We often think market actors are rational. They are often not entirely, and down-rampers are no different.
Whether this is the easiest way to fill an order a pip lower or not won't change the fact that people can and do try to do so. In this instance, the orders may be old, but in general there is a degree of uncertainty: anything can happen. Your order could be 5th, and 3 of the orders in front of you could be moved a pip lower or cancelled, putting you in 2nd place with only a small order ahead of yours.
Think of it as a lottery with FAR better odds. People play the lottery, even though there are easier ways to make money.
This is indeed one forum of many, and yes most HC users are bullish for the stock we discuss, but it is also true that we influence each other.
Mr F correctly pointed out that we influence each other to buy, more than some might want to admit. The information we share, and the opinions we express are hardly the only factor in people's buying decisions, but they ARE factors.
Conversely, when sentiment changes and doubt sets in, we are human, and depending on individual circumstances, seeing others doubt or even declare they've sold, might influence to sell also, even if it is only a portion of our holding. Everyone's situation is different, and though you and I may not have sold anything today, chances are far from zero that someone did, right here on HC, despite the overall bullish tendency.
Down-rampers know 100 words at the right time, here, on Twitter and anywhere else stocks are discussed, might pay their utility bills for a month.
In essence, the psychological divide between your view and mine is similar to climate change deniers vs climate scientists. Climate deniers of the sincere variety tend to assume the world and its interconnected systems are too vast to be influenced by little humans driving cars and raising cows that fart a lot. "Our influence is minuscule, if anything" they tell themselves. The truth is, every cow fart makes a difference. And so does every down-ramp. You might not see the effect (if you're not the one who experienced the down-ramp as the straw that broke the camel's back, and sold). That doesn't mean the effect isn't there.
But yes: we certainly can have different opinions on this! All the best.
