I have friends who bought in the 300s and 200s before Elon dumped his shares on them. Young people in South Korea are investing their life savings in TSLA because they believe in the company. My uncle, who is near retirement age, bought TSLA in the 250s. I think you'll have a hard time finding gratitude there. I've been poor and I've been not so poor and let me tell you this: you wouldn't be criticizing us for criticizing him if it was you who lost a butt load of money picking the right company. That's the part that hurts the most. You do your homework and take the risk and the company delivers but somehow you're poorer than before and it's not because the market is irrational but because the CEO is dumping his shares like there's no tomorrow.
The definition of a a speculator is not someone who uses derivatives to take ownership in a company but one who is in it purely for financial gain. AFAIK, KoGuan Leo never sold TSLA or its derivatives for gains. He bought all the way down from 350 and is still holding with us. I could care less if he bought shares or calls as long as he doesn't flip them for profit. Maybe his risk management was inadequate but he's still in it with us and i find it disgusting that some posters here were cheering for him getting margin called.
I empathize believe me. I was nearer to retirement than I realized when I put all of my retirement savings into TSLA in the Winter of 2018–this on top of other buys over the previous three years. By mid-2019, I found I’d aged out of tech, my marriage was foundering, and my TSLA position was down by half (at that point I made a further rage buy as I recently mentioned).
Lots of people blamed Elon then for his tweets and what not. In fact, it seemed like they couldn’t shut up about it. I did not—and do not still. Even if I did want to blame him, which I didn’t and don’t, I wouldn’t have—why carry water for your enemies? Duh.
This casting of blame is like the "credit assignment problem." Rather than look who benefits, consider who Elon is taking on.
Elon has picked fights with powerful, wealthy, and ruthless entrenched interests. He has done so for the right reasons in the right ways and had astonishing success.
Tesla is enormously successful and
that is why folks are trying to take Elon down. His attempt to restore trust in public discourse is entirely like him and of course further incites opposition.
Elon and his companies are trying to do the right thing in addition to making money. You and yours can be helpful by buying their products and
holding their stock.
The plateau during which I bought lasted 5+ years as been mentioned earlier. This one is 2 or so years now. Be patient and be rewarded or walk and wallow in regret later.
As for the use of derivatives, it is rationalization to put that on par with holding shares as a matter of character.
