Isolationism + extra noobish questions

[VladDaImpaler]

Has anyone tried Non-interventionism? [EDIT: I did trade with other civs, so it isn't isolationism] I started a game (didn't keep playing however) where everyone seemed to want to cooperate with me, and do secret pacts against so and so, and I always replied "sorry, its not in my best interests" [the jerks never say yes when I asked them last game :X]

Anyone ever tried this for at least a good portion of the game? Will it inevitably lead to you being attacked like in Civ 4?
I've had occasions in Civilization 4 where i kept refusing to open borders (A city of mine was at a choke-point, i think ahead ) and the other civilization eventually waged war with me to try and remove that city.

I'm trying to play Civ 5 in different styles, and I'm curious as to how this would work out...
So far:
=Build where I want, SUCK IT other civs results in pretty much everyone attacking you (even past allies)
=Respect other nations and keep a distance, even cooperate with one to wage war on another. The "friendly" civ ended up settling near me (pissed me off), and then when i settled near him he complained. He attacked my allied city state and taunted me about it resulting in me ripping him a new one (he cried mercy really fast, even with a more powerful army) The AI is TERRIBLE at fighting in this game, sort of makes me miss the Stacks of Death.

Quick questions:
=Does anyone know if "Don't settle near me" will actually prevent the other civilization from settling by your borders or do they not care?
=what does SP stand for?

Thank you!

 

[BrainEater5000]

=Does anyone know if "Don't settle near me" will actually prevent the other civilization from settling by your borders or do they not care?

In one game I noticed an Iroquois settler nearing my borders where there was a luxury resource I wanted/needed later. I told him to not settle near my borders, and the next turn the settler retreated back and he expanded in the opposite direction. I doubt it works all the time, but it worked the one time I tried it.

 

[Rathelon]

In one game I noticed an Iroquois settler nearing my borders where there was a luxury resource I wanted/needed later. I told him to not settle near my borders, and the next turn the settler retreated back and he expanded in the opposite direction. I doubt it works all the time, but it worked the one time I tried it.

Every time I've told somebody to not settle near me they basically told me to pack sand.