Why I Don't Fully Trust Bots — Or Myself

Before anything else, it's important to explain how I actually trade. My approach is roughly 70% automated and 30% manual. That balance exists because I don't fully trust systems, but I also don't fully trust myself. I've learned how trading works, how to read charts, and how different strategies behave, but I'm not someone who follows a perfectly rigid routine. I don't wake up at the same time every day to trade specific sessions, and I don't always react instantly to news or events. Because of that, I've learned to be honest about where my strengths and weaknesses are.

I see my role in trading less as the person pressing buy or sell, and more as the one setting boundaries, monitoring risk, and intervening when something feels off. My rules are process driven and very clear. I never risk more than 2% on a single trade. If I hit a maximum loss of 4% in a day, all systems are disabled. At that point, I step back and review what happened, why it happened, and whether I need to stay sidelined for a few days or adjust something before continuing. I also receive alerts that flag issues like slippage or unusual volatility so I can step in if needed. This is where I'm most useful in trading, overseeing the system rather than trying to outthink the market in real time.

When it comes to style, trading usually falls into long term swing trading, short term day trading, or scalping. I favour short term trading. Not because I'm impatient, but because I mainly trade gold and I'm more comfortable entering and exiting relatively quickly. I try not to hold trades for longer than an hour or two. For me, if a trade needs much more time than that, it often means the idea wasn't clean. Other people prefer higher timeframes and longer holds, and that works just as well. As my capital grows, I can see myself leaning more toward swing trading, but right now this approach suits me.

I don't believe short term trading is inferior to long term trading. I think both are valid when matched with the right person. What matters is knowing yourself well enough to choose the right approach, rather than forcing yourself into something that doesn't fit your psychology or lifestyle.

The 70/30 split works because it removes the pressure of needing to be at the screen all the time. The system handles entries and exits based on specific criteria I've defined. My job is to monitor performance, adjust parameters when market conditions shift, and step in manually only when something is clearly wrong or when I see an obvious opportunity the system wouldn't catch.

This is not a holy grail. I still lose. I still have red weeks. But the structure keeps me from doing something stupid when emotions kick in, which is most of the battle.

If there's one thing I'd tell someone starting out, it's this: figure out what you are bad at, and build a system that compensates for it. Don't try to become a perfect trader. Try to become an honest one.