Hi Thunderdog,
Just for the sake of argument, post a comment and then note the time stamp on that comment. A few moments later, edit the comment and post it again. Did the original time stamp change? I'm not suggesting that anyone here necessarily did that, I only refer to your comment about the inviolability of time stamps.
This is true and can possibly happen.
However, the above comment relates only to ET itself...not IRC because its not possible to do such on IRC (editing of a time stamp post...change the trade so that its still the original time stamp post).
ET allows a 45min - 60min editing window.
Yet, in all the years I've been at ET I've never seen anyone post a trade anywhere...then edit it...it gets quoted by someone else...then the editor denies posting the original trade and pretends to edited new trade was the original.
You also need to look at the fact that this is a well-followed thread during market hours by those attempting to post their trades in realtime.
Surely someone would have seen such occur or even quoted the trade prior to it being edited.
However, regardless to the mode of trade delivery (email, IRC, forum, pm, fax et cetera)...
A follow-up correction can be sent.
If such was occurring alot with different trade info...
It's easily detected and the individual losses credibility.
...Further, the time stamp does not need to be inviolable in order to be exploited. A lot can happen in a single minute during an active market. Posting near the end of that minute and saying that you entered at the beginning of that minute can give someone a lot of room in which to maneuver.
YM can move fast...very fast.
It's
impossible to have true realtime instant trade post.
Therefore, the delivery will always be delayed by seconds or more because its dependent upon how fast someone can type or click an entry into a trade posting script.
Now...here's how you avoid or detect someone posting a trade only when its
in profit at the time of the trade post no matter what the delivery method is.
First, learn something about the trader's methodology.
Reason why I made an earlier reference that without such...its all an
ego trip.
For example...lets say you know someone is a day trader, enters only when there's a double bottom at an s/r level he had announce prior to the open.
Lets say its 0928am est and the s/r number is 10300 for YM.
Then at 10:15:18am est that number was hit as a double bottom.
Then at 10:16:05am est the trader post his Long entry at 10300 for YM.
That's almost 47 seconds after the fact.
Now...if the trade is at a profit when the trade post is made...
It really doesn't matter because you already
knew this is the price pattern this individual trades.
Yet, if YM is at a loss and no trade is posted...
You can then ask the trader isn't this where you normally go Long at...
Depending upon the reply and how often such occurs...its easy to detect credibility.
Simply, regardless if its ET or IRC or whatever...
Get to know those you are posting your trades with...learn the basics about how the other trader enters and exits trades...learn the basics about their trade management...
It's a good way to add credibility to realtime trade posts or blotters (statements).
Thunderdog, the below comments are not directed at you but are just in general comments because of seen a few individuals make reference in other threads about the
Trader P/L thread.
As for blotters (statements) being used as proof or credibility (in reference to limitdown comments)...
Best to show it with the times of trades being entered or exited.
However, anything posted online can be faked with todays free image editing programs.
In fact...someone once here at ET as a joke (nobody except a few knew it was a joke) posted a very credible blotter and monthly statement.
He got high praise for being one of the few to show proof that profitable trading does exist.
He had used
Snagit Editor along with
Excel to fool everyone.
Like I said before...
If credibility is the issue...
Get to know the trader...learn things about their methodology eventhough the trader doesn't need to go into in-depth details.
Then...if the realtime trades or blotters don't correlate with what the trader had said how they do things...
Be suspicious of the trades being posted especially if there are a lot of absent days of no blotters being posted by a particular trader.
However, if the above still isn't suitable...
Go watch in person and bring your lunch.
If credibility isn't the issue...enjoy sharing blotters or realtime trade posts regardless to their delivery method.
NihabaAshi