The politics of losing

[SsSam]

I'm in different games and have noticed that different players seem to have different notions about acceptable behavior when losing. So I'm curious if there is a general consensus about a few issues on the board.

Assume a 7-8 person game....

Obviously the big one, you've lost, how soon do you go AI? Do you play out the string (which can mean a commitment of months) Do you wait till your capitol is lost? Do you congratulate the other nations, go AI and look for another game? At the start you have messed up your pretender creation and you are stuck between two high powered nations and you get hit with some terrible events in the first 5 turns. ....do you go AI?

You are in a war with nation A and you consider the odds to be reasonably matched. You have a neighbor, nation B, that has a long border with nation A, but for whatever reason cannot go to war with A even though they may be supporting you with gems, gold and forging. Is it reasonable to collude with nation B by having them take some of your provinces so that nation A is funneled over a specific path?

In a 7-8 person game....you are pretty sure that you are going to come in third with nation 1 and nation 2 in front of you. If you throw your support to nation 2, they will likely win. If you sit on your hands, you believe 1 has it sewn up. Under what circumstances would you play the kingmaker and support nation 2?

Do your feelings change if you have been at war with nation 2 for most of the game and their success has likely kept you from the top perch? How about if you have been at war with nation 1?