I haven't been following stocks much in about 13 years, when I
   stopped buying. I mean, I kept up with big changes in the market
   out of morbid curiousity, and to time sales properly when I
   could... but not like I used to.

   Anyway, taking a quick glance at the 5 and 10 year charts, it's
   a pure fear thing. The markets are 100% emotion, no matter _how
   much_ AI they want to throw into it. The systems claims
   rationality via Adam Smith 18th century theory, but the beast is
   behind the wheel, in a Freudian sense, and "what the other guy
   is doing" rules or rather, "WHAT "EVERYBODY" is doing." Either
   someone goes with the flow, or is contrary but most remain
   stable.

   I was a contrarian investor.

   The drop is LONG overdue. Doesn't matter what the excuse it.
   Can't ride that high forever. I remember a book, "Dow at
   30,000". It was ridiculous bullshit as is most economic
   positivist (and doom and gloom) prediction scenarios.

   Market will be fine. ================[1]dow-real-estate-10yr-usa
   real estate 10 yr superimposed. Real estate typically follows
   along with the market in a trailing fashion.

   Notice how close real estate and stocks are at the end of the
   chart.

   While it's POSSIBLE that stocks will continue to fall into
   doomsday, it's more likely it'll correct itself as people get
   over their hissy fits about whatever is the govt decision of the
   day.

   And remember this: A temporarily shaky market means great
   opportunity for wise buyers. The market shakeup can be like a
   sieve. Quite fascinating really. i was addicted for a time, but
   not for day-trading but rather in .. oh whatever the
   buy-and-hold is called.

   Another possibility is this;if the fear-and-panic continue,
   investors will stick their money into real estate. In THAT CASE,
   it's possible the market will do a "FLIP" of polarity, in which
   case, Real Estate will be king for a few years as the stocks
   wobble about finding their way again.

References

   Visible links
   1. http://icopiedyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dow-real-estate-10yr-usa.jpg