Pick Of The Week Contest

[spikefader]

My 2c. I agree with others on keeping the original thread....the history and content has value. I'm sure billyjoe is too much a gentleman to request it, peanuts...and I really don't think he should.

[Rob]

[. . .] I was having trouble, sometimes, when I would try to view the other thread, and I assumed that it was due to the size. An admin could clear this up...

I seriously doubt that has anything at all to do with it, not unless this is really poorly written software. But I think the programmers were sharp enough to avoid the pitfalls that would cause such a problem.

[peanuts]

Peanuts, why did you decide not to continue the contest on the old POTW thread that BillyJoe started way back when? And if you are indeed changing to a new thread? Why call it the "POTW"?.... Why not call it the Weekly Stock Picking Contest" WSPC or something like that?.... If you're not careful you might be getting a certified letter from Billy's lawyer for copyright infringement.

If Billyjoe requests that the POTW contest remains on the old thread, then I will continue to use that thread for the contest.

billyjoe, let me know

I changed the thread because of the enormity of the previous thread. Actually, I was having trouble, sometimes, when I would try to view the other thread, and I assumed that it was due to the size. An admin could clear this up...

I didn't think that a separate thread would be an issue. Other than nostalgia, what purpose would it serve to keep the contest there? I was using this thread to re-organize.


ALSO: The 3% loss rule is in effect. Thanks for the feedback

[skiracer]

Peanuts, why did you decide not to continue the contest on the old POTW thread that BillyJoe started way back when? And if you are indeed changing to a new thread? Why call it the "POTW"?.... Why not call it the Weekly Stock Picking Contest" WSPC or something like that?.... If you're not careful you might be getting a certified letter from Billy's lawyer for copyright infringement.

Good question Lye. I was wondering why Billyjoe's original contest and cocept had to go with the changing of the scorekeeper. Change the look of the game and the rules but keep Billyjoe's POTW alive and running. We may have the longest running named game on the internet. Rob only asked for a new scorekeeper. We've changed on a number of occassions and never changed the thread but have changed the rules. CHANGE THE SCOREKEEPER BUT KEEP THE ORIGINAL THREAD!!!!!!

[scifos]

It is to each player's advantage to begin the contest at the beginning of the year, and to play less risky stocks. It is an aspect of the contest which each player must take into careful consideration. The yearly contest shows each player's long term consistency. The weekly contest within the yearly, is where the fun and wild action exists.

Okay, I'm not going to start a big stink over it. You're the scorekeeper

A penalty for not playing the whole year is a must. For each week that you play, you are taking a risk. Your reward is the percentage change. If you risk nothing, then how can you be compared to the other players? There must be a reducing method to the initial portfolio size. The penalty is justified because no risk has been taken up to that point, and it also prohibits scoundrels, like Doug, from coming in the contest in the last few weeks and winning it all with a couple of crazy plays.

Here is a comparison chart of your 3% loss method and the current straight line method. I'd like to hear reasons why one method is more fair than the other. If I get no responses, then the current method will remain:

Yes, the difference is small for people who don't play. But if I'm way ahead, I might elect to take the last 2 months or more off and cruse the rest of the year just taking a small $20. If it's 3%, then I think it would motivate the people who are way ahead to contineu to play.

[Lyehopper]

OK, here's what's up for debate:

A: Keep the time stamp recording the way it is

B: Change the entry time into a stock to be the opening trade for the stock on the first minute after the time stamp on a player's post

Please tell me, A or B

Thanks

The logical answer to this is neither A nor B....

For a long trade; simply take the high tick for minute that the post is timestamped.

For a short trade; simply take the low tick for the minute that the post is timestamped.

This way no one can play Doug's little game. And you can buy or sell a stock at 16:00 EST and it'll work out just fine.

btw.... This is how I did it pre Rob....

[Lyehopper]

Only one POTW....

Peanuts, why did you decide not to continue the contest on the old POTW thread that BillyJoe started way back when? And if you are indeed changing to a new thread? Why call it the "POTW"?.... Why not call it the Weekly Stock Picking Contest" WSPC or something like that?.... If you're not careful you might be getting a certified letter from Billy's lawyer for copyright infringement.

[Lyehopper]

I think Spike's suggestion makes a lot of sense. If I had nothing better to do I bet I could be in the top 3 almost every week by playing the opening game.

I'll bet you $100 that you can't.... You place in the "top three" for eight weeks out of twelve (first qtr).... and I'll send you the 100 bucks.... You don't, you send me 100 bucks.

[riverbabe]

I vote for B. Usually I try to enter on a red candle. The following minute might give me an even lower entry.

[peanuts]

I need votes:

OK, here's what's up for debate:

A: Keep the time stamp recording the way it is

B: Change the entry time into a stock to be the opening trade for the stock on the first minute after the time stamp on a player's post

Please tell me, A or B

Thanks

[riverbabe]

And, Riverbabe, hon, what do you mean "when Rob was the scorekeeper"? I'm not even dead yet, and you're already throwing dirt in my face!

Sweetest Rob, I can see by your picture that you are definitely not dead!! In fact, I longingly gaze at your picture hanging over my mirrored bath every night. (sigh) River

[spikefader]

Yeah, it's an easy way to get an unfair advantage in the game. One can post with a couple seconds remaining in the minute, having just witnessed a strong % run, and get all of that % gain after the fact. When I was scorekeeper I took the open of the next 1-minute candle specifically to avoid it.

I think sacrificing last minute trades in the day is 100% worth the improved realism and fairness.

[IIC]

I thought that you weren't going to play

I was just making a suggestion...Doug

[peanuts]

I thought that you weren't going to play

[IIC]

Then posts at 3:59 pm would exclude picks from players trying to get the last minute's action. I think this rule will remain the same, unless more people speak up.

Thanks for the kind wishes

I think Spike's suggestion makes a lot of sense. If I had nothing better to do I bet I could be in the top 3 almost every week by playing the opening game.

Here's how it works...you get a bunch of pre-m movers. You watch them all for the ones that have the first trade low and then they actually run from the next trade or a few trades later...Happens more often than you think...

You already have your post ready to go with the exception of the ticker symbol...You wait for about 45 secs, type the ticker and click submit.

I must confess...I did that a few times in the contest and it worked well.

A variation is you watch news and if something flies you check what it opened at that minute...If there is enough time and you already have your post sans ticker ready to go then you might be able to catch it...But the timing has to be right or you end up with the next min first trade.