David and Rick... I like both of your posts...
David - that was beautiful man! Short, sweet and very much to the point. Its not a complex idea is it? Thank you for the thoughts.
Rick D. - you are so very right! Simply ignoring those that raise questions... even in a fashion that we can't appreciate... is too simple an answer, though at times may be the right answer. What I mean is the following...
It is very difficult to ascertain the motivation driving an individual when they first appear on a thread and begin to ask questions. We don't know if they have bad intent or whether they have real questions, poor communication skills or a direct personality. All of the above could come out in a post in a very similar fashion. Ignoring those posts creates the danger of losing a very strong ally in the long term.
I think it is incumbent upon us to determine this motivation while treating the person with respect. This will allow an easier exchange of information and the determination can be made quicker and without angst. You keep the potential ally around long enough to become an ally and you can feel more comfortable about properly dealing with a "baddie" earlier in the process.
I'd like to hold up 2 examples, if I might... one of which I was involved. Both examples involve people who are trying to disrupt that which we have built, IMO, and both eventually proved that they deserve to be ignored.
<There is extreme danger in holding oneself up as an example, but I will plunge ahead and hope that it is taken in the spirit in which it is offered>
The first example comes from yesterday on the INFE thread. TrumpCards posed questions on the thread that drew two types of immediate responses... congenial with polite explanations and more direct with no or little information. This quickly degenerated as TrumpCards responded more to the attacks than the politeness offered. The end result was that an awful lot of bickering and hot tempers ensued. The end result was that he was able to make us behave as less than what we are. Yes, his design was exposed, but at what cost? I submit it was more than the cost of the emotions displayed and resulting ill will. We may have lost some of those that were lurking, as well. He should have been ignored after his purpose became obvious. Unfortunately, that is difficult to do once the tempers have been ignited. Any lies (or contrary opinions) that he may have spread unchecked are, IMO, less dangerous than fractioning the thread. In fact, DD and more positive opinions may be offered to counteract that which is not supported.
Mr. Forthright on the ICVI thread is the other example. He entered the thread in a very similar fashion as to TrumpCards on the INFE thread... and he was similarly treated. It became evident to me, as I entered the fray that he was probably up to no good, but I did not understand his motivation. We engaged in a polite debate (both sides) that eventually had him twisted in his own logic; thereby, severely reducing the impact of his own statements. Note that he was always given an out... a way to save face, but it was an opportunity that he never took. My research of him revealed that he may, in fact, be on an honest crusade to expose promoters and hypsters and that was why the out was provided and the debate continued. If he was honest in this quest, reason would prevail. The debate was finally taken off-line to the land of PM's, where I ascertained that it was NOT an honest crusade. Instead, I found that he is a momentum player and probably plays both ends... on the way up and on the way down. Though, I doubt he is a shorter, he probably does the old buy low, sell high thing. He enhances his profit by evoking greater volatility... thus, the desire to run the stock to a lower low after a big runup with the hopes of establishing another position in anticipation of additional news. The volatility is established by creating doubt on a thread and shaking some of the "weaker hands." He is mostly being ignored by the thread and is for all intent and purposes, defanged. By the same token, if it ever becomes an issue again, I can only say that, "there is power in knowing one's competitor." :-)
So, Forthright is now being ignored and I believe has little or no impact. I hold no such immediate hope for TrumpCards.
Now for the big if... Had either Forthright or TrumpCards been investors that were merely searching for answers, we would now have possibly two very different results. We would have had the chance to bring Forthright into the fold; whereas, TrumpCards would have been completely lost to us.
Lazarus, hoping I didn't ramble so much that the point was lost. |
