I knew a Specialist (specialist vs mm is like street walker vs. hooker) on the Amex who told me some very special stories, and I remembered them. But one thing he told me struck home..(his mother was in the same firm).
"Mom always told me, a teenie is a teenie......."
It is the way they think. Knowing that should help you.
You should also realize that they will trade dog feces if there is volume. That should tell you what you're dealing with.
As a trader, I never like hanging my order out in front of them. If I'm buying, I like to pick them off with limit orders, and if I don't get what I want, I cancel. and wait. I've had more success with that, and I don't feel I have the "go ahead and rape me" sign out there. But that's a personal phobia I have. I've seen way to much. I have lived in dog years.
And buy the way, if you are trying to accumulate, and you see that block Brandon is talking about, the overhead is probably gone, and it a great indicator you are going higher. Works well w/ Nasdaq issues. You can scan for that. I'm not that sophisticated.
This is simple stuff, but I think a lot of blown up guys get too sophisticated.