It's called "group mentality". The market crashes when you least expect it.
Yup, got that right.
What? Crashes are NOT the Inquisition!
Seriously, Crashes, and I've been through the big one, and the small scare after it, and the 98 freak out, and of course if you want to talk about the miserable decline from 2000 to 2003 (depending upon your index), I was there too. I was actually LOOKING for a crash in 87. I was talking about it and trying to get short for it. The shake out in 1989 (?), I had puts for. I had my clients and my self short for the 98 shellacking and of course, I publicly blew the whistle on this market just before the 2000 top and yes, I was short.
I say this not to show how great I am. I'm not. I'm just saying that LOTS of people expect Crashes before they come. In fact, I'd say that they are probably one of the most anticipated events by traders. Sure, they may be shocked by the depth or the carnage, or whatever, but lots of traders expect a decline ahead of a Crash and many were quite open to a Crash as well.
What I'd say is that NOBODY (except Don) expect long, correction-free advances that go and go and go.
Mark