Bathos Number 3: Trauma

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 09:35:58 -0400
Status:   

It is hard to think clearly as those of us who make some living off of
metaphor and analogy, those of us "quantified deprived" with liberal arts
backgrounds, are on our own now with nothing in the closet helping with
"it is like how that was", or "it is like how this is".  It is like nothing. Word 
"nothing" works, actually, a void of incredible evil which is bereft of
nobility and expression, a sheer dull black obsidian face where no handholds
of experience are offered.   I guess true evil is like that.

So far it seems all bathos readers survived.  That is good.  The event had a
way of solidifying friendships or at least you finally do know who your
friends are, don't you.  New friends made.  And for about another month or
so friendships will count then we can subsume back to being our good old
pricks and weasels and just trying to make a singular living.  But for now
friends count.

I think there is one market condition or environmental factor which is not
being given much attention, as few can afford to - especially those in NYC
and in the locale.  Physchological trauma.  Not feeling a "just" a bit nervous
or feeling  "just" a bit worried, something character can buck you up and
out of and carry you on.  But rather trauma where physiological changes of
one's body chemistry: unbidden physical changes that occur in thought
process, body dynamics resulting in weight loss, emotion, and ability to
think clearly. Weeping.  If the WTC occurred to only 2 or 3 cops, then a
small fortune would have been spent on their psychological
rehabilitation, and rightly so - the union would insist on it.  And still one of
the cops could slip into permanent dysfunctionality.  But since this has
happened to hundreds of thousands, we do nothing as we cannot even start as
an army of shrinks would be required, and yet it is reasonable to expect
serious physchological trauma for close to a majority of those involved.  

In W.W.I, it was thought anything more than 5 to 7 days in
the trench under artillery assault could permanently break a soldier, even
after training and familiarity.  A serious intense bombardment was noted in
breaking many men.  And again I am not talking about cowards or sense of
character, but hard physiological bodily responses outside the realm of
control.  Trauma.  

Last Tuesday hundreds of thousands of people went through
that and with the amazing clarity of news shows, millions more vicariously
lived it.  

I myself am dizzy at night, waking up with sweats and tears and
at times sick to my stomach.   You wouldn't notice my problems unless I told
you.  I have sense of dread that I am now a prisoner in my locale, forever
locked down as civil liberties are destroyed. Something Happened.

This has to be impacting my trading, though I am on the look out and if
anything I am making money now.  But the grim feelings and lack of pleasure
in success at work shows deep down another story has developed.  A Conradian
"Secret Sharer" is now aboard.

We all have such a Secret Sharer now, an uninvited guest deep inside
ourselves.  Perhaps this is the great evil these fucks have done, allowing
this Sharer in.  And it seems likely difficult to shed.

But I will shed it in time, I am sure, as I am thousands of miles away.

But for many many professionals who worked within  a few miles of the  WTC, 
professionals  who define our sense of values and trade flow, the Secret
Sharer is immense and palatable.  It is  a medically defined psychosis
and I fear it is having a profound effect on our markets.  It is a serious
and terrible problem and, given the complete inability to deal with it given
the intensity and time of psychiatric treatment, it is unmentioned.

If I am going through all the problems I outlined above,
how are good friends who left the behind on a ferry minutes before collapse
and watched the WTC shatter, how are they  going through it now?  
This happened to about 5 friends  Or those who were going into the building
for appointments just prior and on and on and on.  

Hundreds of thousands of people.

I suspect this will be the most important factor in trying to assess market
risk and direction now.  The sheer amount of intense psychological sickness
and trauma that is left in the wake of the attack.