Who else has this impression of the underbelly of the markets - There is a plague of non-disclosing promotion going on. Section 17(b) violations out the boot.
I watch the roving band of infidels as they go from POS stock to POS stock promoting it while simultaneously attempting to pump it as high as possible just to dump and disappear just as quickly.
Here is what all these companies have in common - Conversions are ongoing or about to come up. Hype needs to be created to absorb the shares without crushing the stock price and of course the simultaneous statements of company worth (false) run rampant and are cheered on by the mass pumper effort assembled. I sense that the companies, the note holders, or both at times, hire some of these ring leaders to get the shares flowing out of the door. Since they do not disclose in largesse, it is impossible to know how they are compensated - Free shares to dispose of into at the apex of the hype, direct monetary compensation, a combination of both or perhaps even other third party venues compensating to mask the trail?
Some are ringleaders, others just ride along on the coattails for ill gotten returns as obviously these practices have proven to be quite successful in as far as making money goes. It is all about the making of money right?
"Aujord-hui, maman est mort. Ou peut-etre hier, je ne sais pas."
The classic opening line from Albert Camus' L'Etranger.
"Today, mom died. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know."
Now this classic first statement from the father of existential thought IMO has been debated as to meaning for decades and will be debated for decades to come. To illustrate where I am going with this I believe it shows the extreme indifference of the existential to what the majority of us consider morality. The author does not know exactly when his mother died because he distances himself from this construct and subsequent constriction of society - That the individual is tied to the whole and responsible to interact in a prescribed manner. Natural law does not apply to the pure existentialist, the only morality that is truth is the morality one chooses for themselves. If the Stranger to Humanity does not find it important to remember when his mother died, or necessarily care either, that is a valid emotion because Universal morality does not exist. The only truth in this philosophical realm is what one has instilled and accepted to be truth on the individual basis. If one is indifferent to what the majority considers moral behavior it is acceptable because truth is not universal and subject only to the sensibilities (or lack thereof) of the individual.
In the markets I see this existential philosophy in practice daily. There seems to exist a basic indifference to regard to morality as a general concept, and accepted truth of natural law.
The penny market is viewed as a space to explore and extrapolate the maximum or return on these maxims, which are based on general indifference to the norms that the rest of us consider acceptable.
What some consider excellence I consider a basic lack of regard for the fellow man. Some contemplate this, the majority does not.
There have been many that have tried to convince me that in the long haul in it indeed a zero sum game. Perhaps they are right in that sentiment, perhaps not. I choose to retain the consideration of my fellow man over taking advantage of any venue to make the money regardless of circumstance.
The individuals involved in the real larger scheme of market manipulation, which have influence and impact upon the reality of the works, are largely indifferent to the norms of morality that the majority of humans consider natural law. Hence the connection to existential philosophy. Hubris has a way of making a smart person extremely stupid in their false confidence.
We did not evolve as humans to constantly prey upon each other and those unknown to advance ourselves, personally. If I am attacked for espousing these values to my core so be it.
