Of Diehards and Bogleheads

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I don't want to support Rob, but I have my own issues with the Bogleheads. As a long-time (multi-decade) Vanguard investor, I have a relatively high opinion of the firm and a belief in the superiority of passive investing for nearly all individual investors.
The now "Bogleheads" board, which is nominally a discussion board, falls into the trap of being a place where only a narrow set of views are accepted. Politics are banned, which is hilarious to me when you consider how much returns have been impacted by recent market frauds (yes, I am speaking of bankers shenanigans). And the discussions of new views are treated very harshly, which is telling, since that kind of attitude would have kept Vanguard and indexing out of the market way back when.
It is probably more accurate to view Bogleheads as a support group, not a discussion community. Like frighteningly idealistic political movements, they already claim to have all the important answers. That sin is in known in most religions as blasphemy and I don't think it is all shrill to call them out on that.

Mean Mister Mustard of MD 5:43AM December 07, 2010

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of 9:57PM June 10, 2008

"JWR" or whatever your name is:
As usual, you cannot stand to hear the truth or allow anyone to speak it. Like all liberals, you're basically subhuman animals.

JWR1945 of FL 9:57PM June 10, 2008

After being banned in so many places, there was only one solution: a forum devoted to honest and informed posting on the subject of early retirement.
http://honestandinformedposting.com/index.php

hocus of VA 1:50PM June 10, 2008

It looks like if Rob Bennett hurries, he can be the first entry under the "finance" category on this site. Do it for your audience, Rob:
http://www.crank.net/contents.html
By the way, I am the one true Jay Dubblya Arh. Accept no substitute.

Jay Dubblya Arh of 5:49PM June 09, 2008

JWR1945,
Are you claiming some sort of trademark on your initials? That strikes me as silly and pompous. Is it possible that more than one person might be allowed to share your initials in the state of Florida? How can you possibly claim that me, using my initials, is "misrepresentation" and an "attempt to suppress honest discussions".
Honestly, you really ought to get your ego under control and try to maintain some level of civility.

JWR of FL 2:45PM June 09, 2008

Hocus isn't merely the nemesis AKA troll of the Diehards. He has been banned from 15 additional finance boards and continues to seek out new boards to be banned from. It seems to feed a martyr complex. The fact that no finance forum lets him troll indefinitely is somehow proof that he is "right" about something in finance. (Something that he can't quote define.) But of course, I guess this comment and most of those above are also feeding the troll. Even James, who knows he's feeding a troll, can't help doing it. Oh well...
Banning this sort of troll as early as possible is probably the best solution for keeping a board on-topic.

Jim of MO 11:02AM June 09, 2008

I am NOT the “JWR of FL” in the comments to the article.
This misrepresentation is a typical tactic of those who suppress honest discussions.
Have fun.

JWR1945 of FL 11:01AM June 09, 2008

To James:
Who knows, you may be right. Still, all of the forums lost members, not just the Diehards.
It just a shame that instead of listening to their members and correcting problems like moderation and speed, Morningstar went ahead and destroyed a great online community.

Pat of CT 10:21PM June 08, 2008

To Pat:
"""With fewer "eyeballs" on the Morningstar forums, I wonder how much advertising revenue has been lost?""""
With about 95% of diehard/bogleheads probably already married to Vanguard funds, and with Vanguard being the primary right side advertiser in the M* Vanguard forum - it was always a bit of a strange arrangement.
I'm guessing not much revenue at all has been lost to the overall M* bottom line.

James of IL 9:10PM June 08, 2008