Quote from dbphoenix:
It has nothing to do with lines, straight or otherwise, but rather with an understanding of the nature of supply and demand.
As to the "principle" behind technical analysis, what might that be?
The market is systemmatic.
And while one might argue that few have what it takes to make the leap to scientific analysis, one might also argue that many have been there done that and don't see the point, particularly when they've been analyzing for years and still can't tell the difference between up and down.
There is no diffierence beween up or down. the system of operation of the market is cyclic. Both types of trends continue when price moves TOWARDS the Right Trend Line. A trends end when the price fails to reach the left trendline.(/color]
As to secrecy, of course. In fact there's more secrecy cloaking the process and results of all this scientific analysis than there is the alleged cover-up of alien visitations.
My viewpoint (opinion) is different than yours. Most "scientific research" gets off on the wrong foot. I feel this is very evident by virtue of most making an effort to noe differentiate or know the variable roles (scientifically speaking). Most "scientific research" fails from day one onward because price is treated scientifically as the "independent variable" when in fact, It is the dependent variable. Most often, those in orderly discussions do not know to begin with the independent variable of the markets.
Thus, "scientific research" is not done on the system of operation of markets. If you look at the NSF grant awards, you can easily notice that the CV's of the award winners show that not much "science" is involved on any front.
Yet for all those who claim to know but don't say, they sure do post a lot.
I agre that discussing logical failures is not a common topic of discussion. There is little scientific gain in discussing what isn't "good science".