Many interesting posts here,and this last idea,I think I do understand, having recently been practicing it as a focus of technique.
In trading forex, I'm finding it works this way.... Before even thinking of making a trade...I establish a comprehensive pre-trade analysis of all the TA data that means something to me.... for my technique, that means,setting up multipile time frame charts side by side, with CCI, multiple SMA's and fib levels,as well as all trendlines,s/r points and median lines that look important.
this is my data base to analyze. Its a lot of data to look at,and Ive trained my vision to see it all.
If it looks like some clear vision showing me a high or low 'target' that looks worth considering,I then see where the current price is residing within the whole picture,and then I spend a while watching price action ,on all time frames, to get a 'feel' for the market sentiment. This becomes the context within which I watch price action. and the price action confirms the ta data,and the TA data confirms or validates the price action (candles,especially at key s/r points fib lines etc)
A big part of the pre trade analysis is also looking at what price might do if it goes 'the other way' to my 'anti-target'...and I factor that data into my awareness of what to look for if the trade should not confirm correct. -- what would that price action look like.
Now,after watching price action at key s/r levels, in all time frames, awareness of clock time,etc
At such point where I see this sort of 'confirmation of my analysis'.... I would Enter a trade.....and then watch it carefully like a hawk, in the 30 sec/1 minute/5 minute/etc,up to and thru the 1 hour time frame,...and Any price action that fails to prove my analysis correct,becomes a red flag alerting me to the possibility of a need to reverse or exit.
Ongoing analysis and 'feel' will tell me how off the mark I might be,whether to hold for a while longer or exit or reverse.
The idea of placing a stop somewhere is based on the whole big picture of all the analysis I did pre-trade... and most of the time the stop will be set at the standard places like the previous swing high/low or maybe even the one before that...maybe 30 pips or 20, or 40. to be used Only as a safeguard against catastrophic loss.
The Real 'stop loss' is the complete Vision of awareness I have from all the pre trade analysis...I know where all the s/r points are ,I follow exactly what price action is doing on all time frames at all s/r points, I 'feel' the strength or weakness of these movements at these times, and each candle is telling me something...that my trade is still ok, or feels dangerous, ...thats the real stop loss,I discovered . its about what price action is telling you in each candle you look at. and all the data that combines to paint the picture. I hope this all didnt sound too convoluted. In my mind, its crystal clear.