Since I was asked to help explain the stocks thing, storytime!

Let's say I want to make money selling stuffed bears. But I have no stuffed bears. So I borrow one from Amy and promise to give it back to her on a specific day. Then I sell the bear to Tom for $10. I now have $10.

I trash talk that bear so Tom values it less and then offer to buy it back from Tom for $5. I give Tom $5, keep $5 for myself, and give the bear back to Amy. Then repeat. I hope I can trash talk the bear enough that eventually Tom will just give the bear back for free.

Now imagine someone sees me doing this and says, that's not cool. They start talking up the bear to Tom. They start buying similar bears. Now Tom wants $15 for the bear back. I have to give the $10 I got, plus $5 of my own money.

I need to get the bear back to give it to Amy when I promised I would. But people talk it up so much and buy so many of the same bear that it's worth $1,200. I don't have that much to spend on a bear, so I have to start selling my own stuff to get it to give back to Amy.

Now I'm angry that my strategy to get money isn't working. I'm angry that someone is making the bear worth more so that I can't get it back without losing my money and needing my friends to help me. I'm scared, embarrassed, and mad. But I can't do anything about it except tattle.

@JustAmyZing There you go...