Patrick--PMFJI, but, as a frequent lurker and occasional poster on this thread (from its inception), I believe that the recent deterioration is mostly attributable to the market's volatility and downturn for people who have, for the most part, traded long on the small and midcaps. Myself included. We all got burned by even the "best" stockpickers during these times. Of course, the stockpickers themselves took a beating. Quite different from the way it used to be. In short: it just ain't no fun anymore playing this game. Consequently, nerves get frayed and there is really nowhere else to go. The people on this thread are not your mainstream big cap holders. They, like me, have benefited from the advice of the few very active participants. Unfortunately, the behavior of the market since October has pretty much done away with all the gurus. My portfolio is down considerably from its high in October and, for reasons of both fear and illequidity, my trading level is way done as well. I believe that this recent history has as much to do with the thread's deterioration as anything else. Just my two cents(or maybe it's only worth a penny now).
--Steve |
