<< Are you unaware of abusive short tactics and how the shorts operate?>>
Yes, of course I am. I'm also aware of the equally abusive long tactics, where people of various stripes attempt to hype a stock price up.
My point is, it is short-sighted to personally attack people who make negative (or positive) posts about stocks. I've been talked out of some bad investments by having access to negative comments about issues where there is something I haven't considered.
You have to understand my perspective, Robert. I'm a typical small shareholder and I don't view stock message boards as primarily a forum for stock manipulation. I'm sure this is much more in your mind than mind, due to your superior access to information and higher concern about momentum. But for someone who has another occupation and limited access to investment forums, these boards are extremely helpful. You just have to sort out the wheat from the chaff. If there are people who are really stupid enough to believe a "fact" that appears only on one of these boards, from someone they don't know and trust, they deserve what they get.
Anyway, I stick firmly with my principals on this. If a post is made with suspect information or faulty analysis, it is much superior to question the information or analysis than to make a personal attack on the poster. On this board, for instance, the credibility of someone saying "I'm a dentist and the Wand is [great][terrible]" is 0. I give exactly no credence to people who say "most dentists [are][are not] returning the Wand's that they've bought", unless they want to point to a verifiable source.
I am certainly aware that there are traders with positions, long or short, who have intentionally posted false information here, on MF, and other places. But it is impossible to separate them out from people with contrary, and often helpful, opinions, just based on the fact that you don't like them. If you attack negative posters, even stupid ones, you're going to suppress attempts to manipulate share prices, but you're also going to suppress honest negative comment.
I think it is a big mistake to attack people who hate or like a stock. Let 'em talk. You can show that a statement is false, or not founded in fact, without calling the poster a liar.
The problem with calling names is that it discourages honest contrary opinion, and also, just junks up the board and distracts from the only legitimate purpose of these boards, which is to give people a forum to air their opinions on investments.
And finally, if there are people with short positions who intentionally manipulated Milestone's price under $16 this week, thanks for the money. I bought for short term at 16 and 16 3/8 for a quick 8%.
:) |
