Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Robert Rose who wrote (80252)	10/12/1999 11:13:00 AM
From: Jan Crawley	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 164684

Robert, I read Eric's posts whenever I can and will continue to. Why? I don't trade my long portfolio and I can't do much with my 401K a/c. I am here(Amzn/Yhoo..etc) to trade/speculate, and I don't need any degree of comfort. I have my eyes open all the time. I can walk away or learn how to deal with this corner of the market.

To: Robert Rose who wrote (80252)	10/12/1999 11:32:00 AM
From: Eric Wells	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 164684

Robert - since June, my stock portfolio is up about 12%. About 90% of my gains since that time have been made from shorting stocks. 12% is probably not that spectacular when compared to the returns of some on this thread. In April/May I took a big hit when both YHOO and AOL took a dive. As to why I participate on this thread - the same question could be posed to any participant. Why do we do it? Why do we spend time writing and reading what others have written? Why do you do it? I read what others post to learn, and I post my thoughts in an effort to contribute. I can think of only one time that I have made money from a specific post - a few months back, Michelle posted some comments about the precarious position of PCLN - I shorted immediately and got 4 points. I would view any stock recommendations made on SI with a great deal of scrutiny. And if you read my posts, you will notice that I try to never make predictions on a stock - I have never said YHOO will go down. Rather, my comments are mostly focused on the irony of increasing bullishness in the face of lackluster fundamentals. If anything, through my posts, I would like to think that I can prevent happening to others what happened to me in April. I bought YHOO at 220 and AOL at 160 - at a time of extreme exuberance and bullishness, when analysts were saying YHOO was going to 300 and AOL was going to 200. While I had held off in investing in the internets up until that time, I finally succumbed to greed and gave into the fear of missing out and bought - at exactly the wrong time. And I can't bear to buy and hold as I watch my portfolio decrease by more than 10% within a matter of a week or two - and so I sold shortly thereafter (and I'm glad I did). So in my posts, I try to make others aware that these stocks are volatile - that while others are predicting that they will continue to go up, I try to point out that they may not - that there are aspects of the business models of some of these companies that are questionable. You may disagree. But I would not think that you would go so far as to say that because I am not a bull that I should not post. Would you? I also participate on this thread to gauge the market, and to gauge what others feel about the market. The market impacts the economy, and our overall well-being. You might as well ask me why do I read the news - or why I bother to express an opinion. If you see no value in the things I post, let me know. I welcome your opinion. Thanks, -Eric