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To: David Lawrence who wrote (58)	2/11/1998 9:51:00 PM
From: Randall	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 263

David: Your message brought-up some very important points. I have some counter points on how the problem you identified might actually be avoided when the option of expulsion(s) is put in the hands of the thread's members. <<< The problem you will encounter is that shorts or people who are negative on a stock will be viewed by the majority as "bad people". I've found that, more often than not, the shorts are at least as well educated on the fundamentals and technicals as the longs, but being in the minority they are often shouted down. They tend to be treated as a hostile witness, and must respond in the same manner. >>> A wise person learns from the mistakes of others. Wise people on the thread would be the ones who would not click the "Expel" button whenever they see a dissenting opinion about a company or its stock price, and thereby prevent a majority vote of expulsion of the "short" member. Hopefully, there would be enough wise people on the thread to keep objectivity alive - and the shorter on the thread. If not, then I suppose the thread would remain gleeful and happy as it went to all time highs or down in flames (from which a new thread could be born) - as it wouldn't be listening to the shorter (or heckler). Either way, there would be no regrets for any one particular member having ruined a thread. The majority spoke, and their cause was taken to the limit with camaraderie. And the shorters would have their own thread to bias the talk in their direction without being heckled. If a thread had "Expel" capability, there might be a lot less effort going into shouting-down a short member. Vigorous and painfully composed posts designed to debunk a heckler (or a short) would occur less frequently. Those who would be tempted to speak badly about a short might find it easier to simply forget about composing a bitter letter, click the "Expel" box, and move on. Those who would insist on blasting (flaming) a short would probably get pressure from other (wise) members on the thread to "put a sock in it" and click the "Expel" button. This would cut down on even more bickering. <<< The RACE thread comes to mind as an example. A $22 stock a little over 12 months ago, now you can buy all you want for $2.50. 28,000 posts on the regular thread, and almost 36,000 in their Clubhouse. They had and have a very loyal following, comprised largely of intelligent, well-informed, well-meaning people. Yet, all the way from $22 to $2, let someone negative on the stock show up and the crew was ready to pounce on them, denouncing them as a short seller and promoting the imminent good fortune of the company. >>> What would happen if a group of like-minded shorters formed a thread that they could control as a free thinking discussion about the positives of selling a stock short (e.g. at what price, why the fundamentals look weak)? They would have the capability to keep longs (or hecklers) off of the thread by majority rule. Longs would still be able to monitor the thread to learn what they could about the opposition's thoughts, and they could post on the short thread until they got expelled by the majority. No bickering, just free flow of information and thought provoking discussions. Any single person with a disruptive agenda would be blown away by the majority. I don't know what the difference between the Regular thread and the "Clubhouse" thread is all about. (I've never heard of a Clubhouse thread.) How is the Clubhouse thread moderated, or is it? <<< The RACE thread is certainly not alone in having these characteristics. It is the nature of the masses to hold a long position, and to be negative towards anyone who promotes a contrary opinion. >>> This is nothing that a few more "short" threads couldn't solve. As I am sure you already know, there is nothing wrong with selling a stock short, of course. It is a necessary component of the free market. In very simplistic terms, it keeps stock prices held in check and diminishes major swings in a stock price which would tend to slam the investor at the peak of a stock price. However, it takes a dedicated person to develop such a (short) style - and I do not think that their odds of winning-out are equal, much less better, than the longs odds. I have been tempted to sell a stock or two short, but I will likely never try it myself. Perhaps each stock that has a "long" thread ought to have a "short" thread. This wouldn't be necessary as long as the temperament of the "long" thread could handle the open discussion. I am sure your are correct that there would be negativity towards any short on a long thread. One would only hope that the negativity wouldn't get too personal. But if it did, then the majority could step-in and expel them to a "short" thread. Regards, Randall