Re: bullying
I've been in top ranked fams and bottom ranked fams--currently much closer to the bottom. When attacked, you fight back. Does it ruin your current plans? Yup, but that's kind of the way it works. Does it suck to have someone much larger than you begin to attacking you? Definitely, but it's much better to stand up to them and fight back than bitch and moan.
Personally I think people have become wildly whinny and sheepish around here, in many respects. I think the idea of cores is simply retarded--and is always used as an excuse for a preemptive attack in hopes no one will fight back. I think top ranked fams don't war with one another nearly enough; but neither to smaller fams. Perhaps everyone would be happier if we did away with all of the units except explos and then this would simply be a game of exploring planets and building buildings. We could change the name to Imperial Hippy Utopia...I wonder how many people would stick around.