Long-Short Position

In financial trading, going "long" on something means to buy it with the expectation that its value will increase over time. Conversely, going "short" means to sell something with the expectation that its value will decrease.

Abstracted from financial trading, the concept of long and short positions can be applied metaphorically to various aspects of life, particularly in decision-making, belief systems, and personal values.

Taking a "long" position on something signifies investing in or holding onto a belief, principle, or course of action with the expectation that it will lead to positive outcomes or growth, and taking the view that this thing is presently undervalued. This involves commitment, perseverance, and a willingness to weather challenges in pursuit of one's goals or ideals. Long positions represent optimism, faith, and dedication to a particular path or set of values.

Conversely, adopting a "short" position involves skepticism, caution, or outright rejection of certain ideas, behaviors, or systems. Being short on something means being critical or wary of its potential negative consequences or shortcomings, and taking the view that this thing is presently overvalued. It implies a readiness to disengage, hedge against risks, or actively oppose ideologies or practices that are perceived as detrimental or flawed.

In essence, the long/short metaphor encourages discernment, strategic thinking, and the regulated expression of various approaches to navigating life's complexities. It prompts individuals to evaluate their beliefs and choices with a critical eye, recognizing the inherent trade-offs and uncertainties inherent in decision-making. By considering both the potential benefits and drawbacks of different perspectives or actions, individuals can strive for a more informed and resilient stance in the face of challenges and opportunities.

On X

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

I like @FQXi's LONG position in exceptional triality for 3 fermion families, but against SHORT exposure to the choice of the 248 Rep of E8.

11:40 PM · Dec 7, 2009

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

There is *obvioulsy* nothing "Islamophobic" about choosing & aiding the right side in the Islamic civil war over modernity & human decency.

2:42 PM · Sep 28, 2016

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

B/C "Islamaphobia" is what Islamists try to rename any rational disgust for shariah-fascism expressed by non-muslims, & I'm not an Islamist. https://t.co/JouTd6UW2S

6:56 PM · Sep 28, 2016

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

I am however concerned about anti-muslim bigotry. I'm
Long: Concerns for my Muslim friends & colleagues.
Short: BS Guilt over "Islamophobia"

6:59 PM · Sep 28, 2016

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

The best relative value trade in human beings:

Long: Good. Short: Nice.

Grouchy, grumpy, curmudgeonly, hard asses are always undervalued.

5:52 PM · Nov 20, 2016

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

Long: "X a la carte" Short: "X prix fixe"

Where X is any element of {BlackLivesMatter, SocialJustice, Feminism} trying to dictate virtue.

2:18 PM · Sep 27, 2017

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

"Today, the dollar surged against equities" said no financial reporter ever in describing a market sell-off. Beware of cheer-leading journalism. No "long only" portfolio is ever diversified. Long-only means being short a single security that you're encouraged not to think about. https://t.co/aZ8EjL3d4s

File:DViLV14UMAEozum.jpg

6:48 PM · Feb 8, 2018

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

Three thoughts on 9/11:

Do not believe in something if it asks you to sacrifice everything.

If you are truly long heroism,
you must also be short martyrdom.

Never let a tiny number of deranged dogmatic lunatics convince you that you’ll be better off cooperating with them.

6:59 PM · Sep 11, 2018

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

People are always confused: “I don’t get it, are you for or against. You are on a fence. Don’t BothSides this dude!”

Good luck with that. I’m:

Long: America and its institutions.

Short: The Fringes and the kleptocratic gerontocracy leading us off a Cliff.

12:03 AM · Nov 27, 2020

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

High Trust and Dependence

Vs

Low Trust and Independence

with respect to institutional leadership, is the best replacement for our old “Left vs Right” political spectrum that I have found.

Try it for yourself. I found it to be surprisingly efficient.

1:17 AM · Oct 30, 2021

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

In particular, it explains my own politics. I am short the leadership and current experts within our institutions but “against burning them all the F down”. Thus the traditional Right & I agree on part of our current crisis, but this identifies why I’m not a natural conservative.

1:17 AM · Oct 30, 2021

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

I don’t trust @twitter leadership which throttles my account. I don’t trust universities Coked up on DEI zealotry which wants me to give loyalty oaths. I don’t trust Fauci who lies to us. I don’t trust that @EcoHealthNYC hasn’t been taken over by our military. Etc.

1:24 AM · Oct 30, 2021

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

But I also know our history. And it wasn’t always like this. Not everyone who has a glass of Chardonnay ends up two weeks later sleeping in the gutter. And I am not having it that all liberalism automatically tends to illiberalism.

So I’m long institutions, short their new evil.

1:24 AM · Oct 30, 2021

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

In particular I don’t trust News Services, Universities, Political Parties, Government agencies, that won’t celebrate and hire top heterodox iconoclasts. If you won’t protect Noam Chomsky or Serge Lang in their fields despite their politics, what even are you as a university?

1:34 AM · Oct 30, 2021

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

So to sum it up, I don’t want institutions run by midwits w/ credentials that want to micromanage our reality. But “Burn it all the F Down!” Only works if it’s restricted to managed reality.

I’m low trust for current leaders/ experts. But open to the hard work of rebuilt trust..

1:43 AM · Oct 30, 2021

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

@coecke @dibiagioandrea I am long Science and our Universities but short their current leadership and their disastrous spiral into meaninglessness, madness and drudgery.

4:10 PM · Oct 31, 2021

Eric Weinstein

@EricRWeinstein

LONG: Science + AI + Traditional Academe
———————————————————-
SHORT: Peer Review + Modern Academe

That’s the trade, in my opinion.

12:01 AM · Aug 6, 2025

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