This forum

[Baron]

The Hall of Fame has been mentioned in this thread so here is the direct link if you want to spend some time browsing:

https://www.elitetrader.com/et/pages/hall-of-fame/

And I want to make it clear that Elite Trader was established based on two premises:

1. Trading profitably is difficult.
2. Trading is lonely.

So this site was originally established for traders to interact with each other so that they can collectively get smarter over time. No single person has all the answers in life, so this premise makes complete sense.

The other part of the equation is that after you've made your trading decisions and put on certain positions, much of what you have to endure involves waiting around and a lot of patience. In fact, trading can often feel like watching paint dry, which is where the loneliness factor comes into play. So ET also exists as a way for you to not feel like an island unto yourself as you wait around for things to hopefully go in your favor. That's why we have some off-topic forums for you to spend some time talking about other areas of life in addition to the typical trading forums.

Here we are almost 25 years later and nothing has changed. In many ways, Elite Trader is for true seekers. There is no doubt that buried within the archives here are many nuggets of wisdom. Some may even be life-changing. But what is one man's trash is another man's treasure, so the treasures you find here can only be found by you, and may likely be overlooked by many others, but that's OK. So even though ET was never designed to be a guru site that says "Do this and you'll get rich", the potential to find some approaches and methodologies that have some real value to your trading are right here. But just like finding gold isn't an easy task, you're going to need your shovel, your sifting pan, and most importantly, a lot of perseverance to find what it is you're looking for.

And as the ancient text says, "Seek and you shall find."

 

[KGTrader4]

This is a great post, thank you.

as the guy who started this thread, I just want to say, I’m not looking for the holy grail. I’ve been around long enough to know it doesn’t exist. I’d almost say, I’m interested in trading as a hobby. But I don’t want that taken as denigrating to those doing it for a living. I also don’t intend to dabble. I’ll put in the work.

my goal here, on FinTwit, and elsewhere is to find the path the tools and the ideas to develop my own process, not to look for nuggets that I can trade. I’m interested in learning to fish, not being given a fish.

Baron, thanks for responding with your thoughts.

 

[Rams Fan]

In many ways, Elite Trader is for true seekers.

I think that's right.

 

[deaddog]

I’d almost say, I’m interested in trading as a hobby. But I don’t want that taken as denigrating to those doing it for a living. I also don’t intend to dabble. I’ll put in the work.

Don't consider it a hobby. Hobbies are for enjoyment and entertainment and cost you money. Think of it as a home based business. With a business you're planning to make money.

 

[Overnight]

...So ET also exists as a way for you to not feel like an island unto yourself as you wait around for hopefully things to go in your favor. That's why we have some off-topic forums for you to spend some time talking about other areas of life in addition to the typical trading forums...

You are as profound as a poet, man.

That's why you let me hang around here. So I can remind you of this in video analogy. ;-)

 

[KCalhoun]

The Hall of Fame has been mentioned in this thread so here is the direct link if you want to spend some time browsing:

https://www.elitetrader.com/et/pages/hall-of-fame/

And I want to make it clear that Elite Trader was established based on two premises:

1. Trading profitably is difficult.
2. Trading is lonely.

So this site was originally established for traders to interact with each other so that they can collectively get smarter over time. No single person has all the answers in life, so this premise makes complete sense.

The other part of the equation is that after you've made your trading decisions and put on certain positions, much of what you have to endure involves waiting around and a lot of patience. In fact, trading can often feel like watching paint dry, which is where the loneliness factor comes into play. So ET also exists as a way for you to not feel like an island unto yourself as you wait around for things to hopefully go in your favor. That's why we have some off-topic forums for you to spend some time talking about other areas of life in addition to the typical trading forums.

Here we are almost 25 years later and nothing has changed. In many ways, Elite Trader is for true seekers. There is no doubt that buried within the archives here are many nuggets of wisdom. Some may even be life-changing. But what is one man's trash is another man's treasure, so the treasures you find here can only be found by you, and may likely be overlooked by many others, but that's OK. So even though ET was never designed to be a guru site that says "Do this and you'll get rich", the potential to find some approaches and methodologies that have some real value to your trading are right here. But just like finding gold isn't an easy task, you're going to need your shovel, your sifting pan, and most importantly, a lot of perseverance to find what it is you're looking for.

And as the ancient text says, "Seek and you shall find."

Baron's thoughtful post motivated me to return as a sponsor, it's a worthwhile place... thx!

esp. the part about being lonely... if your guys' experience is like mine, family members' eyes glaze over when we try and talk about trading, sigh. Here, we share a common passion for trading, it's the best community for active traders.

 

[KGTrader4]

Don't consider it a hobby. Hobbies are for enjoyment and entertainment and cost you money. Think of it as a home based business. With a business you're planning to make money.

I like this idea.
In the process of setting up my home based business.

 

[HobbyTrading]

I’d almost say, I’m interested in trading as a hobby.

That's more or less how I started here. Things developed over time.
https://www.elitetrader.com/et/threads/trading-as-a-hobby.305910/

 

[KGTrader4]

It looks like when I come back to the forum and want to read new posts in a thread, I have two choices
1. Click on the thread, then click again to go to the last page, and scroll down to find the posts I haven’t read yet
2. Click on the little arrow to the right of the thread title which will take me to the last post of the thread, then scroll up to find the posts made since I was last in the thread.

am I missing something? Is there a way to just click something that will take me to the first post since I was last here?

EDIT: never mind, I found the “go to first unread” button.

 

[stonedinvestor]

Is overwhelming for a new guy. Between this and FinTwit I can spend all day going through stuff

I’ve been spending my time here in the Trading (here) section. But there are all these other sections (journals, tech analysis, etc) that look interesting. So my question is, where should I spend my time if I could only pick one (or maybe two) sections? I’m a former (retired) financial advisor, did asset allocation and didn’t trade short term for a living. I’m looking to learn to swing trade, what to look for in set ups, etc. where is my time best spent? (Maybe it’s here, just tell me?)

thanks in advance

Obviously if you are into swinging you are in the wrong section. Get with GBA: Stoney & Van
just leave the German Shepard home.