@Lethargic

I think many of us began with a measure of self-discipline mirroring the hundreds of websites which suggest exactly what you recommend.

The trouble with POET is the story is so compelling that you can truly imagine yourself regretting being on the sideline even more than being overweight and losing everything. So you break rules that would have held up fine if you had just invested in some boring old resource stock.

My personal story is that I began investing in a variety of sectors just when the market was about to take a bad turn. When what could laughably be called a "portfolio" began retreating, I would sell and then buy more POET thinking it was a great deal (and finally, at today's prices I can say it was!). And POET kept dropping and I kept buying until I only had POET. And then it *kept* dropping and dropping and dropping - until I had basically written it all off in my mind as I prepared for the worst.

But...

I never put my family at risk during the whole ordeal, and I don't even regret not buying more when the price was low. There are some rules you break, and some you don't. I only ever bought with what I set aside for investing - a portion of my savings. I feel good about sticking to my principles.

I would be lying if I said it wouldn't hurt to lose what I have invested and gained. But don`t worry about me, there's food on the table:)