Simulated trading IS what it is - a convenient method of 'keeping score' , but woefully lacking in 'real consequences' to the trader. Nonetheless, I've been pursuing my trading goals (dreams? ) on and off for years now, and feel I have paid more than my fair share of real tuition 
So it's kinda the lesser of two evils at this point in time, and I am grateful for such technological advances within the industry. (That is to say, it beats the hell out of trading the NYSE contract, using ten minute delayed data, calling the broker on the phone - and all for the experience of having your head handed to ya - hahaha).
Yep, I'm a "quackajack" ( ya gotta love that term - no matter how condescending, the originality and humor demands some credit). I arrived on the scene somewhere near the end of the Equities II journal, and it just so happened I was starting to sense the importance of observing volume in my own stuff. So that discussion grabbed my attention - and then once it was stated that a Futures journal was starting first of the year, the hook was set.
Fast forward 4 months or so - I've been simming the Hershey methods pretty much from the get-go, against the recommendations of Spyder, et al. My inability to follow the rules may actually be exposing flaws in my trading psyche, but we each have to follow our chosen path. Results have been positive from the onset, but always with the unavoidable 'self' caveat of "you're just playing a friggin' arcade game". Thus my decision to go 'public' - if I'm not yet prepared to risk real money (I will refrain from live trading until the end of the 'course'), at least I can up the ante a bit by risking public humiliation and ridicule My purpose here is quite selfish - just looking for a means to add more accountability for my time spent, and perhaps to even receive some constructive criticisms from my 'peers'. Considering the current environment here at ET, I shouldn't lack for any revilements due to personal failings. 
Finally, a couple of personal stickpins: I have a very risk-averse nature, and I also suffer from perfectionism. It is oft stated that a trader must find a method that is compatible w/ his personality - thus, for me, the allure of scalping. Naturally, this is in direct opposition to the "hold" philosophy , and it is something with which I struggle every day.
The game plan:
> Trade times (and any charts) in the Central time zone
> Trading "account" will start w/ 20K - should losses exceed 25% of the acct, trading will cease, and I shall slink away, never to be heard from again - lol
> Trade will normally be entered w/ one contract, and the max. allowed cts will be four. ( I try to add to winners when warranted, and have often been known to avg. down my entry, when perceived as poorly timed)
> I normally trade on a daily basis during RTH, altho I usually take several breaks during the day (in case I happen to miss the perfect setup - I can say I was away from the screen ) If I know I won't be able to trade any particular day, I will so state the night prior (to alleve any thoughts of 'conveniently failing to post a horrendous day')
> Daily results will be Hypersnapped from my Bracket Trader windows, which is fed via IB, and posted after I've shut down for the day . One shortcoming in BT is that additional contracts added/removed during a trade are only timestamped at the begin or end times - I will try to add the actual times for such occurrences
> Total # of trades often end in the 20-30/day range, due to the above noted scalping affliction (also, this does not imply that I am practicing SCT - I rarely reverse at this juncture)
> Greatest effort is utilized to "buy the ask and sell the bid" (in other words, it became obvious very early on that limit orders in sim are about as far from reality as one can get) However, I will use stop orders for breakouts and such, and any slippage will remain one of those unknown variants
> I will attempt to post chart snips of meaningful trades derived from proper signals, per the methods
Full disclosure: Bottom line, I'm a plugger, and as such, all actual results will fall squarely on my shoulders. Athough I am attempting to use all the tools offered under the Hershey banner, I do not profess any real skill level w/ such at this time, and can only hope to improve. That idea alone is the true goal here.
Let the games begin ... (starting Mon. a.m., Mar. 26, 2007)
So it's kinda the lesser of two evils at this point in time, and I am grateful for such technological advances within the industry. (That is to say, it beats the hell out of trading the NYSE contract, using ten minute delayed data, calling the broker on the phone - and all for the experience of having your head handed to ya - hahaha).Yep, I'm a "quackajack" ( ya gotta love that term - no matter how condescending, the originality and humor demands some credit). I arrived on the scene somewhere near the end of the Equities II journal, and it just so happened I was starting to sense the importance of observing volume in my own stuff. So that discussion grabbed my attention - and then once it was stated that a Futures journal was starting first of the year, the hook was set.
Fast forward 4 months or so - I've been simming the Hershey methods pretty much from the get-go, against the recommendations of Spyder, et al. My inability to follow the rules may actually be exposing flaws in my trading psyche, but we each have to follow our chosen path. Results have been positive from the onset, but always with the unavoidable 'self' caveat of "you're just playing a friggin' arcade game". Thus my decision to go 'public' - if I'm not yet prepared to risk real money (I will refrain from live trading until the end of the 'course'), at least I can up the ante a bit by risking public humiliation and ridicule
My purpose here is quite selfish - just looking for a means to add more accountability for my time spent, and perhaps to even receive some constructive criticisms from my 'peers'. Considering the current environment here at ET, I shouldn't lack for any revilements due to personal failings. Finally, a couple of personal stickpins: I have a very risk-averse nature, and I also suffer from perfectionism. It is oft stated that a trader must find a method that is compatible w/ his personality - thus, for me, the allure of scalping. Naturally, this is in direct opposition to the "hold" philosophy , and it is something with which I struggle every day.
The game plan:
> Trade times (and any charts) in the Central time zone
> Trading "account" will start w/ 20K - should losses exceed 25% of the acct, trading will cease, and I shall slink away, never to be heard from again - lol
> Trade will normally be entered w/ one contract, and the max. allowed cts will be four. ( I try to add to winners when warranted, and have often been known to avg. down my entry, when perceived as poorly timed)
> I normally trade on a daily basis during RTH, altho I usually take several breaks during the day (in case I happen to miss the perfect setup - I can say I was away from the screen
) If I know I won't be able to trade any particular day, I will so state the night prior (to alleve any thoughts of 'conveniently failing to post a horrendous day')> Daily results will be Hypersnapped from my Bracket Trader windows, which is fed via IB, and posted after I've shut down for the day . One shortcoming in BT is that additional contracts added/removed during a trade are only timestamped at the begin or end times - I will try to add the actual times for such occurrences
> Total # of trades often end in the 20-30/day range, due to the above noted scalping affliction (also, this does not imply that I am practicing SCT - I rarely reverse at this juncture)
> Greatest effort is utilized to "buy the ask and sell the bid" (in other words, it became obvious very early on that limit orders in sim are about as far from reality as one can get) However, I will use stop orders for breakouts and such, and any slippage will remain one of those unknown variants
> I will attempt to post chart snips of meaningful trades derived from proper signals, per the methods
Full disclosure: Bottom line, I'm a plugger, and as such, all actual results will fall squarely on my shoulders. Athough I am attempting to use all the tools offered under the Hershey banner, I do not profess any real skill level w/ such at this time, and can only hope to improve. That idea alone is the true goal here.
Let the games begin ... (starting Mon. a.m., Mar. 26, 2007)
