Wall Street & Main Street: Futures and the Human Stock Market
Posted: November 5, 2008 7:32 pmFiled under: Kevin, Uncategorized
Wall Street & Main Street:
Futures
and the
Human Stock Market
In the stock market there are numerous financial instruments which have existed for many, many years, and which form the stock market itself. Among them are stock, in preferred and common types, as well as futures, which are most typically trades associated with commodities, which are predominately comprised of agricultural products, and include precious metals.
Futures traders speculate upon the prices of such commodities, such speculation being primarily whether or not the price of a particular commodity will rise or fall at a certain time. Of course, agricultural commodities’ prices fluctuate according to climatic conditions, which fundamentally means weather and growing conditions, and the yields of such crops.
Based upon their prognostications, futures traders issue either “calls” or “puts,” which are terms used to describe either a call to purchase (I want or need a particular commodity, i.e., call it in), or a put, which is an order to sell (to put on the market a particular commodity which they control or own).
Though not a perfect match, there are numerous similarities with futures commodity trading and human relationships.
For example, there will come a time in any relationship, particularly with intimate and romantic male/female relationships in which one party will make a call.
No, not a booty call, but it has a close parallel, because one party will want or need something from the other.
Relationships - particularly and especially intimate interpersonal relationships of the male/female variety, i.e., love - are give and take, and exist by mutual agreement. And it is only with mutual agreement that they continue to exist.
Relationships thrive and flourish by giving. Both parties can and should give, and there will be times which only one party can give, or give more than the other.
However, in the development of such relationships, there will come a time at which one party will want something from the other. From the perspective of the party of the first part, there will come a time when a call is made upon the relationship (which is based upon what is hoped and believed is a shared belief in the mutuality of the relationship). And it is precisely that hoped-for belief in such mutuality in which the party of the first part believes that the investment of themselves into that hopefully mutual relationship with the party of the second part is or has come due.
For example, there will come a time or point at which one partner will need or want emotional support, or will need, or want to rely upon the other. If on the first, second or perhaps even third such opportunity, the party of the second part is either unable or unwilling to meet or supply such a request, then the relationship may very well be jeopardized.
It’s not that three is some “magic” number, it’s more that there is an acknowledgment by the party of the first part that the party of the second part is unwilling or incapable (for whatever reason) to supply the need. In essence, there has not been a mutual investment into the relationship by the party of the second part sufficient to return enough emotional capital to pay the call.
In other words, it’s time for the investment to pay off.
In fiscal terms, if after a reasonable time, the party of the second part is unable to meet the need of the party of the first part, then it could be presumed that the party of the second part is bankrupt.
If the party of the first part recognizes and acknowledges such a bankruptcy, then, much like in bookkeeping, it is time for a mutual accounting to detail the deficiencies and amend and or repair them as necessary.
And in keeping with the existence of the relationship by mutual agreement, if one party is either unwilling to amend or repair the breech, the relationship may very well be injured beyond repair, and may indeed be dead.
However, to prevent any untoward events, it is necessary to establish observations or reviews.
Just as financial investments issue periodic reports to their stock or share holders, so should couples have periodic checkups on the health of their relationship. The risks, rewards, and management styles and strengths must be acknowledged, as well as the weaknesses, shortcomings, temptations and failures. So also should plans for emergencies, contingencies, short, medium and long term goals be set and modified.
Remember, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
