack of self confidence and self worth. Items of desire signal to the outside world that one belongs and has a certain amount of status and buying power to afford such items. Self confident individuals do not need anything to show off, they let their iq and wisdom speak for itself
I think most people know these things are not worth it, but it is more peer pressure and crowd behaviour for most people. Everyone they know has the latest so they want it too. There are also show off and status types too, but not that many. Like I avoided buying an expensive car until I was 40, concentrated on property instead, i always bought my cars with cash as well. But the generation behind (my nieces and nephews) starting buying expensive cars on finance. So i was forced to upgrade my standard of vehicle as well, still buy with cash though.