Most Indicators Are Mostly Noise
The uncomfortable truth about technical indicators is that most of them, most of the time, are noise. RSI fluctuating between 40 and 60 tells you very little. A moving average on an asset in a choppy range generates constant false crossover signals. Volume on a quiet day conveys minimal information.
The signal emerges at extremes and convergences. RSI below 20 or above 80 carries more information than RSI at 50. A volume spike 3x above average carries more information than average volume. Multiple indicators converging on the same signal carries more information than any individual indicator.
Filtering for Signal
The practical approach is to filter aggressively. Only act on indicators when they reach extreme readings. Only trust signals that are confirmed by multiple independent indicators. Only trade setups where the signal-to-noise ratio is high enough that the indicator reading is genuinely unusual, not just routine fluctuation.
This filtering dramatically reduces the number of signals you receive, which is the point. Fewer, higher-quality signals lead to better decisions than a constant stream of ambiguous readings. The discipline of waiting for high-signal conditions is what separates profitable indicator usage from unprofitable indicator watching.