This is a ‘sticky’ post which will remain at the top of the Hideout home page for several days in order for everyone to see it.  The usual Hideout updates will continue below, so this is not a stale post!

As we get into a brand new year of trading, it’s a time where some reflection is a good thing.  Looking back gives us a point of reference for where we want to go, and this is the time of year when we all do this on a number of levels.

The point of this post is just to share with you some of my goals for 2010 here in The Hideout.

This is still a pretty new format, as we just shifted over to it late last year.  As with anything new, some adjustments are needed before comfort sets in, and I suspect that’s where some of you are right now.

Some of you have not missed a beat with the new format, and you’re jumping in to post comments and ideas of your own as you have them.  I love it, and I hope you’ll continue doing so!

Others of you have remained quiet, and I want to be sure to clarify for you here that what I really am hoping for in 2010 is that you’ll engage more on a few levels – if you’re willing, of course.

For some of you, this is just a place you want to take ideas and add them to your own, with no interest in interacting or sharing.  That’s perfectly alright, I want to stress that, so I’ll say it again:  that’s perfectly alright.  You will continue to find a slew of trading ideas presented here night after night – the very best I can find.  And anytime you need help, you can certainly ask for it by contacting me directly.  That has always been an option, and will continue to be.

But if you’re here because you’re aiming to learn more and to sharpen your skills as a trader, or as a chart reader, or with your own market analysis, then we’ve got to get some better dialogue going!  I need to have the ability to address your questions, but I don’t know exactly what they are until and unless you express them.  And this is the place to do it.

Let me share with you what I have in mind in terms of more engagement…

* Ask Questions. As traders, each of us encounters situations which we either have never faced before or don’t know how to deal with.  There are certain curiosities we’ll have about how the market moves, and many other things.  My hope is that when you have questions, you’ll present them here.  There are a lot of people here willing and able to answer them, so utilize the Hideout as a resource!

* Share Ideas. No two of us are exactly alike, so we’ll each discover plays which others of us have overlooked.  Share them when you have them (provided they are not day trades).  Point out what you’re seeing in the chart, and offer some guidelines for how you’re looking to manage the position.  The added ideas will offer more opportunity for all, and continue the learning process for others.

* Support One Another. Trading is a lonely, tough endeavor.  There are times when a little support is extremely helpful.  Whether it’s encouragement or gentle suggestions for how to overcome costly habits, my hope is that we can band together as Bandits and help one another out.  Pat each other on the back, you’ll appreciate it when the favor is returned.

* Traders Helping Traders. Answer questions submitted by others, don’t just wait for me to do it.  You’ve been around a while, and your voice counts.  Discuss your strategies, offer heads-up about pending events which may be out soon (earnings, economic reports, etc.), and in general operate as a team.  That’s what we are, with the common goal of growth in our abilities and in our trading accounts.

My hope is that you’ll embrace the community of traders here, because there really is a diverse group from all over the world.  Nobody has a background like you do, and nobody has the same experiences you do.  Share it here, and we’re all going to be better because of it!

Finally, let’s have some fun!  Every one of us has an avatar beside our names when we post comments, but most of them are still not personalized.  This is probably the fastest, easiest way to add some personality to our community.  By taking about 2 minutes, you can take a little more ownership in your comments and at the same time help the rest of us know you a little better by giving us a glimpse of who we’re conversing with.

Head over to www.gravatar.com and register the same email address which is tied to your subscription here.  You will be able to easily upload a picture of you or of something which you feel best describes you.  It’s extremely easy and fast, and once you’ve done that, anytime you comment here in the Hideout your avatar will appear automatically.  This way, the rest of us will be able to quickly associate your image with your trading style, and help to tighten our community by bringing some more personality into it.

So in summary, let me remind you that I’m really glad you’re here! I’m excited about 2010 and what it will hold in terms of trading opportunities, but also to see our interaction grow as a community of committed traders.

Trade Like A Bandit!

Jeff

Hey Bandits!

With the market having settled into a mid-day trading range on this options-expiration Friday, I felt this would be an appropriate time to put up a few items.

First… How’s the new site working out for you guys? I want your feedback for ease of getting around, anything you don’t understand, etc.  Add a comment below this post or use the Contact Form and let me know!

Second… Discussion – last night Tom shared a great idea in the comments section.  This is exactly what I’d like to see happening here in the Bandit Hideout on a regular basis.  It’s open 24/7, and any trade ideas are welcome.  All I ask is that you keep in mind that daytrading or scalping-related comments are not very effective in this blog format, as the timing is so critical for those that it should be done elsewhere since this is not a chat room.  But any trades you’re eyeing for timeframes of a couple days on up to a month or two are great, and my hope is that you’ll share them here with the Bandits.

Third… Feature added: On the heels of that last discussion note, a feature has been added which should make it very easy to keep up with the conversation.  You’ll now see a checkbox under the posts which allow you to subscribe to the comments for that post.

This is what it will look like:

So, once you’ve posted a comment, you can be notified via email for follow-up comments left by others.  This is perfect for being notified of new ideas left by others, or simply that your comment has been responded to by someone else.  You can also remove yourself from comment subscriptions easily, and the link you’ll use to do that will look like this:

Last but definitely not least…

Thanks for a great first FULL week in The Bandit Hideout!  Let’s keep building on this to improve it!  Your feedback is always welcomed, and your participation in the discussion is always valued.

Enjoy the weekend, and I’ll see you back here soon!