My brother had seen me do rather well with this "investing thing" so he decided he would take the smallest sum of money allowable ($500) and open a Scottrade account. He wanted to get into AIG (contrary to my comments that I wouldn't touch AIG with a ten-foot pole) and it was then trading around $.40 a share. He initially just wanted to give me the money and have me invest it, but it became clear that he thought he was going to hit one out of the park, as they say.

"Not on my tax bill, you're not!" I responded and did everything for him but write the check to open his account.

Imagine my jubilation when AIG promptly went to $1.40-1.50! I couldn't wait to congratulate him and to have a conversation with him about not becoming a "pig" as so many are prone to do...

Imagine my disappointment when he told he had hem-hawed around and didn't get in until somewhere around $1.30-1.40!

"Oh boy! You may have even more trouble realizing a profit than I had thought..."

Then came the 1-for-20 reverse split. He was almost mad! There was no way his stock was going to skyrocket now as he had anticipated! There was no way he would end up hitting one out of the park...

Low and behold, AIG went up! To over $50 a share ($2.50 a share in pre-RS terms)! I encouraged him to sell as he had nearly doubled his money in several months. Then he could get himself into something with better fundamentals or at least less downside risk...

No way he was going to sell now. Almost a "what's the point" attitude had settled in, as he was clearly still depressed over not being allowed to hit one over the fence. Didn't matter that he had doubled his money. Didn't matter that his worst fears had not materialized...

What's bothering you?

Depressed that you aren't going to be able to hit one out of the park (because, truth be told, some here have fantasized about a return to the heady days of even $100/share and now there's no way to realize that kind of return because you'd be looking at a price of $1,000/share and even the dullest among us know that ain't happenin')?

Disappointed that your sure thing doesn't seem like a sure thing anymore?

Upset at yourself for violating every principles of sound investing (fundamentals matter, don't put all your eggs in one basket, diversification is key, don't fall in love with a stock, and on and on) but projecting your anger on SOFO management because it certainly can't be your fault you're in so deep?

Maybe I'm crabby today but I get so sick and tired of all the "doom and gloom" or the "ignorance is bliss" vacillations.

We all have our moments (days, years, decades...) of uncertainty. That I understand because not even Jed here is omniscient.

But the high level of anxiety exhibited by some and the perpetual second-guessing has convinced me that perhaps many of us have violated sound investing principles and unnecessarily exposed ourselves to tremendous risk and yet believe our risky behavior should be rewarded for unknown reasons.

I know full well what I've gotten myself into with SOFO (false confidence alert?).

I do not believe I am in love with the stock (denial alert?).

I do think I understand both the technology and the opportunity inherent to this position extremely well (arrogance alert?)

These are my statements and I may yet be proven wrong, but my shares are staying put. All 12,000+ measly shares of mine are staying right here. And now that I know I am one of only about 9,000 owners of this company, I feel even better about my investment, to be honest with you.

Throw your get-rich spreadsheets overboard, strap on some institutional investors, and let's take this whale for a ride!

Captain Ahab (aka NattyB) ;-)