Jake,
None of what you’re saying is being questioned, hence the “not trying to push anybody’s buttons” remark in my last post. I’m just pointing out that:
A) There seems to be a mass dropoff in the volume of users and/or posts within the last several months or so, and
B) That during that time period, the focus of the site has shifted from RE to stocks with a strong emphasis on the negative nature of the RE markets right now.
I’m not making a point either way on the good or bad of it, just pointing out the facts.
However, that said, I will respond to you on the following:
I don’t think being warned CORRECTLY about an upcoming economic disaster (real estate collapse) would have ANYONE leaving this site. In reality it would bring MORE PEOPLE TO IT!!!
You’d think that would be the case, but it doesn’t seem so from the amount of new posts (or lack thereof) does it?
My initial thoughts on this are that, as I stated, most people do not like to hear constantly negative talk, regardless of how true it is, or may be. Also, again IMO, people may be coming here to learn HOW to invest in a bad market vs. just hearing that the market is bad. Just my thoughts.
As to stocks on this website. Yes, some people here are RE investors. Some have experience in stocks, some don’t. Most here are new investors are wanting to be investors that are coming here to learn how to do RE investing. If the answer to “how” is don’t do it now, then fine, but it’s a least an answer to RE investing.
You and Rookie and others have both said on several occassions that stocks aren’t for everybody and that you must be “playing” with money that you can afford to lose. That, in my guess, would leave out about 90% of the people that visit this site on a regular basis. So, if that’s the case, who are the posts that are promoting stocks and stock trading for?
And again, this has nothing to do with whether they should invest in RE or stocks. The point is this is a RE investing site. If people coming here aren’t interesting in the stock market, or have grown tired of the posts concerning such, could be A reason for the dropoff.
And once again, I didn’t post this to start a debate on whether stocks or RE is better, worse, same or different. I’ve noticed a tread in this site (an effect, if you will). My post is asking a) has anyone else noticed (or apparently, even cares) and b) if so, do you have theories on the CAUSE of that effect?
Raj