Good communication is THE single most important factor in a successful engagement. Too much is made in the AH community about minute details like comparing armor thickness and the difference between the trajectory of a 30mm cannon round compared to a 20mm. Much is also made about the need for pilots to practice their skills. But neither practice nor a good knowledge of minutia is going to save your plane if you dive on a deacked airbase and there's an nme Flak Panzer sitting down there you don't know about, because none of your countrymen bothered to warn you about it.
Poor communication results in unnecessary casualties and missed opportunities to strike at the enemy. The net result is a blown mission, an enemy who escapes and lots of friendly casualties. Naturally these premadonnas are incapable of accepting responsibility for the failure of a mission or the untimely demise of their countrymen. Instead, they're going to blame it on your lack of skill, general knowledge and situational awareness.
"Situational" awareness is not just the product of one individuals skill to correctly assess a situation. It is the cooperation and input of many individuals that leads to a complete picture of the battlefield. So ironically, the excuse most used to explain failure is relevant, but not in the sense it is most commonly applied.
Mr. Waldron,
The biggest misconception you seem to have is that everybody who is playing at any given time has the same priorities and objectives .. or
SHOULD have as you do.
Once you get over this misconception, you will find AH Karma and enlightenment.
At any given time, hundreds of people are involved with their own priorities and agendas for what they wish to accomplish in the game. Some it's field capture, others it's furballing, other it's toolshedding, others it's radar-busting, other it's field gunning..etc ad nausem.
Each of these people are playing for themselves for their enjoyment.
Occasionally, the stars will align and a 'zone' of cooperation happens and teamwork ensues. This can be a wonderful time, for sure.. but it cannot be enforced, mandated, nor otherwise created by the mere desires of a handful.
Relish the times when it happens.
Tolerate the times when it doesn't.
Once you have mastered that, you can pursue the sound of one hand clapping.