Mel Lindauer wrote: ↑Thu Jun 10, 2021 5:07 pm
vineviz wrote: ↑Thu Jun 10, 2021 6:57 am
Mel Lindauer wrote: ↑Thu Jun 10, 2021 12:03 am
I'm just
being factual on a forum that prides itself on providing
correct information. The statements that were made were
factually incorrect and needed clarification. "Silly" is providing incorrect information if you know better.
Nothing silly about saying that
all Treasuries except I Bonds are providing a negative real return at this time, if that's the case. Folks
need to be informed when there's something from the Treasury that doesn't have, and can't have, a negative real return. Simple as that.
It's possible to be both factual AND pedantic.
"
Treasuries" means "marketable Treasury securities" to pretty much everyone
in the financial services industry. The Treasury department issues many types of securities that aren't marketable,
any informed reader will know that the simple phrase "Treasuries" refers only to the marketable securities.
Lots of folks who
come here for factual guidance are actually novices, rather than "informed readers", and we need to remember that and post accordingly. Facts are facts.
Informed posters shouldn't automatically assume (there's that word) that everyone can understand what they really mean.
How hard is it to say "All Treasury issues, except I Bonds, currently have negative real rates"?
Way back when I was a "reader". Was I "informed"? Probably not. Am I now "informed"? Maybe, but perhaps not enough.
Perhaps we can agree that there is a GIANT range in the knowledge/experience/education/etc of Bogleheads readers. And that we simply all need to remember that fact. When we write a post, we are either 1) asking a question so just ask away 2) answering a question so direct the answer to the what one things is the level of understanding of the OP 3) offering our own knowledge/opinion/etc of a relevant topic, but knowing that the "readers" of such a post span the widest range of knowledge.
No one necessarily needs to "dumb down" a post. Similarly, no one need be concerned about offending anyone else that a post is too basic or seems condescending. But, we should all simply appreciate that BH readers represent an
enormous range of knowledge/understanding. This site is all about education. There is something for everyone.
I think that there are actually a very trivial few "bad actors" on BH. 1 in 100,000? I don't think i've encountered a "bad guy" during my 10+ years here. We all have our own way of writing, our own focus, our own points of emphasis, our own assumptions of what others should already know or not know.
That's what makes this forum great/amazing. There is knowledge here for EVERYONE. Personally, I don't write worry that i'm writing for "informed posters". Instead, I try to address questions/topics in a way that might inform/educate a wide range of people. If I talk "above" anyone I hope they will ask clarifying questions. If I talk "beneath" anyone, I hope they'll understand it's not intentional. Such is the nature of a "crowdsourced" information site such as this one.
If you have to ask "Is a Target Date fund right for me?", the answer is "Yes" (even in taxable accounts).