J_A_B's attitude is more representative of those who have been flying for quite some time, not a newbie's.
Everyone has their own agenda which may or may not coincide with your own.
Had a rather heated discussion with RELIC about this last nite in fact.
No one owes you a 6 call or a bailing out when you're in trouble. Expecting so is foolish. And shows both your lack of ability and awareness.
I give 6 calls when it seems appropriate, when I'm able and when I feel like it. (Though I typically make my calls on country channel) And I'll help somebody in trouble following those same qualifications. Sometimes I'm willing to drop from 15K to help someone getting jacked 6 on 1 at 2K. Other times I'm not willing to blow the alt. 'Specially when it's just gonna lead to me being the one against 6 at low alt.
I don't expect anything out of anyone else. I make my own situations and no one else has any obligation to help me outta them.
I appreciate when someone gives a 6 call or jumps in to clear my tail. They'll always get a "thx". But if no one does, I've got no call to squeak about it. As I've said over & over, expecting anything from anyone else is foolish.
The only exception to this, of course, is if you're flying with a wingman. Then, their (or your) job is to call 6 & clear tails. I am pretty religious about this, even when it's just an impromptu wingie flight.
For example, after a somewhat long heated discussion (argument) with RELIC on country channel after he'd complained about getting no calls, we ended up heading towards the same place together. Jumped into a fight to clear someone and helped each other out a bit with 6 calls & clears.
D