well explained @insected. shorting is a very valid part of the market and provides avenues to make money with stocks moving in either direction.
i think where the negative sentiment comes from is the 'triggering' and can i say 'manipulation' that ofter comes with shorting.
as you say this sort of trading is in the reals of the sophisticated traders and generally certain funds. yes it is nornally technically driven and with that can come some structured (algorothmic and other) trading that is designed to influence a stocks direction . . the continue small sales on the down side that lead to a few sells that lead to a momentum shift that then gets capitalised on with some targeted sells that then causes lots of stop loss triggers or peoples sell lines or technical traders to breach trade point to be ,. . triggered.
that is where the negative sentiment to shorters tends to come from. where there is . . targeted and structured trading to intentionally negatively effect a stock price.
i am all for having negative sentiment and being able to profit from it . . would have made truck loads with the decline and demise of certain companies. i just dont like that short trading normally comes with more than just . . here is my position lets see where it goes.
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