With a mere 15+ months in forex, I am a semi-Newbie.
Forex is most definitely a form of gambling...as are more established, and "respectable", stock brokering, banking, etc. If we are correct in our assessments of the risks involved, we make money. But if we are wrong or some factors happen to affect our assessments, then we loss money or get completely screwed.
Everybody is in it with the hope & expectation of making some money back from their investment or speculation. Nothing more, and nothing less!
We can analyst the probable directions of currencies, commodities, stocks,metals, etc, but we cannot be 100% sure as there are just too many variables and unknowns which we cannot hope to cover or which has been completely left out, either variably or invariably, from our equation.
And then there are the "Big Boys" behind the scene. With their huge financial capability, they are the real movers & shakers of the financial industry.
I perceived most of our every day's activities as a form of gambling. Even simple things like crossing a busy street is a gamble that we will not be hit by a sudden fast moving vehicle. We purchase and eat food believing/trusting/gambling that it is safe to consume and that it has not been tempered with.
We joined a firm believing that our hard work and dedication will get us ahead to become the company's president. And, of course, politicians enter politics hoping to make huge gains through their newly acquired position and powers.
So, what else is trading forex? We analyst, assess, and then speculate!...though most of us would like to think that we are only taking calculated risk and place SL to limit our losses in any eventualities.