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> This conversation has degenerated into those "brokers" tryng to defend
> themselves vs the TRUTH.
The TRUTH, eh? That's a good one; you hooked me, and here I go.
Oh yeah, so we can get this out of the way now, I'm a broker,
been one for six months, never cold-called anyone (never will),
never tried to sell a trade to anyone (never will), been a trader
(good and mostly bad) for years. But it should be totally
clear to everyone that despite my background as an individual
trader and as a human process analyst, I can ONLY be here for
the purpose of promoting myself. Okay? Sticks = scammer, right?
Now, where was I?
There's no such absolute truth out there, Tex. There is only reality, and
the individual struggle to understand one's perspective. TRUTH doesn't
exist, because there is no single standalone unbendable reality for
everyone.
> Enough said.
Not hardly; you've completely missed the point. Somebody wants to learn
to trade commodities; to whom should they turn? The infamous public
library? That broker who's bugging them at dinnertime? A big name
system vendor? A highly successful private trader?
NO. I mean, yes. I mean... the "TRUTH" is that there is no one method
that will work for everyone. I'd venture to say that there isn't one
style or source for learning that even works for *most* people. The
library isn't any different from Traders Press except that the more
limited set of books there are comparatively free to read. A broker
may know what he's doing, or he may be an ex-telemarketer trying to
churn up more money. Gurus are good at selling their stuff, except
that some of them actually and occasionally have something interesting
and useful to say. Successful traders, so far as I've seen,
are more likely good traders than good teachers. Sitting at the feet
of the master is useless if you and the master can't communicate.
Think about it. If any one method or style or source was demonstrated
to be successful for most people, then that method would be obvious
and in widespread use by an enormous number of people. Nope, I
don't see it, either. So, what is the new trader to do, then?
A new trader should sample from, evaluate and choose whatever source
of learning and information he or she feels is most valuable. That
is a grown-up process of absorbing, evaluating and prioritizing
a vast array of possibilities; it is not a one-week trip to the
bookstore. The assertion that no one should ever consult a broker
is just as ridiculous as an assertion that no one should ever
read a book. If there is a possibility that good information might
come from a broker, then by all means that should be investigated
along with everything else, in the same careful, skeptical and
methodical way.
Of the clients I have, a couple of them have really
benefitted from using me in various capacities beyond simply
transferring orders to the market. For some, it probably hasn't
mattered much, and some of my clients don't really give a damn
what I do. Am I saying that I'm a trade-picking genius or a market
know-it-all who graces all traders with brilliant insight? Heck, no.
Those who benefit are doing so from the synergy in the relationship,
not because I lead them around the markets by the nose. If I could do
that, I'd be a wildly successful trader. MY forte is in analyzing
the behavior and processes of others, not trading. Those people who
need my information and that form of filtering do well; those that
do not simply use me as a competent order and position manager.
No one source of information is totally valid, and no one source of
information is totally useless. A statement as broad as to categorize
all brokers as having zero use, however, is absurd. Broker help and
advice is not useful TO YOU, but that has little bearing on where all
other traders should look. Some will find that their reality matches
yours, and some will not.
TRUTH? Only if your reality coincides with that.
Sticks
--
Troutman, Defender of Sticks (aka) Jonathan Matte, President
troutman@xxxxxxxxxxxx Defender Capital Management, Inc.
Introducing Broker
http://www.teleport.com/~troutman
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