Trunkmonk,
While I understand your concern about "protecting your investment," I think it needs to be understood that if someone chooses to say they don't hold shares at this time, and is still discussing facts about the company/sector, or even giving opinions about it, that it doesn't necessarily mean they are out there to sabotage your investment. I don't think one can necessarily determine that a poster is trying to promote the decay of a stock if the information they are stating is accurate. Now if a poster states misinformation, like claiming Shelron had revenues of 17,500 if they had revenues of 175,000, and repeatedly states it as fact, I could agree with your assessment.
But I'm sure you would agree likewise that discussing the overall size of a sector, without being more clear about the percentage a company has been proven to have within that larger sector, would be equally misleading and the underlying premise/personal reason would be to push the shareprice up artificially, in an effort to sell at a gain, even if the actual fundamentals of the company/stock do not validate the price, and people enter the stock for the wrong reasons (which I wholeheartedly would agree is their own fault, as nobody should use any message board as that guide). I feel that does go on more often on these boards in general than the reverse. Contrarianism is great...it allows for good discourse, and overall informs the casual reader more. And in many instances, good and honest discourse can make the contrarian rethink his/her stance.
You also have a nice evening.
"Taking advice from known stock promoters is like telling a pickpocket where you keep your money!!!"