Set forth below is the text of a post that was put to the Goon Central board by Norbert Schenkler (I apologize for the crude language, which I permit to appear here only because I think there would be a risk of me miscommunicating Norbert’s point if I were to paraphrase it):
“Productive would be you lifting a finger to accomplish any of that vision. Unproductive would be a repetition of you spinning your wheels for another 8 years. Which will you choose?
“No. No, no no no. F**k you, you don’t owe it to yourself man, you owe it to me. Cuz tomorrow I’m gonna wake up and I’ll be 50, and I’ll still be doin’ this shlt. And that’s all right. That’s fine. I mean, you’re sittin’ on a winnin’ lottery ticket. And you’re too much of a pu$y to cash it in, and that’s bullshit. ‘Cause I’d do f**kin’ anything to have what you got. So would any of these f**kin’ guys. It’d be an insult to us if you’re still here in 20 years. Hangin’ around here is a f**kin’ waste of your time.” – Chuckie [Ben Affleck] to Will [Matt Damon], near the end of Good Will Hunting
“Will got the message. Can you?”
I am grateful to Norbert for posting these words. One of the reasons why I post at the Goon Central board is to test my ideas by seeing if a group of people with an intense desire to discredit them can find any holes. I think it would be fair to say that Norbert is here saying that he views Valuation-Informed Indexing as breakthrough stuff. That’s my take too, but I am of course as capable as any of the other humans of engaging in self-deception re a matter in which I have a great deal invested. Norbert’s words enhance my confidence in these ideas.
I don’t get the part about how hanging around with the Goons is a waste of time. I presume that what Norbert is saying is that he would like me to cash in my lottery ticket at some place where the Goons do not congregate. Where would that be? They follow me to every discussion board and blog at which I post!
And even if I were to find a place where they could not follow, how would I manage to keep the insights bottled up at that place? Once people learn about a better way to invest, isn’t word going to spread? If these ideas become popular, won’t they be writing about them in Money magazine and in the Wall Street Journal and in the Vanguard publications and at Motley Fool and so on? Our discussions started at Motley Fool. Won’t we just be going full circle at that point?
Moreover, does Norbert really want to miss out on talking over these ideas and taking advantage of them himself? Does that make even a tiny bit of sense to anyone? I think it is an insane position to take. I’ve been at this thing for eight years and to this day it never ceases to surprise and shock and amaze and astound me the lengths to which people will go to avoid learning how to pronounce the Three Magic Words.
Say the words, Norbert! Say the words! That’s when the real fireworks (the good kind!) begin!
Norbert Schlenker says
I think it would be fair to say that Norbert is here saying that he views Valuation-Informed Indexing as breakthrough stuff…
Three Magic Words.
Say the words, Norbert!
You are wrong.
There. That was easy.
My point in quoting the segment from Good Will Hunting is that you might do something worthwhile with the rest of your life. The last eight years have been a complete waste of time for you. Your “message” has been lost mostly because of the (in Scott Burns’ words) catastrophically unproductive way in which you preach it.
I presume that what Norbert is saying is that he would like me to cash in my lottery ticket at some place where the Goons do not congregate. Where would that be?
Right here. If you want a discussion forum where these ideas can be discussed and Goons kept out, start and run one yourself. It’s not that hard. The software is free and easy to install.
P.S. Could you spell my name right just once?
Rob says
Thanks for sharing your “interpretation,” Norbert.
I stand by my assessment of the point you were making with the blog post. The words you used in the thread you started at the Financial WebRing Forum also showed that you view Valuation-Informed Indexing as breakthrough stuff. The more recent post merely confirms something demonstrated at an earlier time.
Your “message” has been lost mostly because of the (in Scott Burns’ words) catastrophically unproductive way in which you preach it.
I think it would be fair to say that any message pointing out the dangers of Buy-and-Hold would be viewed by many Buy-and-Hold advocates as “catastrophically unproductive.”
Rob
elitie says
buy and hold can be dangerous when investors can’t stick with one strategy. for example, if an investor wants to buy and hold, but instead continue to sell and buy in regards to market violatility and sentiments, the buy and hold strategy itself is transformed into some kind of market timing based on market sentiments. thus ruining the investor’s portfolio. this is a pretty informative blog stating this out to the average joes. thanks.
pooja says
I want such type of lottery.