Donna, Thanks from me as well for the kind words. My "axe to grind" around here is keeping the facts separate from opinions and trying to keep the record straight as much as possible. There are so many ways to make money in these markets. I don't frown on anyone's strategy and think it's great that we can all come together and discuss so many interesting topics. I've met some great traders on these forums over the years and learned a lot from so many people. I look forward to many more interesting and insighful years of participation and contribution.
ChrisM, I hate to disappoint you, but I don't share my valuable ideas on a public message board. I've worked very hard over the years to learn to trade and paid a substantial amount of money in tuition. Do you really think I'm going to copy and paste the blueprint on ET for all to see? You can't be serious. All my posts on ET regarding options have been academic in nature and center around theory. I will never share my life's work on a public board. Why would I ever do this? Does Blair Hull post his profitable strategies here? I don't think so. The only thing I have ever posted on this board regarding actual strategy has been on the tape reading threads. The only reason I shared that info is because it's obsolete. As far as offending people, you have no idea. You have no idea how hard it is for me to bite my tongue when I read some of the crap on this board. I have no issues with calling a spade a spade. If that offends, so be it.
Let's just stick to the original topic. Can we write options for a living? What kind of living are we talking about?
You guys are doing it again! It does not matter whether you are short gamma or long gamma! The risk you are taking by trading options does not depend on whether you are trading debits or credits; it depends on your abilities to anticipate direction of the market or its upcoming volatility level or both. Read this thread from very beginnig. The original question has been answered 1,000 times already. I was not able to be around for a long time and I'm extremely surprised to find out that this thread is still going. It must be one of the longest running threads on ET. BTW, what happen to riskarb? anybody can fill me in?
Riskarb is writing a book "Is blind archery possible?" . The book will quote hundreds of ET's most knowledgeable members and their posts. Should be a best seller.