The Question and Answer Board

[chwdrhed]

Matt, At the risk of sounding like I'm sucking up I'd like to say that since becoming a moderator I have a much greater appreciation for the work you do and the decisions you're forced to make. It's just not that easy.

Along those lines I agree with you that much more effort is expended defending the rights of the naysayers to say nay. Where I preside the longs tend to be much more abrasive than the shorts. Perhaps the reason for their attitude sheds some light on the subject.

Why is it that it's always the longs trying to run and hide from the shorts? How come the shorts are never hiding from the longs? In my few years wasting time reading stock boards I've seen the longs get up en masse and leave for other pastures on several occasions because they can't keep from being harassed by these people intent on saving them from themselves. Why are the shorts always chasing the longs? How come the shorts don't want their own private board where they are free to discuss how lousy a certain stock is unencumbered by the annoying chatter of those with an opposite opinion? I believe the answer to that question strikes at the heart of this issue.

People of like mind, wise or not, like to huddle together and convince one another what geniuses they are. It's been that way since the beginning of time. If the purpose of this web site is to generate usage then I say you must allow private boards. However, in order that you not be accused of abetting some pump and dump scam the posts to those boards should only be visible to those that belong to the club. Any naive waif that wanders into a private party and starts believing everything they hear probably takes a healthy risk every time they drive.