Okay, one last post
Basic info, in plain speak copied from the"stockclub.com"
for everyone's information.
"Actually "shorts" is a poor choice of words to describe the opposite of a "tout", but I couldn't think of a better one. "Shorts" are people who "short" stocks - that is, they reverse the usual sequence of events and sell stocks first (borrowing them to do so) and then later buy them back - hopefully at a lower price. They get to keep the difference, which is how they can make a profit when the price of a stock goes down. Shorts get a bad rap, but shouldn't - shorts keep the market honest and help burst speculative bubbles. Sometimes you should listen to a short. Honest. When things start going bad for a stock, some online forum users seem to always blame the shorts. It's almost never their "fault", though, so you'd be better served by trying to see what went wrong with the company and learn from the experience.
It's really quite easy to pick out those who are not here to swap information and opinions, but are just here to influence your decisions. Look for excessive enthuisasm, purported "inside information", a breathless and unrelenting urging to "buy now" or "sell before it's too late". If someone seems to never have any doubts whatsoever about their position, that's a good clue that they might be up to no-good.
For the most part, you should ignore these people. If they post "facts" that are in error, correct them - cite your sources. If they post opinions that you disagree with, try to show why they are wrong. Contact the individual directly by e-mail and ask them to tone it down. " |
