The Absolute Chaos of r/Wallstreetbets
The stock market can be a way to earn money, but some people, especially those on the "Wall Street Bets" subreddit, treat it like a casino. They use risky strategies, often with stock options, betting large amounts of money for quick profits, which can lead to huge gains or complete losses. The subreddit became more popular with the rise of commission-free trading apps like Robinhood, attracting many inexperienced traders. There have been instances of traders losing everything, but also stories of people making significant amounts. The community also discovered and exploited glitches in trading platforms, like one that allowed for 'infinite leverage' on Robinhood, leading to large losses for the platform. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while many expected the market to crash, government stimulus packages and money printing caused the market to unexpectedly rise, leading to big losses for those who bet on a downturn.
Key Vocabulary
Well-known for some bad quality or deed.
Examples:
- The bridge was infamous for its frequent closures due to high winds.
- He became infamous for his controversial remarks during the debate.
- The restaurant was infamous for its slow service and overpriced menu.
Increased or intensified to a high degree.
Examples:
- The sound engineer cranked up the volume during the concert's climax.
- With the deadline approaching, the team cranked up their efforts to finish the project.
- She cranked the heating to full blast to warm up the chilly room.
In this context, used colloquially within a specific online community to describe something as extremely complex, unconventional, or unexpectedly intricate, often implying a level of detail or strategy that is beyond typical understanding.
Examples:
- The programmer's solution to the bug was so autistic, it involved rewriting half the system.
- His investment strategy was so autistic that only a few people could follow its logic.
- The board game had an autistic rulebook, requiring hours to fully comprehend its nuances.
Behaving in an erratic or unpredictable manner; operating outside normal or expected controls.
Examples:
- A rogue wave crashed over the ship, causing unexpected damage.
- The company had to deal with a rogue employee who was making unauthorized decisions.
- A rogue asteroid unexpectedly entered the planet's gravitational pull.
Using borrowed capital for an investment, expecting the profits made to be greater than the interest payable.
Examples:
- The real estate developer leveraged his existing properties to acquire new ones.
- She leveraged her small initial investment to control a much larger portfolio of stocks.
- The company leveraged its brand recognition to enter new markets.
Having streaks of gray hair, often implying age and experience.
Examples:
- The grizzled detective had seen many cases over his long career.
- A grizzled old prospector shared tales of his adventures in the mountains.
- His grizzled beard showed years of outdoor living.
Brought into effective action; utilized or put into operation.
Examples:
- The company deployed a new software system to improve efficiency.
- Emergency services were quickly deployed to the scene of the accident.
- The marketing team deployed a new campaign to reach a wider audience.
An ambiguity or inadequacy in a system, law, or contract which can be used to evade or circumvent it.
Examples:
- The lawyer found a loophole in the contract that allowed his client to avoid penalties.
- They exploited a tax loophole to minimize their financial obligations.
- The new regulations were designed to close every possible loophole.
The business of acting as a broker; a firm that charges a fee or commission for executing buy and sell orders submitted by an investor.
Examples:
- He opened an investment account with a discount brokerage firm.
- The online brokerage offers a wide range of financial services.
- She works for a large brokerage house on Wall Street.
A type of virus that can cause respiratory illnesses in humans and animals.
Examples:
- Scientists are constantly studying the coronavirus family to understand various strains.
- The spread of the coronavirus led to significant public health measures.
- Research into the coronavirus has advanced significantly in recent years.
Out of debt or difficulty; able to continue in business.
Examples:
- The government provided a loan to keep the struggling company afloat.
- Despite the economic downturn, many small businesses managed to stay afloat.
- He worked multiple jobs just to keep his family afloat financially.
A collection of items of the same type, stored in a hidden or inaccessible place.
Examples:
- The explorer discovered a hidden cache of ancient artifacts.
- The computer's cache stores frequently accessed data for quicker retrieval.
- A squirrel buried a cache of nuts for the winter.
To move away aimlessly from a group or from the right course or place.
Examples:
- The conversation began to stray from the main topic.
- A lost dog was found straying far from its home.
- He advised the students not to stray too far from the designated path.
The end of the period for which something is valid; termination.
Examples:
- Please check the expiry date on the milk carton before consuming it.
- The expiry of his passport meant he couldn't travel internationally.
- The contract has a clear expiry clause after five years.
In this context, to repeat a process or action, often to achieve a cumulative effect or to exploit a recurring opportunity.
Examples:
- The sales team decided to rinse and repeat their successful marketing strategy.
- He would rinse the same profitable trading pattern whenever it appeared.
- The comedian's act was to rinse the same joke with slight variations.
Short for 'moderator,' a person who manages and supervises an online forum, community, or discussion.
Examples:
- The forum's mod quickly removed the offensive post.
- As a new mod, she spent hours learning the community guidelines.
- The game developer also acts as a mod on their official online community.
In this context, used colloquially within a specific online community to describe a situation or strategy that is highly unconventional, complex, or seemingly irrational to outsiders, often implying an obsessive focus or an unusual, detailed approach.
Examples:
- The sheer autism of his investment thesis was baffling to traditional analysts.
- The level of autism in his research paper was evident from the intricate footnotes.
- They joked about the autism of the elaborate prank they planned.
Used as an exclamation to express sudden success or satisfaction at having found or done something.
Examples:
- After searching for hours, he found the missing key and exclaimed, 'Bingo!'
- She tried several combinations, and then, bingo, the safe clicked open.
- The detective connected the last piece of evidence, 'Bingo, that's our suspect!'
A person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data.
Examples:
- The company hired a cybersecurity expert to protect against potential hackers.
- A skilled hacker managed to bypass the system's security protocols.
- News reports detailed how a hacker group stole sensitive information from a major corporation.
A factor, force, or influence that counteracts or neutralizes another.
Examples:
- The government introduced new policies to counterbalance the rising inflation.
- His calm demeanor served as a counterbalance to her fiery temper.
- The heavy base of the lamp acts as a counterbalance, preventing it from tipping over.