patrick stegall 08/25/2011 @ 12:49pm Oats. I didn't realize anyone speculated in oats. Definitely stick with the big three. You're right about trading being emotionally draining. You learn pretty quickly if you have what it takes. You mentioned margin calls; in my opinion a trader is a fool to even get a margin call. My stops are placed way before that. I pretty much just place my stops, keep faith in my system, and let the market do what it may. You kind of have to be fatalistic about your money. You know you're going to lose some, but you have to believe (and have a system) that over time you'll make more. I haven't been trading a long time, and it isn't my full time profession but I do make money off it. Trading is like writing or playing golf. It's hard to do it well. I mean it's HARD. This was an interesting story Mike and I hope you try it again.