Quote from KINGOFSHORTS:
I had short puts over that time period. Guess what, I did not blow up, I actually sold more during the drop. In fact they are back out of the money.
You blow up if your an idiot and over leverage.
I do not use Margin.
CTA's were killed last week just like they were in the fall of 2008 because most sell options on S&P futures - leverage on leverage. There are dozens of CTA premium sellers doing this and even the ones selling spreads get killed.