Why is tipping more popular than trading?

A place to discuss anything.
Post Reply
Exacta
Posts: 151
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 2:57 pm

Go to tipping or betting forums and there are tens of thousands of people hanging on the word of the a tip. Yet everybody knows tipping is a road to nowhere. Trading gives you a much better chance of making money but doesn't seem to be anywhere near as popular. Are people just lazy?
User avatar
JollyGreen
Posts: 2047
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:06 am

Exacta wrote:Go to tipping or betting forums and there are tens of thousands of people hanging on the word of the a tip. Yet everybody knows tipping is a road to nowhere. Trading gives you a much better chance of making money but doesn't seem to be anywhere near as popular. Are people just lazy?
In a word YES

We live in an instant gratification society and people want to do the least amount of work for the highest return they can get.

People would rather get a tip for a horse and chance their arm rather than learn how to do something. If the tip wins they will lavish the provider with praise and continue to do so until they start to lose money. When that happens they will blame the tipster, question his parentage etc. Then they will move onto the next tipster and start the process all over again.

The people you described in the forums are basically lazy and unable to accept responsibility for anything. If it fails they can blame someone else and trust me they are always very quick to blame someone else. If they did the work themselves then they have to accept the responsibility which as I have said is a definite no-no!!
Zapata
Posts: 213
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:58 pm

There are often big market moves on tipped horses with the bookies often very slow to react. I've backed many horses at twice the price available on Betfair allowing you to then trade in a guaranteed win position.

These horses then often drift right out allowing another bite of the cherry.

The bookies will usually ban/restrict you in the end but it is fun while it lasts.
Merry Terry
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue Aug 10, 2010 2:37 pm

Think about it, promises of cash for no effort for placing a bet, or work hard at trading and looking for value and making it pay.

Punters just cant be arsed to do some work and without that effort it just wont pay long term.
Bet Angel
Bet Angel
Bet Angel
Posts: 4031
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:47 pm

People always ask me for tips, but never ask me what % chance does something have of winning an event! Unfortunately I only ever think in % chance and have done for years.
User avatar
CaerMyrddin
Posts: 1271
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:47 am

We live in an instant gratification society and people want to do the least amount of work for the highest return they can get.
I've read a very interesting article on my vacation about both this state of mind and it's consequences. "Easy comes, easy goes" ;)

I would add that this is also somewhat related to the hurdle mentality that we all come wired with. It's easier to be in the hurdle.
sweetybt
Posts: 500
Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 4:35 pm

my tip is never buy any insurance unless it is a legal obligation.

Insurance companies are bookmakers nothing more nothing less.

As Peter says look at life in terms of %.
Bet Angel
Bet Angel
Bet Angel
Posts: 4031
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:47 pm

When I went to the Berkshire Hathaway AGM in 2006 I asked Buffett "Wasn't gambling the same as insurance?" I have an audio file somewhere that somebody emailed me if you are interested.
Morph
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 4:38 pm

That's a great question. I bet his answer was yes. Most successful gambling surely starts with a good appreciation of probability, which is exactly the same with the insurance industry.

The problem comes though, when you consider scale. With gambling and trading you can easily control your stakes to take advantage of any situation where our assessment of the probabilities suggest there is "good value" to be had.

In normal life you can't manage stake. For instance,I wouldn't bother take up insurance on my £40 i-pod shuffle, even if the insurance was "good value". However, I wouldn't travel to the USA without travel/medical insurance, even if it was "bad value"?
Sometimes the stakes are just too high.

What did the great man say Peter? He may be a multi-millionaire but I bet he's gutted he can't use Bet Angel to trade the dogs tonight.
User avatar
JollyGreen
Posts: 2047
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:06 am

Morph wrote:
What did the great man say Peter? He may be a multi-millionaire but I bet he's gutted he can't use Bet Angel to trade the dogs tonight.
I bet he's more gutted that he cannot trade all of the US nags in running!! :lol:
Bet Angel
Bet Angel
Bet Angel
Posts: 4031
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:47 pm

Buffett basically said that insurance was mitigating 'natural' risk but gambling was manufacturing it. I'll put the audio up at some point when I can find it.
Exacta
Posts: 151
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 2:57 pm

Sports risk is natural,gambling is insuring you are compensated when england lose.
Post Reply

Return to “General discussion”