No, I don't think EVERYONE who does it is unintelligent and/or children. I know there are some who do it because they have a reason to, have determined that's the best thing to do for whatever reason. I'm talking about the seeming majority that do it because they think it's "the thing to do". And yes, those I do believe are probably 12-14 year olds. It's mindless in their case. They're just doing it to vent some sort of ritualistic animalistic urge. Yes, I do find that disrespectful, but then what can I expect from kids?

I'm still to see any actual proof that there's any point score or ISK advantage in doing it. Granted that under certain circumstances, it's possible that it might give a time advantage to you or a time penalty to the downed player, but that's certainly not always the case, and works on the assumption that all players will always choose to respawn rather than wait for revival, which we simply know is not true.

I remain firmly convinced, actually by some of the arguments on this thread, that people are simply justifying doing what they want to do in the first place.

Oh, please do! I would love to hear a logical discussion on why this game doesn't feel like it's full of adolescent boys just getting their kicks wasting time and ammo killing every clone again after they've just killed them. Yes, I know they can be revived, but if they're not, they'll just respawn anyway. Or maybe if you terminate their clone they'll decide they've had enough and leave the battle? Who knows?

I still disagree with the idea that it delays their return to battle under any circumstances. If they're waiting for a revival, they will lie there until the expiry timer runs out and then respawn in 3 seconds. But that can be 20 seconds after they've been incapacitated. The arguments about why it delays their return to battle seem to all conveniently avoid this possibility. I guess there is an implicit assumption noone will wait for a revival, and yet many of the arguments are about the fact that if you don't terminate the clone they can be revived.....

If someone revives them, so be it. They would have respawned anyway.

I guess as far as it being a satisfying habit is concerned, you have to have a particular mindset to see it that way. For me it's abhorrent. You've just killed them, they're lying there bleeding out, and you finish them off so there's no chance of them being revived. The fact that it's "satisfying" is what's disturbing about it.

Interesting. I started this thread on the basis that I saw terminating clones as being simply stupid and pointless. The replies to it have made me feel it's more despicable than just stupid, in pubs, a necessary evil in FW and PC.

Ah well. I did try it again to see what all the fuss was about. I'm not going to be one of those who habitually terminates clones at least in pubs. I just can't see the point, despite all the arguments. I think the players who do it in pubs are just being ridiculously over the top.

I probably will however terminate clones in FW and PC on the basis of this thread. Some very good points and yes, I can see the point in depriving the opposing player of their gear if you get the chance. In FW and PC, this doesn't appear to be a stupid habitual tactic, but a real strategy.

Thanks to all who took the time to write considered responses. I learnt a lot. :)