[emteycz]

Providing liquidity to the market is valuable too, as well as rapid reallocation of capital where it's needed.

Not to say there aren't differences, of course. But I feel like your comparison is condescending. These people do valuable work too.

[einpoklum]

Stock traders don't "provide" anything, they're just playing a part in a poor, and exploitation-buttressing, system of exchange and resource allocation.

[swalsh]

That's a very shortsighted view.

[amelius]

Shortsightedness is exactly the problem with daytrading.

[emteycz]

Well don't daytrade if you're shortsighted, for sure. But if you think daytraders can afford to be shortsighted, you're very wrong - it's one of the most exposed professions in this regard, the market will react weeks or months in anticipation of an event.