Quote from brotherben:
....take a win when you can, taking a loss is not a choice....
Only the gist of these statements, if understood, is valid. As prescribed, these statements profess an inappropriate doctrine for the experienced and newbie alike.
"take a win when you can"... Taking a win is the expectancy at the point in time an opening or add trade is executed.
Expectancy is not a crap shoot, ie. take it when you can. A trader who is "surprised" when his/her methods and techniques produce expected outcome is nothing more then a "hope-based" trader.
"taking a loss is not a choice"... Since a trade is entered into based on expectancy, taking a loss (or neutrality at best) is not a choice UNTIL expectancy at that point in time changes to loss (or neutrality). Regardless of technique, method, or style, change is ALWAYS an option for the market, therefore the trader, therefore the traders existing positions. When presented with the option of taking a loss(or neutrality), the trader who relies solely on expectancy is nothing more than a "hope-based" trader.
Disbelief of expectancy, whether through surprise, reliance, or reluctance, regardless of method, technique or trade style is hope-based trading. Expectancy is dynamic and imperfect across all techniques, methods and trade styles, yet scalable across all techniques, methods and trade styles. Taking a loss is not a choice, it is inevitable.
Strong coffee this morning.
Osorico
