Even in just the last 2 days, I feel like I've seen the merit in NOT begin so mechanical. There's something to be said about having a rule, but when it feels like a vice, that's something different. Then I'm not sure if I'm in "no man's land" wondering if I'm doing something out in left field. I still have a lot to determine. As much as I thought the strictly mechanical might be for me, I think it's just step 1 in feeling comfortable with the approach in general.
When I began the first thread, If You Can Draw A Straight Line, I included several modifications or options or whatever one wants to call them to prevent the approach from being too rigid. People were of course hopelessly confused. So I began the Son thread, leaving out all but a few. Still too many. So the Bride thread became bare bones, the objective of which was to get the trader to focus on price and only price and whether it was going up, down, or sideways. This was far more appealing. But those who have followed it have begun to realize that though they are more focused they are too focused, that there's more to it than the rigid bare bones.
Nick and I decided that playing this mechanically so that the trader had little or nothing to do but follow the rules would be beneficial. And eventually it may be. But only the most seriously-damaged traders will follow the rules in this way, and the most seriously-damaged traders are those who are least likely to mess with this at all.
If Nick had followed the "optional accessories" explained in the first thread, he would at least have had the option of taking that rejection at 0943/44. If he had, this would have meant a 10-11pt profit for that trade. Instead he waited for the obvious ret and entry 8pts later.
Traders therefore have three options, from the "regular" to the simpler to the simplest. And it's really up to the trader to try on one then another until he finds the right fit. I'll remind readers again that they needn't read 4000 posts to get this. What they need to know from the first thread is in the last post. What they need to know from the second and third threads are at the beginnings of those threads. Links to all these are provided at the beginning of the Ghost thread.
And if those who complain about not enough charts can't find enough in 4000 posts, they ought to investigate some other approach.
As far as chat goes, I'll read price, not lines, and if something whizzes by, the whizzee will have to work it out in his journal.