My portfolio went kaput during the September markets for NFL protests. Specifically in a market predicated on two or more players kneeling during a particular game. I went all in, similarly looking for a serious gain, and lost because the market specifically defined kneeling so all the other shows of solidarity didn't qualify. I lost my original $50 investment, which saw a maximum liquidity of $180 or so at one point, if memory serves. I don't think I want to buy in again, even though I've checked the site and seen some undervalued positions. It's hard for me not to become obsessive, and my time is already short and valuable as is, let alone what little money I have. At the end of the day, it's a go big or go home proposition. I couldn't justify the hours on the site and having not a whole lot to show for it. Making a few dollar gain after hedging or researching a lot every day isn't worth it, and I'm too poor (and probably chickenshit) to gamble with the thousands necessary to make gains worthwhile from a money-value of time perspective. But it's great to hear that you're still in it! One of my friends has made $5k after less than a $100 buy-in. I don't know whether he should get out or keep it up... he's demonstrated incredible aptitude.
Update: recent events have reduced my portfolio value to about ten bucks. I was greedy, broke my own guidelines, and got caught up in the hysteria. But no excuses, I was wrong and having a lot of company doesn't change that. I'll be less smug and less confident for a while.
Yea, you are certainly not alone. I'll reveal a secret: I was very, very close to planting $850 on a "Pence elected VP: No" resolution that I thought was undervalued (lmao, he fucking won) at 70 cents. Like so close. End of the day I couldn't justify it, even after asking my successful friend at the game to talk me into it. Really glad. I bet there's actually a lot of people who are kicking themselves, to put it mildly.
Ah, sorry to hear that you went bust. It's hard to anticipate those edge cases. I like to buy No shares just because there are lots of ways a thing might not happen, but only one way in which it can happen. I just saw a contract on the Treasury's choice of a woman to put on the $10 bill this year. They changed their mind and decided to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 instead, but there were already 10,491 shares circulating for Wilma Mankiller on the ten, which looks like a pretty safe No. I think I have the same tendency toward obsession; if I had serious money in I would be spending too much time on the project.