iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX)

[risk on]

That, is exactly right. And I do, have bought puts here, after the pops, but not that often, And that is my failing. I may have been trapped into the same emotional trepidation of doing so, because of the fear that VXX would continue up due to whatever the latest " crisis" was that caused the VXX pop in the first place, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON STOCHASTIC and other indicators THAT I PREACH. However, To short" VXX right now, would not be ideal, because of the metrics I use, UNLESS it's for an intermediate, longer term trade. Which, as you aptly point out, the pops here are acutely temporal, as the underlying put / short position of options VXX is based off create Contango 90% of the time. So, shorting VXX , as proven time and again is the absolute best long term play, provided one has enough to margin to absorb any temporary Margin calls, due to intermittent pops.

So, my friend, you have just slapped me upside the head( technical term ) w an epiphany. I will make it my mission to go put, or traditionally short as soon as VXX clears that 80 threshold on Stochastics ( overbought) after the next pop that's upon us, at any time now. That of course is based on metrics I use.