When should you be considered a newbie basher?

[Der Kuenstler]

New people here can search on any opponent's name and find his complete Blitz record, game and oponent history. They then can study the parameters screen and the layout of the map and, if they so choose, can abort any game offered all the way up to the completion of the first turn without a penalty. It's not like they don't know what they are getting into if they bother to properly prepare themselves. No newbie is forced to play vet players or forced to get in over their heads. They merely accept games that are offered them. Perhaps they've been playing the AI and have an inflated idea of themselves - or perhaps they've come from another game club and are really good - who knows. I think it's funny that we like to play a violent simulation, based on one of the bloodiest times in history, in which we try gain an advantage over, deceive, outmaneuver, and destroy one another forces and morale - but outside the game we think we have to be warm fuzzy bunnies or we're not nice. This is just a computer game you know - the sun still comes up the next day if you lose one. He he - as has been said - we're adults and we make choices to either be aware and prepared or not to be and learn from them.