Posted by ike1024 on 8/27/2013 2:36:00 PM (view original):
Maybe. But even an effort to collude requires an effort to some sort of an agreement. If I bully someone into backing down, is that really an implicit agreement to refrain from doing something?
In either case, you are attempting to modify another user's recruiting actions for your own benefit; one is a nice approach, the other is a not-so-nice approach. The end result is the same. The fundamental question that underlies much of this thread is whether it should be allowable/acceptable in this game to overtly attempt to alter the recruiting actions of other users. Or is it only a problem if there is tacit agreement between the parties? What about an in-between case, such as this:
I was in a conference where another coach openly declared before recruiting that the PG in his home state was his top target and he would spend his entire budget to get him if need be. Prior to that statement, I had interest in that player, but I refrained from recruiting him because I didn't want to get into that type of battle. I didn't initiate anything. I didn't "agree" to anything. I never had a "discussion" with that other coach. But his words certainly influenced my recruiting actions. Is that OK?