???? HOW TO FIGHT BASHERS and WIN....
anatomyofbasher.netfirms.com
Is the "Bashing" of a stock an essential part of the online investment landscape? Our
Constitution guarantees us free speech and we have always valued the lessons gleaned
from dissent. When does dissent cross over that imaginary line and become "Bashing"?
To often we find well grounded dissent capriciously labeled as "Bashing" by over zealous
investors bent on protecting a stocks reputation at any cost.
The "Bashing" that is addressed on this site is quite different from dissent. The Anatomy
of a Basher strives to look at the calculated erosion of confidence in a given stock.
Erosion by means that are, in every sense, void of
truth, hinged on deception and innuendo, and motivated by greed at the expense of
others. This compendium is offered to aid in identifying the telltale signs of "Bashing",
and hopefully provide a counter balance to this heretofore unchecked manipulation of
investors fears for personal
gain.
IS IT EASIER TO SCARE PEOPLE INTO SELLING THAN IT IS TO SCARE PEOPLE
INTO BUYING A STOCK? I have asked some knowledgeable investors this question and
the answer is always: "YES, OF COURSE YES!"
WHO BASHERS PREY UPON:
Consider the elderly that are investing for retirement, they find their way to the message
boards for validation only to see false posts about "SEC Violations" and "Class action
suits"... or the head of a "typical growing family",with children to put through college, who
is monitoring a message board only to read posts by a "pack of 15 to 20 Bashers"
(probably 5 or 6 under various alias's) posting continuous disinformation... what do you
think these new investors will do? It's safer to not buy or even sell the stock, put the money
back in the
bank than to deal with all this whirl wind of "unsupported" negative chaff.
The Internet has lured a whole new class of investor into the market. A new investor is
just that - New! This new investor, while learning the basics, is particularly vulnerable
to the tactics of professional Bashers. New investors tend to lurk in the background of
message boards, content to form independent opinions based on what they read with
their own eyes. Very often, honest,intelligent and cautious people can easily be
overcome by a well orchestrated propaganda effort.
You must always remember that their is a lot of money to be made in just the motion
of a stock UP or DOWN it doesn't matter! And Bashers have money at risk just as
you do. But they have the edge of fear, lies, and falsehoods to post while preying on
the un-initiated. The average investor dose not have the edge of organized
deception.
Recent revelations have indicated that even Market Makers (those charged with
keeping the playing field level) have been involved in stock manipulation by Bashing
on a stock message board.
HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS A REAL THREAT!
Lesson 1:
Remember, BASHERS NEVER Bash A BAD STOCK.
Check the boards for stocks with no potential. They never have any Bashers.
Bashers only go after stocks that are moving up or have excellent potential
to do so. Bashers work to bring the price down to either increase their
position at the expense of others or help a Short
make their bones.
Lesson 2:
BASHERS ALWAYS BRING UP OLD NEWS THAT YOU
HAVE HEARD MANY TIMES. New startup companies always have
a few bits of bad news. The Basher will post this over and over again.
Unsophisticated Bashers will try to freshen up old news with a new date or by-line in
an attempt to fool you.
Lesson 3:
BASHERS POST MANY TIMES A DAY. They try to wear
you out. They comment on everything, every other post, and can answer every
question. THEY KNOW IT ALL! There is no positive comment they won't Bash. They
try to control the board. True longs may have to confront the Bashers or they will
appear to the newbies as being the people with all the information. This is best
accomplished by posting positive, well researched data on the company,repetitively,
while trying hard not to engage the Bashers in direct repartee.
REMEMBER - LONGS... RESIST USING THE BASHERS ALIAS!
Lesson 4:
BASHERS WILL LIE TO YOUR FACE. Never trust a
Basher. The truth on startup companies is that they make mistakes. What new
company hasn't? The Basher will compare your issue to a another companies,
financials - deals - management, etc., trying to lure you into making an Apples to
Oranges comparison. Remember each company is unique and while it is prudent to
seek out established indicators, do so with care and don't take someone else's word
for it.
Strive to come up with at least a "six-pack" of indicators so your vision of the state of
a company is not tied to a single barometer. Not doing so is tantamount to going to a
Race Track and betting on the "Pretty Brown Horsey".
BASHERS WANT TO WHISPER IN YOUR EAR - PLANT A SEED
OF DOUBT, AND HOPE THAT YOU ARE NOT SAVVY ENOUGH
TO RESEARCH THE TRUTH ON YOUR OWN.
This is how they achieve their greatest success.
DOUBT + FEAR + LAZINESS = BAIL OUT!
This is your investment... work for it, protect it and don't panic on the words of very
shadowy figure that "has your best interest in their heart".
Consider that one factor: Someone you have never met, is not a member of your
family, is now, out of the goodness of their hearts - GIVING YOU FREE ADVICE (that
you didn't ask for). It's a no brainer. They have motives $$$$$$$$$$$$.
Lesson 5:
Bashers know YOU CAN'T VERIFY THEIR STATEMENTS
That's why they make the vague statements they do.
They rely on you being to lazy to research their droppings other than to scan the
board for others opinions. This is particularly dangerous when you consider that
Bashers work in packs and often validate and back up each others nonsense with
what appears to be "innocuous and unsolicited" verification by comrade Bashers.
Let's face it, we are all conditioned to "believe" everything we see in writing. If others
by virtue of their "posts" also confirm this belief, then we are subconsciously doomed
to swallow the hook, line and sinker...
Basher - 1 Honest Investor - 0
Lesson 6:
The Bashers PLAY ON YOUR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
They can lie about information and you won't know the difference (unless you have
done your own DD on the company and know the truth and facts).
Lesson 7:
Bashers play on your lack of patience. You have held a stock for a while.
You knew it will be a big stock someday, but the BASHER CAN GET TO YOU
BECAUSE YOU ARE TIRED OF WAITING FOR YOUR GAIN. That's when the
Basher is best. You are tired. You have forgotten the goal for the stock was to hold it
for one year. The Basher is bothersome, so you dump it on a bad day.
Some others also dump. Then you get mad for your loss and
return to let everyone know how mad you are. Then you turn into a semi-Basher as
well. THE BASHER HAS WON, AND GAINED
A NEW ALLY - YOU!
Lesson 8:
BRING THE PRICE DOWN. That is the Basher's job.
The truth is not important. Lies are the norm. Post continuously on the board every
day. They are trying to scare the newbies that are just investigating a stock. They are
trying to wear down the faithful longs on the board and gain free reign and control.
A BASHER HANDBOOK:
Do not underestimate a Bashers influence on a stock. The Pro's are good at what
they do and what they do is profit from your losses. Below is their "hand-book" so to
speak. Learn from it or you will be donating your hard earned money to them!
Rules for Successful Bashing -
1. Be anonymous
2. Use 10% fact. 90% suggestion. The facts will lend credibility to your suggestions.
3. Let others help you learn about the stock. Build rapport and a support base before
initiating your Bashing routine.
4. Enter w/ humor and reply to all who reply to you.
5. Use multiple ISP's, handles and aliases.
6. Use two (2) or more aliases to simulate a discussion.
7. Do not start with an all out slam of the stock. Build softly.
8. Identify your foes (Longs) and the boards "guru" Use them to your advantage. Lead
them do not follow their lead.
9. Only Bash until the tide/momentum turns. Let doubt carry it the rest of the way.
10. Give the appearance of being open minded.
11. Be bold in your statements. People follow strength.
12. Write headlines in caps with catchy statements.
13. Pour it on as your position gains momentum. Not your personality.
14. Don't worry about being labeled a "Basher". Newbies won't know your history.
15. When identified put up a brief fight, then back off. Return in anhour unless your foe
is a weak in reasoning powers.
16. Your goal is to limit the momentum of the run. Not to tank the company or create a
plunge in the stock; be subtle and consistent.
17. Kill the dreams of profits, not the company or the stock.
18. Use questions to create critical thinking. Statements to reinforce facts.
19. DO NOT LIE, NAME CALL or USE PROFANITY.
20. Encourage people to call the company. 99% won't. They'll take your word for
claims made. If they do call you can always find something that is inaccurate in how
they report their findings.
21. Discourage people from believing Press Releases.
Encourage them to call the company. They won't out of laziness.
22. If the companies history/PR's are negative constantly point to that. Compile a list
of this data prior to beginning your efforts.
23. If the price rises blame it on the hype or the PR, temporary mass reaction, the
market, etc. Anything but the stock itself.
24. If other posters share your concerns, play on that and share theirs too.
25. Always cite low volume, even when it's not.
26. Three or four aliases can dominate a board and wear down the longs.
27. Bait the Longs into personal debates putting their
focus/efforts on you and not the stock or facts. Divert their attention from facts.
28. Promote other stocks that would-be investors can turn to instead of the one your
Bashing.
30. Do not fall for challenges on the "values" of what you are doing,it's a game and
you are playing it with your own rules.
Your are a:
Grade "A" Basher: If you post lots of old news, respond to all positive posts with a
negative side. Never respond to being called a Basher, never post on another board
with same alias. Can spend up to 80 hours a week Bashing a stock.
Grade "B" Basher: Very good way with words, always claims to be your "friend"
taking the positive poster into confidence, never posts on another board, spends
about 60 hours a week.
Grade "C" Basher: Spends less time than the others but is somewhat effective and
gets a C grade due to getting excited when Bashers rules say not to get excited,
spends about 40 hours a week.
Grade "D" Basher: Needs to learn the basics about being convincing when making a
negative statement. Spends a good amount of time working the stock, maybe 20
hours a week.
Grade "F" Basher: A complete idiot, most readers are not convinced he knows
anything about stocks in general. The type that says a stock "sucks", but gives no
rationale, shows up every so often but no regular schedule.
LEARN ABOUT HOW BASHERS WORK: For instance: did you know
that some Bashers are paid?
Golden Rule
IGNORE THEM FOLKS...learn how professional Bashers are paid: When you
REPLY to Bashers you give them an opportunity to earn appox. 5-7 dollars. The
service agreement they enter into with their employer states their messages will be
monitored for content, profanity, lies, etc. but Overseers and the like don't have the
time to check all their Bashers messages. Only occasional spot
checks are done. Those who manage the Basher will generally
read the headlines to see if a Basher is replying to other posters by name. That tells
them the Basher isn't just "posting blindly" or repeating the same message over and
over since they won't pay for those.(True to form a Basher will put the bite on anyone,
even their unscrupulous employer). A Basher will attempt to milk three to five replies
per post at one to two dollars each. This way the Basher spreads negative influence
to as many stockholders as possible. A Basher will create this discussion thread
because it takes less time reading more messages than is necessary. This ultimately
allows the Basher more time to post and make money. In general,
NEVER ENGAGE A BASHER. Make them read all the posts
and think up ways to enter the discussion.
NEVER ENGAGE A BASHER; if you do so then YOU BECOME THE
BASHER,S AID! If you feel compelled to challenge a Basher do so without
mentioning his/her true alias in your response. This will make it hard for the Basher to
use your post as a revenue stream. Read the news ,do your own homework and
make your own decisions. Get real time quotes and follow the stock for a couple of
weeks. Due Diligence
is key here.Know that there will be a time when the stock runs up which will be
followed followed by the Bashers and those that missed the boat.
The Bashers will trash the stock by saying such things as "it's a Pump and Dump"
and "the company is lying" and deceiving. There goal is to scare off newbies and
potential new investors by "shaking" you out of your shares. Take the time to confirm
your DD ,trust your own judgement and believe in yourself, pick your point of return or
loss
and live with it. Don't listen to hype or Bashers trust your own judgement. Live by the
rules you have created .
HOW TO IDENTIFY A BASHER
1. Check the "Born on Date" Bashers create identities on a regular basis. Rarely do
you find a Basher with older "Created On" date. So click on the Identity icon for more
details.
2. Take the time to look at the Basher's history of Posts. Go to other boards and see
if their is a pattern to the theme of the posts. Bashers rarely waste time trying to blend
in with "positive" posts, unless they are cultivating a new uninformed assistant.
3. When did the Basher show up. Bashers rarely show up when activity is in at a Lull.
They show up when activity up/down.
4. Bashers never answer direct questions except with another question.
5. Bashers do work in teams (sometimes themselves as a team). So be suspicious
of someone showing up and automatically having a Shadow to converse with who
supports their argument.
6. Bashers always select "an argument" that can never be resolved by research.
Helpful Links
CEO of Company Strikes Back at Bashers
ragingbull.com
Day Trader Busted for Posting Bogus Lucent Release 3/31/00
dailynews.yahoo.com
Manipulation of the markets in general:
Message 8437076
Market Maker is caught Bashing a stock he represented!!!
bigcharts.com
How MM's make money:
ragingbull.com
Link to comments by a former MM:
ragingbull.com
Link to posts about Bashers being busted:
ragingbull.com |
