West: in my experience, you are one of the most astute traders I've run across with picks that have always been high quality.
As the moderator here, it's always a balancing act, trying to display evenhandedness among a group of quality traders. Yet I know, and everyone knows, that an occasional dig erupts, particularly on the tougher days.
It's so much easier resolving disputes like these face-to-face, over a brew. In cyberland, it's easier to stay mad.
In this particular case, I'm not sure whose interests were served by rehashing old gripes. I recall that I was upset with one of the posters named, briefly, last April. Another, who reappeared here recently, displaying the same provocative nature that created tremendous discord before, has been blocked.
I've made a few bad calls along the way and have earned a sharp word or two now & then, but presume that most posters understand imperfection and chalk up past errors to the fact that we are all human.
Well before I joined SI, I was reading Kimberly Lee's board regularly. Among the things I discovered:
Fred posts pertinent information that I usually find useful.
Your posts & picks are usually solid.
Mogul has acted as a mediator many times, with class (I recall one gentleman who started a tiff about SIFY long ago, in particular). Defending his friend, Kim, is not something I find dishonorable or selfish. And his picks are generally solid too (I can recall making a bunch on ISLD and PUMA when he pushed both hard, among others).
Swisstrader's posts have also been pretty consistently useful & helpful.
If there's remaining reason for friction between Swiss and you, I hope he'll get in touch via PM and resolve it with you.
My bottom line is this:
1) If someone, even someone that ticked me off, comes back after a bit and offers info of use to the group, they're welcome to post here. Everyone earns a second chance.
2)If they come back, eager to provoke and ready to turn the board into their personal boxing ring, they'd better anticipate being locked out. I've only had to resort to that once.
3) Personally, I wish Fred, Mogul, you, Marshall, 2Mar$, Mr Big, Civic, Swiss, Jane, Barbara and a few other oldbies would frequent this joint more. I know with some, I can often find them hanging out at Stan's, because he's prettier than me.
4) As regards Kimberly Lee: Despite the microcap plays that occasionally got overpumped, I can recall others that ran on quality alone. Generally, she posted a complete set of numbers and specifics for us to judge by, which many do not do often (me included). I think she could make useful contributions to the traders here (and I say this despite getting burned on ALAN & UTCC myself).
5) I tend to agree with you; we're responsible for our own decisions. My eagerness to jump into some overpumped plays was based on my own need or greed; I like to think I've tempered that with added experience & wisdom.
6) I hope you, and Swiss, and the others I've mentioned, will recognize that many people value the words of each of you. Just because of the beef of one or two is no reason the entire group should lose the benefit of your insight and advice.
Long after these message boards pass into the ether and these risky, thrilling, sometimes frightening, sometimes sterling trading days dim in our memories, it will be far easier to view the lousy moments with greater perspective. I ask you guys to air it out via PM and see if there's something worth sticking around for.
With a little less heat, and a little more light, I might even consider doing my legendary fan dance wearing nothing but my best pair of fishnets...
- Sir Realist, Duchess of Spankyton |
