Rembrandt,Several times previously, I was tempted to respond,...

Rembrandt,

Several times previously, I was tempted to respond, but refrained from doing so. Now, however, I am very concerned with the risks being faced by HC and its community of posters.

Many of us are still learning the tricks of the trade. Others of us are older and wiser. And some of us research our heads off and try and engage the community in credible discussion, exchange of information, etc.

For my part, I make wrong calls and wrong decisions just as much as the next person.

This morning, I called TLS to 4.62 (low), to 4.70 close, and ended up wrong on both scores. That, however, does not matter.

Similarly, I exited MSC several days ago, only to see it rise today to a high of 30.5 (close, 29.5).

There are the trades that got away and the trades that one would wish did get away. This morning, I sought out HTA at 41c, got some at that price and then saw the price rise up to 42.5c before closing at 42c. Missed opportunity, but on this occasion, I decided not to chase the price up.

Whether or not GP was in AMC or not does not matter. What does matter is whether he can freely share his opinions with us, and whether he can do so in a professional, unemotional and ubiased manner.

The same also goes for Calrisian and many of the other HC posters out there.

I equally enjoy Calrisian's postings as I do GPs. Strangely enough, I also enjoy Nickoo's postings although my views on the world scene vary markedly from his own (one degree of separation on the strength of differing research styles, and sources of information, perhaps).

I, therefore, do not want to see anyone banned or removed from HC. But I do want to see proper, dignified and professional discussion. If not, then Pat Hammond may well need to consider introducing a "sin bin" approach, with offending posters being sin binned for a period of time, whether that amounts to a matter of hours, remainder of the day, or 24 hours.

But, just to make matters fair, both the sinner and the sinned against would be binned out for the period, particular if their postings moved away from the subject (ie: stocks, stock management, etc) and went to the personality of the posters involved.

HC is a great community, and so too are all its posters. Today, however, I have been further saddened by what has been going on.

It is, therefore, time for everyone to take some time out, and to grow up in terms of their maturity. The community expects this of all its members, and the future integrity of this forum requires it.