Twist - In this situation, if Red states that he refuses to accept 3rd, is Green now expected to flag out into 3rd to save purple?

I don't consider flags transitive. If someone doesn't directly flag me or vice-versa, then there's no flag assumed.

Transitivity of flags is an unsolved issue. The rules don't even know verbal or virtual flags, you can only flag for a position...

I usually consider flags transitive but ask to make sure it is seen that way by all.

In the given case, as red I'd kill purp. It was greens duty to protect purp. If red was brilliant he makes green real-flag before killing purp...

We all know cases, where flag players watch how the guy they flagged to gets killed to improve their position.

After all and coming back to the beginning, there is no fixed rules about flags. In the end it is the communities duty to educate those that don't behave like the others think they should - if there is a clear majority opinion.

The example given is misleading, as Green effectively denies Red's flag (only accepting it to eliminate him). Obviously, in this case, Red should fight back. This is also a situation that would very rarely, if ever, happen in a real game.

Regarding the main question - virtually all top players consider flags to be transitive. Here's why:

Let's start with understanding what a flag means, as there might be some confusion, and it's highly relevant. When Player A flags Player B, it's essentially an offer from Player A to place below Player B as long as Player B doesn't attack them. In a sense, it's a
resignation to that player, creating a hierarchy. Once Player B accepts the flag, it's an enduring agreement that should be honored throughout the entire game. Players generally flag when they are easy prey for the person they flag. The player who
receives the flag often passes up on free lands but gains an ally, as their interests align.

To emphasize the importance of transitive flags, let's consider a more common situation. We have three players: Red, Green, and Purple. Red and Green both have 10 connected lands, while Purple only has 3.

Purple flagged Red to avoid elimination and attempts to play for 2nd. Red accepts Purple's flag, so he can focus on Green. As the game unfolds, Green starts to outmatch Red, while Purple has been able to grow during their fight.
Green still has 10 lands, Purple now has 11 lands, and Red is at risk of being eliminated with only 2 lands. Red decides to flag Green, as he has Purple's flag, which he honored, to secure his 2nd place. As we have established,
flags mean that you place below the person you flag. Purple flagged Red, thereby agreeing to place below Red. Red flagged Green, thereby agreeing to place below Green, resulting in Green becoming the winner of the game.

Some may argue that Purple can still fight Green, as they haven't directly flagged Green.
Let's explore this scenario: Purple and Green fight, and Purple beats Green. Now Green flags Purple. What's next? How would this scenario be resolved with circular flags? Purple flagged to Red, Red flagged to Green, Green flagged
to Purple. To conclude the game, players would need to nullify prior flags. This isn't a good solution, as flags are meant to be lasting commitments, and people should honor their offer to place below the person they flagged. Red, who
was flagged first, goes from being guaranteed 2nd place with chances for 1st, to potentially 3rd. As a flagger, you have to worry about the person you flagged, as you are still supposed to honor your agreement, even when they need to
flag somebody else.

Ultimately, transitive flags provide more clarity, as people stay true to their word, and breaking the transitivity would disrupt the spirit of the game.

tl;dr?

meant to include that.

circular flags bad

transitive flags gud

hope that helps

i'd just roll because idc lol

fiero, for the future please refrain from doing this pandora's flags thing ever again. ever since you brought up the issue on the forum and people began to discuss it in-game, I have seen more unwarranted, crippling, deadly, and other downright braindead flags given and accepted than ever before - though to be fair, I am guilty of the latter offense myself, which will not happen again.
anyway, it is clearly your fault and not just my skewed perception.

thank you for your understanding (and complying),
DIVELIZ

no

I have missed this eternal question. lol