Yeah and it was like that in e-wrestling for me way back in the day or in real life - a title defense = much harder to accomplish or multiple ones vs. winning the title. You have to match intensity level or you'll get steam rolled. Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson. Majority of my being talkative on threads is to hype myself up for the next game; particularly if I know the GM has a blood lust to take me down.
I'm pretty simple in how I approach it. I'd much rather take a Title Game "L" to a competitive, respectful Warthog than a crier who hit the board and chirped at me. I'd kick titles at a GM who respects me but someone who ran at the mouth at me - I go defcon like you noted and get the Pac playlist going. :)
I don't need to win like I did, though. I've won enough to silence peep, therefore, it's a little less pressure.
