That's what I'm mostly concerned about, yes. If my understanding about the initial involvement of the Reddit crowd is correct -- that it was really about "let's pump this stock up to screw hedge funds that are shorting it" -- that group is presumably okay with losing their investment. But I can't help suspect that over the last few days, that group has become outnumbered by investors who figured they could take advantage of this weird pop by buying and selling within a very short time frame, which it sounds like you're in, and possibly even by investors who want to hold the stock, not understanding that -- even without Robinhood's interference -- it's likely set up for a fall just as quick as its rise.
Part of the thing is -- I dont have a margin account. I'm not leveraged. The whole bit about "protecting the retail investor" is absurd. There is nothing to protect and they face no harm from me since its not margined. I can lose all my equity and that is it. I am the one who faces harm -- because I cant actually get out of the trade of a lifetime.
Second thing -- I think there were many things going on and many cohorts on WSB.
- Cohort 1: possibly pump and dump (though, this happens all the time with hedge fund managers also trying to move their position...)...or perhaps 22yos excited by GameStop, not that hard to imagine. GME has been a huge discussion on WSB for months.
- Cohort 2: 22yos YOLO'ing their weekly stipend and stimulus check. No real though about pump and dump and more so just silly gambling.
