[embedding-shape]

Overall for the common person I'd agree, but I assume we're all more or less hackers here and for us, I'd say "If you have to ask, ask and learn, then do it".

If everyone followed your advice no one would ever do anything, as we all begin somewhere, something that should OK.

Of course, don't do million dollar trades when you begin, but we shouldn't push back on people wanting to learn, feels very backwards compared to hacker ethos.

[pleasedontman]

we shouldn't push back on people wanting to learn but we should really point out very loudly that not fully understanding something like shorting can turn a small investment someone was fully ok with losing into a life altering bankruptcy due to a margin call.

Leverage can be a fearful thing.

[embedding-shape]

Yup, I agree, be clear what the consequences are if you fuckup, allow people to fuckup if they wish.

[geoka9]

> "If you have to ask, ask and learn..."

Totally! But also keep in mind this :)

https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/1570:_Engineer_Sy...

[IAmBroom]

How about, "If you think an explanation from HN will explain it all to you, you're being naive about the complexities and risks"?

[imvetri]

thank you for being nice

[roughly]

To expand on the original reply to you - shorting companies, or engaging in almost any stock-based activity beyond “buy and hold,” typically entails much, much higher risk than just buying and selling stock. The most you can lose when buying a share is the purchase price, and that’s fairly unlikely, but when you start getting into even options/etc, you’re magnifying your risk - small swings in the market can lead to large and disproportionate losses, and when you get into shorting in particular you can lose far more than your initial investment. This is why you’re getting the reaction you’re getting - because the thing you’re asking about is sufficiently risky that if you're asking on Hacker News (and not, say, asking a professional), you don’t understand the risk profile well enough to do it “safely.”

That, and because snarky answers get more imaginary internet points than helpful ones.

[embedding-shape]

> you don’t understand the risk profile well enough to do it “safely.”

Since when is this a problem? For gods sake, let people fuck up and harm themselves if they're stupid enough to take the risks, or not.

I think it's fine to say "Remember, this is risky because of A, B and C, but here's how to do it anyways..." but straight up "If you have to ask, you shouldn't" seems so backwards and almost mean, especially when we talk about money which is mostly "easy come, easy go". Let the fool be parted with their money if that's what they want :)

[roughly]

I mean, there’s risk and there’s risk. If someone comes in asking “how do I mod my phone/ebike/toaster”, sure, caveat commentor and all that. If someone comes in asking “how do I make dioxygen difluoride,” that’s a different category of risk. OP can do whatever they want, but I’m not in the habit of giving guns to people who don’t know what they are without making sure they know which risk category they’re in.