Can you provide a link? Is a "Series 7 exam" some sort of prep for a certified financial analyst or something?

The little video clip is interesting. He reminds me of what my son could be like in 20 years. My son's on the spectrum. Even looks like him. My boy can get super focused on stuff, gets bullied, is way ahead in math. I'm working to instill some ethics in the boy, though.

Interesting article. Thanks for sharing.

One source could be a study guide for the Series 7 exam. Good stuff in there...

Puts and calls are derivatives. I'm in support of them. The rest...not really.

Can you recommend any good reading? I understand the basics of most economic transactions and I understand the basics of commodity orders, but I'm not a day trader. I'd be interested in understanding more about this.

I love dervitives, but I can't work the system because I'm not connected to anyone in the industry and probably am a little less aspie than he is.

As salta says, I do not think the market would be better off without derivatives. They create liquidity and maybe reduce speculative bubbles by providing an easy vehicle for people to take short positions.

The commodities market could not function smoothly without derivatives. Without futures markets, only participants who have real storage facilities could buy/sell crude oil, wheat, etc. That would make the market very small and prices very volatile. The massive liquidity of futures markets keeps volatility down.
I'm not saying you should dabble directly, but you benefit anyway from the high liquidity.

One thing I can say with a high degree of certainty is that when the subject is derivatives, dabble is not the word that leaps to mind!