I disagree, because if I'm an HFT trader and using the same technical analysis trigger points, there is no trap door waiting for me, I know where other HFTs are setting their marks, and if I don't happen to be focused on a specific mark of another HFT when a so-called trap door opens, I'm not exposed to that trade anyway, I'm focused on something else. And, any trap doors that do open, I'm going to see or be alerted to after they occur to react accordingly, whether I'm watching that stock to make a trade or not. One does not have to be in a position all the time to make a position. Most of the time, I'm waiting on someone else to make the first move, let them leap off the cliff first so I can decide if I want to follow them or not.
Some of us aren't the lemmings like others that appear to be in this thread...
And since I'm always watching the VIX and have my own alerts and triggers set, as soon as it moves, I'm moving with it as quickly as any other HFT is.
Just because a non-HFT or automated trader is stuck in retail, or isn't as closely (as in a higher execution latency time across the network) as an HFT is connected to their broker/dealer or the exchange directly as the IBs or BDs are themselves, doesn't mean there's something wrong with the system.
What's wrong is that you're not keeping up with technology, and getting burned by it, or blaming market makers allegedly hiding as props, is nothing but sour grapes.
Don't blame the game, blame the player. In this case, it's you for not being able to play as well as the competition to win. The markets aren't fair, it is war by all definitions, the rules of the playground are always in effect, and may the best man get rich.
Quote from Lights:
HFT market makers DO NOT ADD LIQUIDITY. They add VOLUME.
And there is a big difference between liquidity and volume.
Say volume is 12 billion shares, who cares. 75% of volume isn't even real. when the news event occurs, or the HFT programs which trade off technical analysis and open interest watch the trap door opens, then there's nobody there to buy. You can see this when VIX volatility increases there is much more volume yet more slippage ie in 2008 bear.