ian, i can totally relate to trading (no issue with you)...regarding "soft bashers", i think most of them are just guys trying to lower the PPS for a buy in but there are a few that are much more devious...the one coincidence i see is that if you look back over the history of the yahoo MB you can see a pattern to the PPS and bashing/pumping campaigns...could be that when the PPS is week it invites bashers and vice versa but personally i think the message boards do carry some weight with retail (maybe a 3% swing in PPS)....i know that i have bought (and especially sold)  certain stocks based on things i've picked up on message boards and i dont consider myself an"inexperienced trader"...message boards are just a new and improved form of "bucket shop, boiler room, word on the street", it's been going on since the market began..........imo