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pse

Member

Post Number: 207
Registered: 10-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0


Monday, April 14, 2008 - 12:38 pm:

Over the past number of months I've noticed declining participation at this forum.

I myself have contributed to this decline. I havent been posting. We all know why that is, but lets not go into that.

This aside, there have been some regular and significant participants who have disappeared. Even the hilarius thread seems to be waning.

Two questions.

1] assuming others sense a shift at IC, why do you believe there has been a decline in participation at this forum?

2] what can be done to increase the participation/ what would you like to see done?

- Peter

"TRADE WHAT IS, NOT WHAT MIGHT BE"

colin_twiggs

Member

Post Number: 3161
Registered: 09-2002

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Votes: 0


Monday, April 14, 2008 - 01:37 pm:

Peter,

Past departing posters have predicted the decline of the forum only to see it grow at any ever-increasing rate. There is a natural attrition rate as well as a healthy inflow of new contributors.

What would you like to see changed?

Regards,
Colin

pse

Member

Post Number: 208
Registered: 10-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0


Monday, April 14, 2008 - 02:13 pm:

not "predicting" the overall decline of the forum, i would like to see IC flourish. rather, commenting on the present lull at IC.

is it simply the cycle of things or are there other reasons?

myself, having gravitated to and experienced other forums, lean more towards "other reasons", but to-date have not fully formed an opinion.

at present i am interested in what others have to say and possible solutions.

"TRADE WHAT IS, NOT WHAT MIGHT BE"

sway

Member

Post Number: 207
Registered: 12-2005

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Votes: 0


Monday, April 14, 2008 - 02:17 pm:

Peter
I've heard of a theory that number of posts is related to market sentiment. There ARE a lot of bears around as you may have noticed.
Sway

captain_chaza

Member

Post Number: 3146
Registered: 02-2003

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0


Monday, April 14, 2008 - 07:11 pm:

Ahoy pse

It is only _____ like you that post such nonsense

To quote
"I myself have contributed to this decline. I havent been posting. We all know why that is, but lets not go into that."

I say "Let's all go into all of that !!!"
Let's go into it, pse ?

You have never ever said anything worthwhile

This is now your chance!

Who are you blaming for your misfortunes?

Not me I hope?

Salute and Gods' speed

(Message edited by colin_twiggs on April 15, 2008)

"While we stop and think, we often miss our opportunity." Publilius Syrus, 1st century B.C.

"I believe the future is only the past again, entered through another gate."
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero 1893

"There are two times in a man's life when he should not speculate: When he can't afford it, and when he can." Mark Twain, 1897

pse

Member

Post Number: 209
Registered: 10-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0


Monday, April 14, 2008 - 07:23 pm:

why are you feeling responsible charles?

"TRADE WHAT IS, NOT WHAT MIGHT BE"

captain_chaza

Member

Post Number: 3147
Registered: 02-2003

Rating:
Votes: 1


Monday, April 14, 2008 - 07:38 pm:

Ahoy pse (all in lower case)

Who Else are you going to Blame?

I was not born yesterday!

NOW LET"S GO ON!

Let's see how really sea-sick you really are?!

WHO DO YOU BLAME?

Salute

pse

Member

Post Number: 210
Registered: 10-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0


Monday, April 14, 2008 - 07:58 pm:

i think you've missed the point of the original post charles. not everything is about YOU; although if you continue on there's a good chance the post will become that way.

if you werent so defensive/offensive, you would give yourself an opportunity to either ignore the original post if it doesnt appeal to you or alternatively, contribute something of substance.

- Peter

PS how do you ever expect to trade to the best of your ability when you continually allow yourself to be tripped up by your emotions, charles??

"TRADE WHAT IS, NOT WHAT MIGHT BE"

captain_chaza

Member

Post Number: 3148
Registered: 02-2003

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0


Monday, April 14, 2008 - 09:23 pm:

Ahoy pse

I agree I am an emotional man

But a Seaman I am First and Last

That's just the sort of guy I am, I guess

Salute and Gods' speed

ohkoolnutz

Member

Post Number: 736
Registered: 10-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0


Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 05:44 pm:

I still read but don't post. Three years ago this board was heavily focused on the short-term thread. People continuously posted setups of triangles, diamonds and trendlines. It all stopped happening about 18 months ago. A lot of people must have left. If you go for quick frequent setups you get tired easily. If you go for slow infrequent setups you are easily bored waiting for them. Neither lends itself for much of a job satisfaction.

I stopped posting because I noticed that predictability of prices is futile. If this is so then the forum is no help since a dart board will be a faster way of picking a stock to jump in and out of. Frankly I would always advise people against stock trading because I can think of a lot more rewarding and stressless ways to spend time.

---
ohk

Lies, Damn Lies and Technical Analysis

pse

Member

Post Number: 211
Registered: 10-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0


Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 06:24 pm:

oh-kool-nutz
unusual name!

so,
you say that you dont trade because its not profitable for you nor is it a satisfying occupation; fair enough.

and i'm extrapolating from this, that the implication is, others may be having the same experience as yourself.

perhaps, exacerbated by present market conditions???

conclusion, when the bear morphs into a bull, once again, IC participation will naturally increase!?

"TRADE WHAT IS, NOT WHAT MIGHT BE"

dug

Member

Post Number: 3038
Registered: 07-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0


Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 12:03 pm:

pse/Peter,
I think the Time Delay Function should be lifted off New Posters.This time delay was instituted chiefly to save us from Rampers and frankly I'd rather read a High Flying Ramp than nothing at all!!
That Time Delay is also a Moderators Sanction just highlights the Negative Impact it has on New Posters.

Also it should NOT be assumed that New Posters are Green/Inexperienced in need of indoctrination in this Forum's Party Line.They [d'New/Fresh Meat] might just have something interesting to say,a new angle they're working on.Certainly they should not be presented with the IC Historic Fait Accompli or some condescending pat on the head.

That's if they do say 100 words.I get really peeved by one line posters.

Also more info should be brought out on the Search Function.Not so much on an individual share,maybe but that Box up in the Left Hand Corner of the Topics Page.
Also the email function should be pointed out more.
These two are the Strengths of the IC Forum IMHO and should be highlighted.

Peter,I also think the recent rush to by the minute trading in Currency etc is detrimental to raising new membership.IC thru Colin used to be very negative on Day Trading but it seems now that's all any member wants to talk about.Along with "Thank God I hold Nothing" Daily Posts.

cheers.

Even 'til Jaded.

Dig for the sake of it.

rdumas

Member

Post Number: 1319
Registered: 11-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0


Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 02:43 pm:

Hi Peter,

My take on it is as follows:

For the sake of the argument let us define the time frames that people trade in just so that we're reading off the same page.

Short term : hours to days
Medium term: weeks to months
Long term : years

Whilst there would be quite a few short term traders on this forum I would suggest that the this type of forum is more suited to the medium term trader.

For credibility sake generally people like to post 'before the event' in way that allows the poster to make a proposed trade and the reasons for it and then to allow time to lapse so that those interested in the proposed trade can see how the outcome develops. The outcome of the trade can then be discussed and conclusions drawn from it to use in future trades. A lot of discussion can occur during this medium term trade.

Short term trading posts move so quickly that one almost has to say in a post that this is what I did in this trade and this was the outcome. Often these people are accused of being 'after the fact heros' and their credibility is called into question. The alternative in short term trading is to almost give a 'running commentary' on the progress of the trade over a number of hours which takes up a lot of bandwidth and people would probably complain about the number of posts. For this reason the short term trader posts are not suited for this type of forum.

With long term traders once the poster has stated their strategy and portfolio the number of further posts tends to bore others because there is no real action that can be discussed because the portfolio is set in concrete for long periods of time. Any changes in the market conditions tends to be treated as 'so what's interesting about that' because the investor has very little intention of making changes to the portfolio on the basis of relatively short term changing market conditions.

Which brings us back to your question.......why have the number of posts diminished? I would suggest that it is because the current market volatility (and bearishness) isn't really suited for medium term trading discussions (as per my definition) and hence the number of people actually trading has diminished to reflect this change in market conditions. I would further suggest that when the market conditions become bullish for longer periods of time then more people will be trading and hence the number of posts will increase.

The only other discussions that medium term traders can have are those of the nature that Dug mocked and others obviously get upset about because they don't concentrate on the act of trading which is what this forum platform is essentially about.