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<DIV> If the attitude being displayed by the other kingdoms was " you
wouln't let me win so I won't play with you anymore" then bad on
them. On the other hand if Ansteorra was obnoxious enough in her victory to
chase her opponent away then bad on us. If one kingdom loses
the war one year don't you think the likely response will be to come back the
next year twice as good? Trimaris has been a good and worthy for ( from what
I've heard) why would they change just because they'll lose occasionally?(Yes
gang Ansteorra will lose sometimes too). <FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial
size=2><SPAN class=980534316-21032000> </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=980534316-21032000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=980534316-21032000><<<reply>>></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=980534316-21032000>That
is an extremely rational way of looking at the situation. However,
people seldom if ever behave rationally--</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=980534316-21032000>especially if it is something near and dear to
them.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=980534316-21032000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=980534316-21032000>From what I've seen posted so far, past
experience dictated that having "winners and losers" were
counterproductive</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=980534316-21032000>to
this Kingdom being able to play in the sand box with other Kingdoms.
Mainly due to the fact that the diversity</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=980534316-21032000>in
this Kingdom allows it to adapt and dominate an opponent over time.
If another Kingdom chooses to no longer</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=980534316-21032000>play
with us because they always lose--yes, bad on them. However, that still
doesn't change the fact that Ansteorra is left in the middle of the Knowne
World having to play with itself.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=980534316-21032000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=980534316-21032000>Isn't it just as mature to understand the problem,
understand the solution, know you beat the tar out of them,
and</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=980534316-21032000>then
just say, "Well fought--see you next year to break the
tie"?</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=980534316-21032000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=980534316-21032000>I'm
not saying that it's right, I'm just say that the possible alternative (having
our opponent take their ball and go home) is unacceptable. Especially in
light of the fact that you have concrete history to support the
decision.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=980534316-21032000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=980534316-21032000>Petruccio</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>