Boxster Guy et. all: I would look at Iknown's amazon link on the first page of this thread. Read the excerpts from the book about Investor Psychology. From what you've written I wouldn't be calling anyone an amateur in a derragatory way, you fit the bill from that book to a T. :p I thought you were a IT tech worker not a "professional" trader.
I personally don't "trade" securities and if you look at the advice I've given here you would see I don't encourage it either. I have a B.S. in finance, I'm studying for an MBA and I work for a securities self-regulatory organization. You amateur! :p
