A Virgin Trader

As a virgin share trader I ask myself, is there any point reading the online share trading bulletin boards (BBs)? Most broker sites have them and there chat and gossip on virtually every sector and stock under the sun. The question is are all those opinions worth the time is took to write them? They can certainly be amusing and even informative at times but I would never make a decision based on anything I read there.
As a virgin it is all too easy to see everyone else as experts, and yes, they certainly know more than me – which is not difficult, but is there advice worth listening to? I have always found that in any business that those who talk the most are usually the ones you should listen to the least.
I would suggest they are certainly a good place to get some background detail on a particular stock, although I certainly would not take it as gospel. I would suggest they are a place to look at now and again for amusement, but when it comes to deciding when to buy and what to buy your better off with some good chart data an annual report and the newspaper.
The virgin recommendation of the day:

• Don’t follow a bulletin board gurus tips.
• Ignore internet tipsters or tipsheets
• Don’t go to a bulletin board for ideas
• Make your own mistakes

Bulletin boards should be seen as light entertainment, pure and simple.
If you happen to be one of those people who have never ventured near an online bulletin board it is a small online community related around a particular topic. Contributors usual have a nickname if they want to actively participate in a conversation or (thread). Threads usually appear in order of last updated, this can be confusing if your new to it.
However all is not bad with bulletin boards, don’t get me wrong, some contributors are committed to their chosen subject and really want to help pass on information, some will even cut and paste relevant data from company reports and statements and many are only to willing to give advice.
But then what do I know I’m just a virgin.