Ann: FY18 Half Year Results Announcement Date, page-200

@croasian & @andy777

I will only respond to the first few paragraphs of Croasian's post, as the post is too long and I can't be fagged reading it all.

Firstly to Andy. I am flattered that you find me worthy of emulation blah blah. But my feelings on the matter, for what they're worth, are that I don't think the focus should be on emulation. Not of Buffett, not of Munger, or of Graham, and much less of me. I think we should try to learn principles, that we should try to adapt via our own reasoning and critical thinking, to our approach (taking into account our own preferences, skills, knowledge and idiosyncrasies).

On this, I firmly agree with Croasian.

Croasian, I've said this before, I will say it again. You perplex me. On the one hand you are clearly a smart, independent thinker. But then you are prone to claims and conclusions that are not based any facts. This does not reflect well on your critical thinking skills. An intent to be independent should never over rule reason.

For example this:
"With each of my successful investments I pointed and explained how I saw the value but they could not see it."

I am very fallible. So the possibility of you laying out some amazing insights that I am incapable of appreciating, is a real one.

But I am mystified. What is it that I did not see? I never even looked at any of your gambits. Not because I dismissed them, but because I never got around to looking at them. I'm a slow moving investor. I focus on few things - and I rarely run hither thither trying to keep up with other investors. I believe in running my own race, rather than spending too much time looking over my shoulder. And I never, ever, make an investment without doing time consuming research and analysis of my own.

This means that trying to take advantage from others, will usually not be a good strategy for me (ie, by the time I commit, if I commit, the price advantage may no longer be there).

In any case, I take the view that someone else's gain is not my loss. If I have a "style", then this is a key element of it.

Cheers, Mars