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Puts Instead of Shorts? Today's Activity

There may be a greater use of puts, but that vehicle does not damage a stock the way shorting does. Shorts had three weapons (1) recognizing a truly overvalued co; (2) spreading rumors regardless of a company's intrinsic value and (3) mercilessly selling regardless of a company's intrinsic value in an attempt to drive down the shares. Only the fist weapon is appropriate, but the other two still existed and were, in my opinion used. Puts still permit bets based on the first approach, can still permit the second approach, but remove the ability to sell shares as part of a coordinated effort to drive th co down. Accordingly, I think the new rules are appropriate. The short sellers are screaming, but to teh extent they serve a legot purpose in identifying problem companies, they can contiue to do so and rely on puts. Barring the shorts prevents bear raids on otherwise solid companys.
My HO only.