Shack, that's a fine State of the Thread post
I'm glad that you cleared up a few things, as the thread is not meant to express opinions on E-wave exclusively, but also discussions on classical TA as well.
And I think that the posts on this thread have largely and historically ben very respectful of others opinions, and that is what has distinguished us from other threads and is a reason that I was drawn to this thread and have remained here.
And while everyone is very serious here about making money with their TA, there's no question that we have fun here with our posting, and that helps keep the thread an enjoyable one.
I've always believed that one should post a chart with his post to make his point clear. But many do not have the capability to post marked-up charts that show their perceived wave scenarios and chart patterns. For those that do not have that capability I think it is imperative that one descibes what he is seeing in his chart by using specific reference points (e.g. "the C down that began at the top in July at 50.75" or "the descending triangle that it has been in marked by the August 60 top and the October 40 and November 39 lows."
Although you mention that you "have to be careful here" I fear (but certainly hope not) that you might be opening a pandora's box with your encouragement to post shorter term plays, presumably with intraday charts. While I have always thought that shorter term plays belong on the wiggle thread and not here, I understand your reasoning for such as you feel it might re-energize the thread. Personally, I think the thread already shows a great deal of energy (and always has), particularly when compared to other threads, and having more discussion of intraday charts will not necessarily raise the overall quality of the board's posts. But I know that the posting of shorter term setups on intraday timeframes will probably interest those on the board who I have always suspected are primarily very short term traders (who only hold their positions a few days or a week or two). In this vein I would respectfully ask those who do so to please also include on their chart a reference to the larger time frame that their chart is part of, and more importantly, specifically state their exit strategy (e.g. "I'm out if the lower trendline falls, currently at 26.")
Now then, I'd like to add something about what I have seen as long as I have been on this board, and it has to do with writing composition and with trading styles. I hope that nobody takes affront at this, but the purpose of what about to say has one primary purpose: I feel that everyone should try to be very clear about what he says, and keep their reader in mind when composing his thoughts for his post. For example, I know that there are some on the board whose trading style is to look for a potential turning point on a chart and then get in at the beginning of that newly developing trend. But then there are others here that would never do that, and instead they look for well established trends to get in on and then ride that trend until it ends or at least try to get a "middle bite" of it. While almost everybody knows this difference in style, perhaps one could make it clearer to the reader exactly how and why he would play the chart he posts, and what his exit strategy would be if things don't go the way he plans. I feel that sometimes I read a post where the writer just assumes that others trade just like he does, and thus he provides little elaboration on his chart, and his thoughts end up being lost on those who trade and see things differently. And one of the best ways to help the reader see do this is to post a target and an exit for the trade in the post accompanying the chart.
There's a line in the U.S Declaration of Independence that says "we hold these truths to be self-evident." While that's a fine thought for the document that it's in, I don't think think that we, as responsible message board writers, should allow ourselves to be lulled into thinking that others can clearly understand what we're saying without elucidating details and our reasons therefore. Basically, the long and short of what I'm saying in these last two paragraphs is I would like boardmembers to make an effort to flesh out their posts a bit more, and I hope to do the same. |
