Bearfaced-Chic

It seems to me that, human nature being what it is, most people will buy full of optimism when the market is doing well, and sell in despair when they market does badly. I don't claim to know much about investing, but I do know that they're doing it the wrong way round.

Wouldn't it be prudent to start an Oil spill Birdflu Reactor meltdown E-Coli Apocalypse thread?

My contrarian bone is itching and I think Japanese equities represent a fantastic buying opportunity. And yes I know people have been saying it for a number of years!

Hi Ken. I hope you're wrong. I'm at least 80% sure that you are,,,,,,..

No disrespect to you Constable but all I hear about Japan is ...which is why I'm heavily invested there. It's pretty much the most unloved country in the world from a stock point of view and yet it's still the worlds 3rd largest economy. I understand there have been many false dawns before, the Yen is overvalued, the demographics are awful but I'm not sure there's a country in the world that's more forward looking and innovative. As far as the next 5 years goes for US and UK markets, I don't think there's any harm in investing in solid boring blue chip stocks that pay divs. I'd rather be in those than cash. All IMHO of course.

I think you're misrepresenting what I said. I agree people should be punished if they steal or murder. If the only reason they don't is fear of punishment, no, I don't think it does make them 'good' people. But we were talking about judgment from God, not from man. But it's interesting that you tag on a throwaway comment. I bet the UK prisons are full of God-fearing Christians that attend church every Sunday! I remember a study that showed that atheists as a percentage of the general population are under-represented in prison populations. I wouldn't want to post up the first Google hit I get back to 'score points', but I shall have a poke around if I get time. But the idea that Christians don't ever commit crime is frankly fatuous, and does nothing to help your cause.

Of course, because 50 years ago, there were no such things as narcissism, selfishness and lack of self control. But I think your point is rather illuminating. Religion for a lot of people is not based on love (as we're often told), it is based on fear of punishment. Which is exactly why it is so useful as a tool of social control for the benefit of men. If the only reason people don't act in 'evil' ways because they fear divine punishment, does that make them good people? You may need a religious 'kill switch' in your head to stop you stealing and murdering but I can assure you most of the atheist population do not.

Try using reason to debate against the kind of people who take their holy book (whatever flavour) as the absolute and literal word of God, and see how far your reason gets you in trying to explain (for example) that the earth is older than 4000 or so years.

You seem to imply your idea of 'immorality' or 'nihilism' goes hand in hand with poverty. How nice.

Cthulu is very cool! But all the eyes and tentacles put me off. Seriously though, the overbearing self-righteousness of some people on this thread just reinforces my view of organised religion. And talking of 'morality' as if there is one pure unswerving version, and anyone who doesn't follow this dogma should either be pitied or persecuted is one of the reasons why the world is as it is. One man's good is another man's evil, but everyone thinks they're 'right'.

It's times like these that I like to ask myself "What would Thor do?"

World Food Prices Hit All Time High. Stock up on beans. No! Sell beans! The time to stock up on beans was when world food prices hit an all time low. I was going to pass wind then, but I believe it's contained............

Quick! Sell everything and buy houses!!

I predict the exact opposite of this will happen.

Analysts might have said But isn't the real reason 80% increase in a year and they're complaining about a puny 6.7% drop? I'm not sure the FTSE is quite so bubblicious or even especially overvalued, but I'm sure someone will come along and tell me I'm wrong.

Great, another Guardian reading, hand-wringing liberal!

If you say it over and over again, you sound like a pirate. How appropriate.

Fire's too good for them. Edit - nurrr speeling.....

If you're using Firefox (and you should be!) Right click on link, select 'Open link in new tab'. Easy peasy! I'd say 'simples' but everytime I see someone write that I die a little inside.............

I've got a better idea. Don't borrow any 'money', don't lend any 'money'. Let the madness die.

I'm expecting more of a Red October.

AAAIIIEEEEEEEEEE MY EYES! MY EYES!

No, he definitely said 'So weak'... Definitely.

You could invest in a more unique user name! Diversification is your friend! Whatever you do with it, don't put it all in one place.

They should invest the lot in BTL. Once houses double in value there'll be plenty of money for everyone!