This is why I face every opponent with the assumption that they can kick my ass.
Also playing soft on people is disrespectful IMO.
If after looking at your opponent's license, rank and level it should be obvious whether you are facing someone who is more skilled, similar skilled, or less skilled than you are.
If you are facing someone that is considerably less skilled than you, you know you're probably going to win the match (as long as there is more than one round LOL) There's really very little harm in giving your opponent enough space to show what they know is there? Since you're confident you're going to win, why not give your opponent a round or half a round to show off their skillset. Obviously how you play is you business. But a little sportsman like conduct is actually good for the game and good for the SC community, it promotes a fun online experience for new players. Sure, we could all apply a high pressured rushdown game on any and everybody we meet, we could crush those noobs without mercy demonstrating that we are superior beings, but in my experience, if we show a little sportmanship here and there, we actually help build the SC community and encourage players to learn more about the game. The bigger the SC community is world wide, the more and better games we are all likely to see. If you crush a new comer severly enough, they may prematurely decide this game is not for them and move on the Call of Duty or something. Even worse they could spread the word to their mates that the game is just too hard to play, and they will FN kill you if you ever get online LOL
Playing soft on intermediate to advanced players is another game altogether.
Reave, you're right there. It is disrespectful to put forth less than your best, if you're playing intermediate to advanced players. But to brutalize and punish some new player, because they have the poor fortune of just being new to the game... C'mon.... give-em a chance to grow up a little first, before you destroy them into oblivion LOL