Does anyone follow zerohedge.com? Wat is your opinion on the site?

[benld74]

I just found it last week and just a few days reading about what is going on in the world economy, world banks, etc is scarier than a Steven King novel.
WHat is your opinion on the site?

[apnu]

1. Its a financial wonk's site.

I read zerohedge from time to time, there's lots of interesting stuff and unfiltered opinions. Its sorta like slashdot.org but for finance geeks, currency geeks and goldbugs. I find the debate there to be largely non-political. I've watched posters bring in talking points (from both the left and the right) and they're almost always laughed out of the room. Political bullshit, generally, doesn't fly there.

That being said, they do have a bias against the 99% but, also, a general unease towards the tea baggers too. That's because the arrogance of the stock broker is on full display there -- they think they have all the answers and are always on the right side of the trade. So that attitude can be nauseating to me at times.

Read zerohedge.com if you like, just know there's a certain, specialized, filter going on there. I don't agree or disagree with zerohedge, and its a good place to get a lot of financial industry news, and not the CNBC stock hype, scandal and product placements. I mean real news like what's going on behind the curtain. So in that, the site is a good source of info.

Again, its like slashdot.org, but for a different kind of geek.

[gateley]

3. Sounds interesting -- and refreshing w/no political spin. Thanks.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. Heavily libertarian gold bugs who promote some odd ideas/people at times

but they have their finger on the guts of the markets and dig up stuff no one else is talking about.

[gateley]

4. After the "reviews" by you and apnu, think I'll go check it out even

though I'm not sure I'll really understand much of it.

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. Its worth a page scan - as they have a lot of interesting stuff you won't find elsewhere

As an example of weirdness though, just the other day they were howling about the 'sure end of the markets' based on a commodity hedger closing shop - and how this was indicative of imminent collapse. I followed the links to the links (etc) and read the fund's webpage (single woman operation specializing in grain/cattle futures) and then over to her youtube page (linked from the fund main page) where she promotes building bunkers and the destruction of Islam as destroyer of humanity.

Hardly worth noting that she closed shop, much less the bell-ringing importance that they gave it. Meh scale 1:10 and I only gave it 1 for the entertainment value.

So, go and enjoy (I do weekly) but recognize that you may need to sift behind the headlines for the backstory on what they are all excited about.

:hi:

[gateley]

6. That is really interesting (about the bunker lady) - I NEVER would

have investigated, just would have thought "well these guys probably know what they're talking about). I'll heed your cautionary advice.

:hi:

[apnu]

8. good story

And sounds like something that would happen on Slashdot.org but about iPhones instead of bunkers.

[Ruby the Liberal]

9. Or over on godlikeproductions.com over a meteor they think is extinction level event worthy

Lotsa craziness out there with people.

[apnu]

7. I don't understand all of it either.

Reading financial stuff is like reading any bill on http://thomas.loc.gov/ -- which puts me to sleep. I just can't wade through the wall to text.

[gateley]

10. Ha! Yeah, I don't look at the bills themselves, I come to DU to

find out what they're about! :7 :hi:

[abelenkpe]

11. I prefer nakedcapitalism.com

Zero hedge does tend to have many libertarian posts but also some more progressive voices. If you tend to read comments attached to articles it would be easy to become disillusioned with the online community there.

[fasttense]

12. I second that.

I find more interesting articles at naked capitalism than I do a zero hedge.

Once in a while zero hedge will say something interesting, while naked capitalism has something of interest 5 days a week.

[girl gone mad]

13. Take it with a grain of salt.

The posts tend to be truthful and timely, but they are heavy on nihilism and lack a very deep understanding of the monetary system.

I think they've been adding more diverse contributors so the perspective is not as skewed as it once was.