Perhaps the difference and the contest really is between the underlying mindsets of traders and investors rather than shorts and longs.
A trader is really only interested in the share price.
For them, the more volatility, volume and gyration the better, as these are all conditions that can be taken advantage of and instability suits their modus operandi.
They will be short or long or some hedging combination of the two and employ whatever technical and social manipulative techniques are available in order to profit from a changing share price. They live in and promote a dog eat dog world where might is right and the weak go to the wall.
As Bacon has pointed out, they will blow with the wind in order to take maximum advantage of whatever the prevailing conditions allow.
They do not give a rats arse about the product or service the company behind the ticker provides or is attempting to provide, how beneficent or puerile its influence, nor whether said company even survives.
For if it fails they will merely move on to another host.
In this regard they may be considered to be parasitic in nature.
Parasites have their place in an eco system.
An investor however is primarily interested in the health and prospects of a chosen company and the product or service it was brought into existence to provide.
The share price is but one of a number of factors considered and generally investors are prepared to engage over longer time frames.
They are looking for evolution and progress and understand that growing business's require time and favourable conditions in order to thrive.
As not all times and conditions are equally favourable and unexpected events can occur investors will tend to be more conservative with their movements in and out of companies. They will be perhaps more forgiving of errors made by management and unexpected obstacles encountered.
Their relationship to the company ranges perhaps from enthusiast to supporter to shepherd.
They too wish to extract benefit from the company, but perhaps in a more sustainable, mutually beneficial manner.
All in all I have chosen the investor mindset and whilst that has not, in the recent short term, proven the more profitable from a merely financial perspective it is supporting a world and a worldview I wish to inhabit.
Time will tell which is the wiser attitude longer term and which leads to what dominant outcome.
GLTAH
www.theinformation.com
ANGRY AS FUCK emotion
