This article is a fiction piece written for Bunnypuncher's Blog in August 2005. Another humour article pointed at the art of careful selecting opponents in an open format.

If any self admitted 'cherry pickers' (criteria does not matter, elf baller, basher only etc etc) want to be interviewed for the follow up article, let me know.

**Note to ESL admins- article has been pre-editied for bad words**

Interview with the Cherry Picker

They come from all backgrounds and nationalities such as Denmark, some from Australia, Europe, Dutchland and even Canada. They play and talk amongst us in Fumbbl and mIRC. Some disguised as females, some as Halfling teams and as fans of the game. However, when they come out to hunt they are often unrecognizable.

High winning percentages, high team and coach ratings are signs you may have encountered one. If you were to meet it in real life, a lack of social skills, poor hygiene and acne would be your first signal you have encountered one. Often hunters of these vermin travel to their lairs, often their parent’s basement. But in this community, one must fight them over cyber space often thousands of miles away. The task is not easy slayer, not easy.

They prey on the unsuspecting victim, either by aggressive strategies or by passive. They use guile and subterfuge to offer a game. The lure of handicaps, easy victory or a chance to just play a game are used a ploys. Sometimes, more trained ones use passive tactics. Some sit and wait, like a spider tending to his web. The spider is simply a helpless victim as flies hurl themselves onto its web. Who is a spider to turn down a tasty snack?

What is the heart of these creatures and what do they want, you ask dear slayer? This answer is not so easy to provide. They hunt for sport, pleasure and blood or a combination of the three. Some hunt to win, to build a team and to add to their inflated win totals. However, if you encounter one your chances of surviving are slim.

When you realize you are in a match with one, little can be done. It knows your strengths and weaknesses. It knows how to use strength and team rating formulas against you. It knows how to beat you, tear you and destroy you. Little can be done if not prepared and Nuffle is not with you. You must learn this valuable lesson and move on to fight another day.

However, sometimes you can defeat it. Nuffle may grant you rolls, a key play, or by simpling out smarting it! Often, when your defeat it, it will become silent, offer no match report or blame its lack of luck for its defeat. Cherish this moment slayer, for you have encountered it are victorious!

Join me in my cause and my movement, slayers! Let us call out this scourge and announce their presence to all of Fumbbl! I will travel to their layers and talk with them on mIRC. I will discover what they want, why they exist. I will post my discussion with them to share my information with others. I will conduct, an Interview with the Cherry Picker.