Oh I missed this.

<<Okay, let me see if I can open up a can o'worms without having to eat any of 'em myself ...

<<JoeSchmo finds Bubba and me. JoeSchmo advances on Bubba. Right now, at this moment in time, Bubba has consent against JoeSchmo (for advancing) and JoeSchmo still has consent on Bubba (for stealing). However, because I am guarding Bubba, suddenly, JoeSchmo is at melee with ME. Now, because he's at melee with ME, JoeSchmo and I suddenly have mutual consent on each other.

<<SGM Riel Mystsong,
<<CE Team Leader

In a similar scenario where a PVP Closed person was attacking a PVP Open I was told that I was in the wrong because the person didn't SEE me guarding the other party and, while I technically hadn't broken consent policy, I received a PVP Caution.

Consult roulette, yay.