This is the best thread I have come across in awhile. I agree with "No PM's Please" and his assessment of envy as it applies to almost anything in life. If, like most people have, you ever go thru a phase where you consciously attempt to attract attention to yourself either thru buying flashy cars, wearing expensive designer clothing, buying a big house, etc, etc...inevitably you find out that people MAY give you more respect, but that the odds are even greater that they will become very envious of you...Once that envy begins, it doesnt go away quickly...Instead it sort of grows and grows, until you realize that these people you thought were your friends are secretly trying to compete with you, and oftentimes, trying to undermine you at any chance they get...
I have also observed that when people get into this mindset, and then try and find a social clique that has similar goals, or people of similar affleunce, whether perceived or real, that many of them are always trying to "one up" the other...Its fine and everyone is happy when the times are good and the cash flow is steady...But these same people are the ones whose lives completely fall apart if anything goes wrong financially...Those people with the high monthly overhead, the expensive acquaintances to impress are always in a real bind when they have any setback financially...
The upside, imo, to trading is that gradually, over time, you do begin to lose some of the ego involved with making money or being a trader...There are just too many highs and lows to stay in a perpetual ego-state, that I think everyone seems to find some sort of comfort level for their lifestyle...unfortunately, I guess some people could also say that many dont find this comfort level soon enough, as booms and busts in financial markets tend to overshoot on both ends of the spectrum...
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