# "Mad Money"--Booyah! or B.S.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 5, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-money-booyah-or-b-s/329703 "2005-11-05T22:16:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-money-booyah-or-b-s/329703/1 "2005-11-05T22:16:45Z")
Yesterday, I watched Jim Cramer’s **Mad Money** show on CNBC for the first time. I found him very entertaining and enjoyed his (admittedly nutzo) method of dispensing investment advice. My question is: does he _really_ know what he’s talking about or is he just another clown with a gimmick? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-money-booyah-or-b-s/329703/2 "2005-11-05T22:41:06Z")
I think he’s a clown with a gimmick and a good research service. One part of what makes a TV analyst “right” is self-fulfilling prophecy. Cramer’s got a following who may act on his advice. Consequently, the stock is going to do what he says because he’s telling people to act in a way that’ll make the stock do what he says it’s going to do. The stock market is based partly on economics and largely on human behavior, and I think he exploits that second part rather well. What he offers is generic advice based on his own preferences. My stepfather-in-law likes this fruit loop and watches the show daily and takes careful notes on what Cramer says to do; for all I know, he does it. I don’t care for the show and wouldn’t take financial advice from a TV host, but it’s not my money that’s being invested. Robin