Continuation Bets?

I have a problem with them. I don't like them. I usually just end up losing the money. If I miss the flop, I don't like to bet, except for the occasional situational bluff and semi-bluff.

If you raised pre-flop and hit big, you are often going to check till the turn anyway. So your opponent isn't necessarily going to "know" whether you missed or hit.

But some people seem to think a continuation bet is usually in order.

Any thoughts? Thanks.