Online Stock Trading

I couldn't care less about the Google IPO. Funny that I say that now. I used to be hooked on online stock trading. (Well, maybe that's a bit strong ... lets just say that I was overly enamored with it.) But I ended my online stock trading exploits when the bubble burst. While I had some nice runs over the years, 2001 brought my stock trading to a horrible screeching halt. Oh yeah, I made money on some stocks. But oh yeah, I lost even more ...

For many folks, online stock trading is as exciting as gambling. Those who day trade can expect to make or lose hundreds or thousands of dollars in a single day. It takes an iron gut.

Overall, I did really poorly picking Internet stocks. I fell into the trap of believing they hype. I thought I was buying good companies. Alas, many were not.

When I look back on it, I realize that I did better with tech stocks in the days before the boom and the advent of online stock trading. I did well with Iomega, for example, back in the day. But those days are long past. I honestly can't remember the last time I made a trade online. (Sadly, half the companies in which I made my meager investments no longer exist. Don't look to me for investment advice.) ;)

Down here it’s just winners and losers and don’t
get caught on the wrong side of that line
Well, I’m tired of comin’ out on the losin’ end

-- B. Springsteen/Atlantic City

While the stock market boardwalk is filled with hucksters, a little fireworks show might not be a bad thing. A few high flying IPOs might bring some optimism into a fairly gloomy world. Folks might get revved up again and start throwing money at companies left and right, as they log onto their brokerage accounts twenty times a day (or more) to watch the craziness.

Or not.