Trading Journal (only my take)

I didn't mean to offend you in any way! I apologize if I made you uncomfortable. It was simply an attempt to get to know a little more about who I am/will be interacting with. That's why it was a "side" question. Not important.

All that you or anyone else needs to know about me is contained within my posts.

Yes, I have a zero b/s tolerance. I only post and discuss any live trade I take. Other trades that I may have taken (if not posted with a chart etc) will not be discussed, because for all intents and purposes, to anyone viewing, they could only ever be deemed hindsight fantasy trades so far as my philosophies are concerned.

I'm obviously aware that there hundreds of serial posters out there, most of whom talk complete cobblers ie saying they did this and did that blah blah blah crap. Often with no substance or/and any originality....at which point I become immediately disinterested.

If someone grabs my attention, seeking a response either with a live trade, accompanied with a chart, clearly showing entry stop and tp levels, or an interesting and original pov then I may well listen further and duly respond....but both are very rare, which can be measured by seeing the minimal interest in this thread....most just want to waste time talking nonsense.

Now, you decide before posting, what camp you are in!

All platforms, by design, are populated with candles, mas oscillators etc as standard, which is not really meant to help the trader, but to confuse them. The brokers obviously don't want regular winners, and they know that no one is capable of computing all the data on most peoples chart to make any meaningful judgement often enough to make it pay.

I purposely put as little as I can on the chart variations that I use, and focus only on what is important to me, ie time and price, from which I then decide on directional bias and simply await a signal to enter.

Super simple and easy, no stress, no excessive silly candles to try to interpret (they are only time fractals after all).....it is time and price that matters only, they go hand in hand, and with that knowledge, I have a clear chart which allows clear decision making, including clear targets.

As I've said previously. every system is far too complicated generally, and the t/l thread still hasn't managed to overcome that difficulty either imo.

Will be looking to buy somewhere in the rectangle, prob later on tomorrow, all in line with stuff I've discussed. This chart shows that no candles are really needed, just tap and my own kind of t/l in this case which I use for stepping when required.

A quick tune in here...but hardly worth it! The same rubbish, the same serial posters...all trying to promote themselves..... especially some of the ridiculous ultra complicated methods requiring absurd analyses or/and the ego maniacs who are clearly that insecure that they feel the need to constantly repeat anything that has already been said a million times over. Clear signs that they sadly lack any kind of social life, and mistakenly think that their electronic "chums" are actually their mates...what a laugh haha.

Real friends and family are all that matters, none of this bs nonsense on here, I mean who cares less whether someone has allegedly won or not...big deal, it's what the individual really does that counts, and not what all the idiots are claiming they do!

I personally only share with friends and family how to effectively and simply trade and yes, that does occupy my time showing first hand what to look for, but in a realistic and meaningful way that is much much more rewarding than all the crap and b/s that goes round and round anonymously on FF.

It's no surprise therefore, that I consider FF as nothing more than entertainment and a place that I can air my views/takes and opinions when I feel like it, and it doesn't bother me in the slightest who listens...in fact , if I don't find anyone's post of value in any sense, they are ignored without further ado...it's as simple as that lol.

Plenty more posts this week from all and sundry. EG, we have the trendline thread, which is obviously flawed in a number of ways, not least that ambiguity angle which I've mentioned before, and which still has not been properly addressed, judging by many others comments concerning what t/l is actually relevant.

Now, I see the guy is banging on about having a group etc. Unless you're naïve, I would think everyone should know where this is leading, and the simple question should be asked by those involved in that thread..ie why are you helping others to trade, cos it sure won't be because he just likes helping people no matter what he says!

We have the cubbybbad numpty, a born loser giving people his sad sob story. No brains...just your common all garden loser...leave well alone!

Then we have those that just love to tell anyone who listens about their life, their trades, their motivation, their goddamn te.... bla bla bla bla bla. All total bs, like who cares what some other muppet is doing and then serially posting all that kind of crap....they obviously just like the sound of their own voice and smacks of massive insecurity.....and bullshit!

For my part, I made 4% this week, ok ish considering my style is super simple, unambiguous and yet still produces the goods week in week out.

No more to say on my take this week, it's all repetative rubbish in general on all the threads anyway, with very very little that interests me enough these days!

Pretty much everyone fails to understand that there is only one true constant, and not just in trading, but in everything. Once that fact is recognised, then that constant can be used to a traders advantage, because it is actually the most important part once it is consciously factored in, not just for my strategy, but indeed anyone else's. Understanding how to then incorporate a known constant with a variable or two, should then puts the odds massively in favour of any discerning trader.

How anyone goes about that is of course up to an individual, I have my own style, but in any and every case the constant plays the biggest role always, whether it be as part of an entry mechanism, the taking of profits, or stops and exits.

When all of those things are understood and embraced, then it is my opinion that a trader can really start to think of themselves as moving in the right direction to becoming a full time trader. Very very few know what I'm talking about, and it's of course no surprise that very very few make it!

Further to my last post, I have noticed that some interesting discussions have been taking place this week here and there. One such is the structure thread, where there is talk on the subject of time. Unfortunately however, it seems the view there is that time is a variable, and I can assure anyone viewing that it is not, time only goes forward at the same pace always irrespective of what t/f is on the chart! This makes it the only true constant, and it is actually all the other stuff on peoples charts that are the variables.

As I have said several times, any smart trader needs to figure out how to use the constant of time, and for the vast majority that is the conundrum, in tandem with a variable reference level of ones choosing using whatever means that anyone is comfortable with. Trade opportunities of h4 and above then surprising turn up regularly enough combining the power of time with a reference level throughout any given week which I've alluded to quite a few times, and it is the higher t/fs that are obviously most reliable, with the added bonus of significantly reduced monitoring time.

Btw, someone a while back, nearly stumbled on that combination in a convoluted fashion at least I think without realising it, but they have apparently failed to develop it because no further posts have been forthcoming which was unfortunate for them.

Anyway, I'll watch the structure thread from a distance to see how the thinking there evolves.

As with everyone, I have messed about with this n that over the years to see whether there are any shortcuts to finding meaningful entry and exit signals. I personally found no shortcuts other than my core principle usage of tap, everything else for me is irrelevant noise.

Very often, the most important ingredient, time, means that patience must be exercised to allow a trade to play out. This aspect appears to be the most difficult for the majority to deal with, particularly because the longer t/fs, whilst more reliable, naturally require more time to mature into a profitable trade more often than not.

When conditions for say half a dozen trades are met and entries executed, which is quite typical for me, then usually the waiting is not so much of an issue, because the likelihood is that at least one of the trades will be moving to target. Remember, traction relies on institutional orders to get price moving, which is something the average trader cannot have access to including me, and that is where the patience and belief in a system is needed.

Understanding at least some of the things that I've addressed (without handing it on a plate lol) should go some way to helping those find the right approach.

The structure thread which started off in the right direction, appears to have taken a wrong turning imo, whereby time was being discussed in a sensible manner, unfortunately though other factors, not least peoples egos, seems to have destroyed their line of thinking, which happens all the time of course...too bad, because that is the way to go, and the reason I was interested to see how it developed.

The reality thread is more general in it's content thus far and in a sense asks the basic question after reality has been experienced....ie what turned a losing trader into a winning trader!

Speaking from experience, I can say that the more simple I developed my approach, which captures only the vital information of tap, the more success I have enjoyed, and the obvious conclusion to anyone viewing should be therefore, that the more complicated a system is, then the more confusing it will be and hence the more can go wrong!

Btw, should anyone be wondering why I don't directly comment on these other threads instead. The answer is simple enough, I am not interested in becoming embroiled with alternative views, I have learnt to only trust my own full stop.

Most of whatever I have to say doesn't matter to anyone else, so I'll keep this post simple and to the point.

I'm looking to short in the rectangle soon, my conditions are in place. I can never know (nor can anyone else btw) how well it might pan out or not, and I'll be taking a fair chunk off the table if it does happen to work out, and then leave the rest to run with a workable stop in place to ensure profit either way which will also provide an add on opportunity with any other suitable signal generated.

In other words, committing to an entry is one thing, thereafter the realistic trade management becomes the primary importance to any trade and by that I mean giving a trade some breathing room. So many seem to be satisfied with being stopped out for either a tiny profit or loss, only to then see that the trade was actually poised to take off for some serous rewards. All my trades are always designed with these factors in mind, and does obviously require both patience and belief, of which I know most don't have and they will never make it as a trader no matter whether their entry technique is good or not!

Most traders tend to operate off of low t/f charts it seems, and they wonder why they win then lose, win then lose etc etc, the cycle goes on all day for many. They never get ahead, because trading low t/fs is really just an increased guessing game. Sure some bang on about order flow and all that clever stuff as if they think they know more than what the market does...obviously they don't!

I think It's likely that most of these do not have enough funds (if any) to operate from at least h4 minimum, whereby truer market directions can be more easily detected and traded. Naturally more patience and funds are required to operate properly off of the higher t/fs, but nevertheless it is both the right way to trade and actually the easiest for a number of reasons, not least because minimal screen time is required!

A number of threads talk about their systems and in my view, whilst they may be operating off of higher t/fs which is good, they still manage to over-complicate the whole process. The fact is, identifying an entry signal should be straightforward in itself, and so long as fair stops and targets are in place, then all the trader would/should need to do is periodically monitor for potential add-ons and that's it, with absolutely nothing else fancy or complicated to concern themselves with.

With so many threads, opinions, styles, methods, strategies, etc present on all the forums makes it very difficult for inexperienced traders to become consistently profitable. Arguably, they are spoilt for choice, but more often than not they are caught in the headlights and confused by all the hype.

For me. the primary objective whenever I look at a chart is always ease. It has to be obvious and an unambiguous signal to take a trade on, leaving no doubt in my mind that it is the correct decision.

Rules are required, which when applied, leaves no room for doubt. The trade may not work out, and that of course happens now and again, but so long as the principles of a proven technique are in place and repeated for every trade taken, then profit overall is guaranteed in my case.

It isn't actually that important to anyone else how I approach trading, because everyone else will or should have their own set of rules to strictly follow. I will say though, that the simpler the trade identification is, taking core information only on board, then the more successful a trader is likely to be. TAP happens to be my engine room. it is unambiguous, covers all the core principles of the market that I'm interested in, and is simple to trade, and that is all about believing in something that works for me, because belief is a definite 100% must no matter what method is being used by anyone, and I see quite a few threads where that seems to be absent!

Everyone who actually trades with real money on the line, will naturally take their trading seriously and all the forum chit chat bs not seriously. I conclude that all these serial posters are not real traders and instead spend all their time talking nonsense on these kind of sites.

The bottom line is, that anyone trying to become a successful trader needs to knuckle down to their own chosen method, iron out the wrinkles, and tune it til it satisfies themselves! Forget whatever anyone else says they're doing, they are anonymous, they do not know you and do not care whether you win or lose.... most are full of bs, trust yourselves only, develop your own system to the point of total trust in that system, then go away and trade it. If you are making money from it, then there's absolutely no need or reason to fully divulge it to anyone else. Personally, I couldn't care less what anyone else does, my sole interest is in what I do....full stop, and that eliminates all the crap littering these threads with their weird and usually complicated and ambiguous methods that they've dreamed up!

We continue to see traders (probably demo in most cases I think), that hop about all over the place getting nowhere fast. I think they have no real idea of what constitutes a proper entry set-up.

It shouldn't need the brains of a rocket scientist to simply understand that if any market has been moving in a particular direction for a period of time, then there is obviously a greater likelihood that it will continue to move in that same direction. In other words, why try to be clever and take a reversal trade on, it makes no sense to do that until such time that the market sufficiently suggests that the direction has in fact changed direction.

An underlying market direction must always be the first consideration when thinking about an entry. This means that small time frames, sub h4 for example, are always prone to entering a trade in the wrong direction, where traders think that they see entry signals, without understanding or being aware that they are in fact trading against the underlying market direction!

For practical purposes of course, the daily charts are about right to use for determining the underlying market direction, and entries can therefore be taken from a satisfactory D1 or an H4 signal, and naturally, appropriate stops are obviously required accordingly.

The above, imo, should be the premise for sensible trading in general, irrespective of chosen entry strategy, which in my case happens to be TAP, which for me. simplifies the whole process, because it naturally takes the factors I've mentioned into account, but either way, the main stuff is as I have described above no matter what method is applied as an entry.

Trading does not need to be complicated to make consistent profit!

What a trader must realise when trading from a technical pov off of a chart is that what we see (in it's many differing forms), boils down purely to a visual representation of supply and demand.

How we as traders use and interpret what we see is highly variable for each one of us, depending upon a number of factors, including of course the t/f being assessed.

Lower t/fs are more difficult to assess imo, due to less reliability of the technical information being fed to us and is the reason that I am not interested in anything I see below H4.

There are two prime factors that I always take into account when making an entry decision. 1) Time....(but this alone is insufficient to make an informed decision)
2)Price...(again. insufficient on it's own.

Combine the two and then a powerful formula for success can be quite easily created. Add a conditional entry trigger mechanism and bingo, the road to successful trading will have been laid.

This is tap trading in a nutshell, and requires nothing more than an open mind in order to take advantage of the 2 prime factors mentioned.

I've spoken about many aspects that need to be bourne in mind when trading according to my take. I plan to take a break from posting here for a while and may return once in a while.

That's all for the time being.

Its been a while....

Not much to say other than the usual suspects far and wide are still present waffling away, some are intent on telling their trading life story as evidence of their existence. others trying to convince others of their system bla bla bla.

All are recognisable to me in one form or another....and all worthless because the real objective of a trading forum imo should be to make money...not spend it or lose it!

Take the guy who now seems to be in the commercial section with his hinged tls…..I mentioned him and where it was leading some while back, and of course he now wants people to spend their money to supposedly educate themselves with an ambiguous entry identification system...good luck to them!

I'll say again....there are a million ways to identify an entry, and doesn't need to be a copy of anyone else's technique. Whatever the technique used is, it must contain a trading method...ie entry signal and exit (exit is either stop out or satisfactory tp level hit), and that is really all that trading is. Obviously the easier a system is then the less can go wrong.

Most seem to think that they need someone else to confirm their trade, which is nonsense and nothing more than the trader being too lazy to have mastered their own style...which of course is proven over time!

Anyway that's plenty enough from me for now....

Thought I'd drop by and see what's going on. Hmmmm...bad idea. All I ever see here is over complicated trading methods and my guess is very very few are getting themselves ahead, mainly because of these over-complicated and ambiguous methods and the number of them that seem to constantly crop up and which then seemingly gravitates everyone else towards that next newest idea!

That being the case, it follows that the vast majority have very little confidence....ie just plain scared to use real funds which means that that vast majority are inevitably demo traders only, drifting from thread to thread, spending their lives going round and round in circles and wasting their time daily it seems by serially posting claptrap.

This is one of the main reasons that I can't be asked to participate much these days...there's just a constant flow of nonsense posts without getting to the heart of what a forum such as this is meant to be doing...ie trade with dedication, which basically means learn how to trade a method, then go way and start trading it, after all the idea is to make money, not spend all day talking rubbish to some anonymous poster thinking that you have somehow made a new best friend! lol

Just keep it simple, don't double-guess yourself thinking you know more than what the market does...you don't and neither do I. I use variants of tap on h4 and upwards for my method personally, and both aspects of tap (time and price) simply need to be in the right place, allowing me to place po's (in the main), some trigger some don't...no big deal.

I'll leave one of my very simple charts here, where I am potentially looking at a long, it's not ready yet, but it is possibly developing, and I anticipate that I'll know sometime Tuesday whether I decide to place a set of pending longs or not. Very simple as you can tell and very straightforward. Now, go away and figure your method out with well constructed thought of what you really need to be seeing and what you don't, and then surprise yourselves to discover that very little junk is needed on your chart to be a good trader contrary to what others say. Managing a trade set once triggered need not be complicated either, and I personally like several positions in play to allow more options on stops and tps...everyone's risk tolerance is different I know, but common sense must prevail.

Still so many threads with everyone thrashing around in the dark, no one looks to be consistently getting ahead judging by the multitude of systems that I've seen.

Obviously a method, any method, needs to be unambiguous, easy to spot and therefore becomes much much easier to make a valid trading decision of whether it is fit for an entry or not.

In my case, I use tap, and it essentially comprises of 5 straightforward elements that must be present for me to decide whether to take the trade on or not, and takes me about 20 seconds to make that decision and none of this maybe nonsense along with all the hindsight wishy washy bs prevalent in every thread.

The objective is to make a profit of course, but not all the answers to enter a trade are present on a basic chart. This naturally means some additional guidance will always be necessary. The problem most seem to face though is deciding what is important to really need to know, because I can assure everyone reading this that overkill is certainly not the answer and neither is underkill. In other words, figure out only what is needed, and literally dump everything else, basically start afresh, forget all the crap systems, colourful charts, bs hype, ridiculous claims, you name it blah blah blah......you don't need any of that rubbish!

I've said before, and I'll say again, think to yourself about what's important to know, and if you manage to keep it to a minimum, rather than cluttering up your charts with superfluous. unnecessary oscillators or some ambiguous t/l for instance then you'll be on your way to success. it's actually in your own hands, nobody elses', and very easy and very profitable once you believe in what your doing and through the results you are achieving.

Each of us will adopt something that suits us, mine is mine which I call tap. Whats yours? lol.

I'll be back in time I expect, who knows when

As said previously, my theme of keeping it simple, no fancy stuff etc and in accordance to my own tap rules allows me to see things clearly and uncluttered which makes any market entry decision making so much easier and the only thing I really need to see is the white horizontal price line tbh.

EJ chart attached is an example....it's shaping up quite nicely to short imo, and during the course of next week I'll be looking to take a position somewhere between the lines marked. A close outside of upper line however would mean I'm too early. At present, probability and my conditions are favourable to me as it stands, but can of course change...so we'll see what happens.