[GlennS]

I think traditionally most people in most countries ignored the stock market and consider it boring to talk about.

Maybe less so in the USA? Not sure.

But a lot of computer folks have spare money at the moment, and in that situation you have a few options: consume more, keep it in a savings account, or invest. And some significant proportion choose invest.

Keep it in a savings account is a common option, but quite a bad idea.

Probably the majority of people who invest do so in property, considering it safer than stocks (which I disagree with, although there are other reasons to like property).

This may be changing a bit in recent years, because access is easier now. In Sydney I see adverts for stock brokers at the bus station.

Seems like some gamblers have switched to the stock market to get their fix too.