"And to all those who would then jump in to say, "you didn't have to read it," I say: Indeed, I didn't but I did, thinking there was substance somewhere. None is forthcoming so far. It seems to me this is another one of those, "Forum! Side with ME in my personal conflict!" threads. I could be wrong though."
You're partially right and partially wrong.
If anyone read ths start of this thread, I was trying to understand whether I was just unlucky with hostile, rude neighbours or whether it was league play itself that had created an unpleasant super-competitive atmosphere.
Mapleleaf decided to leap out, uninvited, from the shadows of anonymity and proceeded to paste a transcript and a lot of insults. There was no need for this but, yes, as you say, his approach is "Forum! Side with ME in my personal conflict!"
For me the question is now answered. The other leagues and the other players are fine. I was just unlucky to be next to this unpleasant player. The very fact that several people have referred to this as being 'yet another' Mapleleaf dispute - and the fact that you won't find any trace of disputes in my previous games - well that's all I need to know.
In any case I don't see how it is possible to have 4 more games with these players, now this has happened, or indeed how this could be an enjoyable experience with normally-functioning Diplomacy. My point is that I come here voluntarily, for fun, and no rules or anything else mean that I have to put up with the abuse from this guy. And it shows no sign of stopping <awaits his next post>.
So I will fight on until these three guys have killed me and then end my participation. This is my choice and I hope people understand.