# Stock Market Game - The Teeming Millionaires **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 6, 2000, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932 "2000-10-06T05:56:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/81 "2000-10-11T15:29:44Z")
Apparently, due to the influx of trained monkeys trying to place trades, the system is overloaded. And I was gonna wipe yous guys all over da floor…but in a nice way. ---
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/82 "2000-10-11T16:03:05Z")
From the site: > [@](#): > > \*\* > Due to unprecedented volume we are experiencing, the service is temporarily not available. We are diligently working on improvements and truly apologize for any inconvenience you are experiencing. Please try again later. The peak hours of our Web site are from 10 AM to 4 PM EST. To avoid any interruptions, please pick off-peak hours for your trading.\*\* Who picked this crappy site, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/83 "2000-10-11T16:12:05Z")
Hmmm, my broker is on vacation? Off to Tahiti on my commissions no doubt. And Shirley, if you wanna run for prez, you have to put your portfolio in a blind trust, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/84 "2000-10-11T18:08:41Z")
While we’re all waiting for the game to come back up, I wonder if anyone can tell me what ‘Short Sell’ and ‘Buy to Cover’ are for? The help portion of the site just tells you how to use them, but I don’t get _why_ to use them. And I’m too lazy right now to look on other sites for the info, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/85 "2000-10-11T18:28:54Z")
**Short selling** is the practice of selling stocks you do not own. You must later **buy to cover** the same issue in the same quantity, hopefully at a lower price than at which you sold the stock. The difference in the sell/buy prices is then your profit, or potentially your loss. Typically, in a real world investment environment, your broker would place some kind of time limit between your **short sale** and when you were required to **buy to cover**. At the end of this game I’m sure that anyone with outstanding **short sells** , will be required to make a **buy to cover** at the going price to complete their portfolio. Short selling is considered a very risky strategy. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/86 "2000-10-11T18:40:55Z")
Thanks, Unc. I guess I’ll wait until I have a bit more of a feel for this stuff before I try those techniques. This morning, my portfolio got over 100 kilobucks for the first time, just as I had to leave for a meeting. It was back down by the time I returned, dadgummit. I’m still in 14th place, but there seem to be more people below me than before. That won’t last. ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/87 "2000-10-11T20:36:23Z")
This is fun! I’ve been day-trading and shorting stuff left and right. Yahoo today. Priceline and Lycos on Friday. I probably wouldn’t take the risk with my own money but seeing how well I’m doing, 2nd place today with 114423.95, it’s very tempting. Anybody wanna lend me 100K? ---
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/88 "2000-10-11T22:29:03Z")
As of Market close today… ```auto Satan666 118164.28 18.16 30 bafaa 114423.95 14.42 28 UncleBeer 107655.49 7.66 43 Silo 105456.10 5.46 6 TwistofFate 103229.14 3.23 60 LazarusLong42 102346.88 2.35 13 oldscratch 100603.53 0.60 23 Saltire 100263.39 0.26 19 zette 100055.56 0.06 0 Aglarond 100055.56 0.06 0 Ankh_Too 100022.22 0.02 0 Kerrigan 99969.88 -0.03 2 jazzmine 99769.57 -0.23 1 Omniscient 99515.24 -0.48 3 Opengrave 99515.03 -0.48 2 DrainBead 99277.13 -0.72 6 ShadowKat 99255.68 -0.74 19 mamapotomus 99026.96 -0.97 19 CnoteChris 98628.93 -1.37 59 pantom 97639.50 -2.36 5 Modian 97247.88 -2.75 8 tubagirl 96093.88 -3.91 61 pldennison 95727.07 -4.27 26 SqrlCub 94378.60 -5.62 6 Scylla 93722.85 -6.28 9 EnosStrate 92395.05 -7.60 4 sdimbert 91063.70 -8.94 63 LamarMundane 90807.69 -9.19 3 Thirsty4 90726.50 -9.27 10 Aglarond78 90125.44 -9.87 2 pugluvr 86714.75 -13.29 7 ``` ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2000, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/89 "2000-10-11T23:12:00Z")
---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/90 "2000-10-12T01:26:20Z")
Who says evil doesn’t pay? Seems to me it pays back an 18% return on your investment! 😃 * * * Yer pal, Satan - Commissioner, [The Teeming Minions](http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/full/show?lid=39428&page=leaguehome) _TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING: Six months, two days, 23 hours, 26 minutes and 50 seconds. 7439 cigarettes not smoked, saving $929.88. Extra time with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 4 days, 19 hours, 55 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/91 "2000-10-12T02:50:33Z")
I will win, I will win. ;)😃 ---
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/92 "2000-10-12T20:14:45Z")
OK - I’m a total geek. Since I am not using my take to make wise trading decisions, I used it to build a spreadsheet that should make it **much** easier to post updates to this thread. So, here are the current numbers (Yes, I am now _dead_ last): ```auto bafaa 143793.79 43.79 67 Satan666 113734.68 13.73 30 oldscratch 101021.73 1.02 27 zette 100066.68 0.07 0 Aglarond 100066.68 0.07 0 Ankh_Too 100033.33 0.03 0 Kerrigan 99957.10 (0.04) 2 jazzmine 99530.23 (0.47) 1 Omniscient 99448.82 (0.55) 4 LazarusLong42 99152.39 (0.85) 13 Silo 98670.14 (1.33) 10 DrainBead 98647.58 (1.35) 6 CnoteChris 97422.81 (2.58) 71 ShadowKat 97264.71 (2.74) 19 mamapotomus 96818.16 (3.18) 19 Opengrave 96677.49 (3.32) 2 pantom 96385.18 (3.61) 8 TwistofFate 95244.13 (4.76) 77 pldennison 95068.20 (4.93) 26 tubagirl 94226.26 (5.77) 61 Modian 94030.00 (5.97) 19 Saltire 93489.83 (6.51) 24 Scylla 91294.89 (8.71) 9 SqrlCub 90037.32 (9.96) 6 EnosStrate 89595.46 (10.40) 4 UncleBeer 87713.32 (12.29) 43 LamarMundane 87324.02 (12.68) 3 Aglarond78 86688.73 (13.31) 2 Thirsty4 84953.32 (15.05) 10 pugluvr 84181.99 (15.82) 7 sdimbert 80496.44 (19.50) 69 ``` ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/93 "2000-10-12T20:19:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Satan \* > \*\*Who says evil doesn’t pay? > > Seems to me it pays back an 18% return on your investment!\*\* Sounds like a good sig line to me. ---
**Author:** ![Modian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Modian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modian)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/94 "2000-10-12T20:28:19Z")
Holy crap bafaa, what are you trading on?? Sad part is, I’m taking a hit on these, and my real stocks ☹ Freaking sheep jumping on every 3rd quarter report… ---
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/95 "2000-10-12T20:31:05Z")
```auto 1 **bafaa** 143793.79 43.79 67 2 **Satan666** 113734.68 13.73 30 3 **oldscratch** 101021.73 1.02 27 4 **zette** 100066.68 0.07 0 5 **Aglarond** 100066.68 0.07 0 6 **Ankh_Too** 100033.33 0.03 0 7 **Kerrigan** 99957.10 -0.04 2 8 **jazzmine** 99530.23 -0.47 1 9 **Omniscient** 99448.82 -0.55 4 10 **LazarusLong42** 99152.39 -0.85 13 11 **Silo** 98670.14 -1.33 10 12 **DrainBead** 98647.58 -1.35 6 13 **CnoteChris** 97422.81 -2.58 71 14 **ShadowKat** 97264.71 -2.74 19 15 **mamapotomus** 96818.16 -3.18 19 16 **Opengrave** 96677.49 -3.32 2 17 **pantom** 96385.18 -3.61 8 18 **TwistofFate** 95244.13 -4.76 77 19 **pldennison** 95068.20 -4.93 26 20 **tubagirl** 94226.26 -5.77 61 21 **Modian** 94030.00 -5.97 19 22 **Saltire** 93489.83 -6.51 24 23 **Scylla** 90226.14 -9.77 9 24 **SqrlCub** 90037.32 -9.96 6 25 **EnosStrate** 89595.46 -10.40 4 26 **UncleBeer** 87713.32 -12.29 43 27 **LamarMundane** 87324.02 -12.68 3 28 **Aglarond78** 86688.73 -13.31 2 29 **Thirsty4** 84953.32 -15.05 10 30 **pugluvr** 84181.99 -15.82 7 31 **sdimbert** 80496.44 -19.50 69 ``` ---
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/96 "2000-10-12T20:33:58Z")
**bafaa** ’s a sneaky cuss… He’s totally out of the market right now. No jumping on his bandwagon. The coattails are gathered up. The metaphors are flowing… Why didn’t the columns in the second chart line up? They lined up in the submission box! ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/97 "2000-10-12T22:02:09Z")
It’s kind of humbling that only three Dopers are doing better than a credit-union savings account. I sure hope the market doesn’t act this way through the whole game. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/98 "2000-10-12T22:20:24Z")
Tomorrow i will be either unbelievably wealthy, or unbelievably broke. Ahhh. The magic of Short Selling. I only wish there were more options. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/99 "2000-10-12T22:21:29Z")
bafaa has insider info, I bet. Where does he work? How can I see the other traders’ portfolios from the website? All I can see is my pathetic refuse. Well, at least I’m ahead of sdimbert now. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932/100 "2000-10-12T22:23:20Z")
Go to the rankings page, then click on someone’s name. That will show you their stocks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-game-the-teeming-millionaires/35932.md?page=6)