Strategy/Edge poll

[Trader Pat]

The OP poll question is too simplistic.

As was already discussed on another thread it depends a lot on whether the strategy is a manual one or an automated one.

If its a small automated edge and its shared with somebody else it most likely vanishes. (That's part of the reason why you won't find anyone sharing profitable automation) If its a strategy for manual trading that's shared it depends on the size of the market and how many people its been shared with.

Imo its not a yes or a no.

[Derek27]

As was already discussed on another thread it depends a lot on whether the strategy is a manual one or an automated one.

I told him that in the other thread and he burst into fits of rage.

[Trader Pat]

As was already discussed on another thread it depends a lot on whether the strategy is a manual one or an automated one.

I told him that in the other thread and he burst into fits of rage.

I thought it was pretty much settled on the other thread

[jamesg46]

The OP poll question is too simplistic.

As was already discussed on another thread it depends a lot on whether the strategy is a manual one or an automated one.

If its a small automated edge and its shared with somebody else it most likely vanishes. (That's part of the reason why you won't find anyone sharing profitable automation) If its a strategy for manual trading that's shared it depends on the size of the market and how many people its been shared with.

Imo its not a yes or a no.

"As already discussed" please, refresh my memory... I don't remember the discussion. Was it ones persons opinion or an actual discussion?

[Kai]

Imo its not a yes or a no.

Technically, both answers can be correct, depending on circumstances.

If you give a good strategy to a complete newbie it doesn't automatically mean he has an edge on the market, but if you give it to an experienced trader then it's pretty likely he does now have a new edge or a new arrow in his quiver.

I assumed the question implied that the recipient is a newbie without an edge, hence the "No" answer. And I assumed it's in the context of a manual strategy, since sharing automation is very unlikely indeed

So surely, no need to even make that distinction, just assume it's about manual trading for the sake of the argument.

[Derek27]

The OP poll question is too simplistic.

As was already discussed on another thread it depends a lot on whether the strategy is a manual one or an automated one.

If its a small automated edge and its shared with somebody else it most likely vanishes. (That's part of the reason why you won't find anyone sharing profitable automation) If its a strategy for manual trading that's shared it depends on the size of the market and how many people its been shared with.

Imo its not a yes or a no.

"As already discussed" please, refresh my memory... I don't remember the discussion. Was it ones persons opinion or an actual discussion?

It was the one where you started getting shirty - that should narrow it down a bit.

[jamesg46]

Considering you guys are yes/no People I'll take that as you haven't a clue. That was petty much the objective. Nice to see Pat turn up, I thought he was intentionally ignoring me. I guess he likes the indirect approach.

[Kai]

That just proves the point! A strategy is not an edge. The edge is application & adaptation. People who tell others differently are lying or they don't understand.

If you want to progress the discussion further I suggest to elaborate on how you think it leads people down the wrong path and how you think it hurts them. And also, how exactly does the full answer to the question "What constitutes an edge?" help them as well, if only you know where you were going with this poll

Heh, it's almost like a trader's version of the question of the meaning of life, very Alan Watts-esque Overthinking can lead to a meltdown alright.

[Kai]

I'm not exactly up to date with the latest forum drama, so if this is not a real discussion but something else, then I'm out I guess Have fun.

[jamesg46]

That just proves the point! A strategy is not an edge. The edge is application & adaptation. People who tell others differently are lying or they don't understand.

If you want to progress the discussion further I suggest to elaborate on how you think it leads people down the wrong path and how you think it hurts them. And also, how exactly does the full answer to the question "What constitutes an edge?" help them as well, if only you know where you were going with this poll

Heh, it's almost like a trader's version of the question of the meaning of life, very Alan Watts-esque Overthinking can lead to a meltdown alright.

I'll shut up, you're right.

[Trader Pat]

So surely, no need to even make that distinction, just assume it's about manual trading for the sake of the argument.

Pretty sure there's a quote about assumption and ignorance

[megarain]

+1 to everything Kai said

The edge thou needs to be in a deep market. I voted Yes.

[ShaunWhite]

Considering you guys are yes/no people

Sarcasm surely?
The reason you're not getting a firm yes/no is because traders aren't yes/no people. There's a chance it's yes and a chance it's no, but the answers was always going to be maybe.

I voted yes, the question was "gave you" (ie me) and having an over inflated opinion of what I could do if I only tried hard enough, I think I could pull off any strategy eventually, and I'm quite good at adapting them or could be, so it ought to be a keeper. IM not so HO

If you're given a profitable strategy and can't make it pay then it either wasn't specified clearly enough or you're doing it wrong. Both are fixable. Adaptablity is a whole different issue, the finder and the recipient could each be good or bad at that.

[Derek27]

You're happy to spend hours arguing over a question James, but don't spend much time phasing the question.

[alexmr2]

Assuming it's a newbie coming into manual trading I voted no because I believe I was taught everything I need to know for pre off over 2 years ago, yet I have still haven't been able to master the execution enough to become consistently profitable in the long term. I would say that being told the edge is 1% and the other 99% is putting it into practice the same way you just can't tell someone how to drive or play a computer game to a high standard. More things click in your mind as you go on but it takes your own practice and time to realise how they actually work. The key is consistency and it can be very difficult to achieve.

My opinion why:
Market selection and adapting to different market types is a skill on it's own.
Perceptual judgement, it's very precise at which point a trade has failed e.g. distinguishing between a retracement and a reversal.
Psychology, it doesn't matter if you followed the strategy all day properly, it doesn't take much to undo a lot of progress when emotions get involved and it's inevitable that they will at some point. With a 50% SR strategy it's normal to have 5 losers in a row every 32 markets on average and this is extremely hard to deal with for a newbie.
Capability of the markets, I think you need to go through the motions of knowing your limits in the market otherwise greed would be infinite.

If the trader is already experienced in one market and is told a strategy for another then the answer would be different because they already have most of the fundamentals in their mind. I once heard that a football trader easily picked up pre off trading but a pre off trader struggled with football although I'm not 100% sure how true this is and it would depend on a lot of other factors