Traditionally this is when you make a post on the forums about how you "beat an INSANE AI on maximum world difficulty TOTALLY EZ YO".

Depending on the game - I sometimes prefer those positions.   When possible I like to be able to focus everything on one front.    

Build up to that point where you think the AI hasn't exceeded your power by 10 and then take a city.   If the enemy is close, defend like hell - hoping the benefits of defense offsets some of the power difference.  If the enemy is out exploring, take a couple more cities and work a war of attrition if you can exceed the enemies production base.

This specific map is pretty drastic, but might still be fun if the AI is at a high difficulty level.  

I dont see a problem with it, because its a random start...its random.  If you make it not random, then its not random!  I mean, if 2 civs happen to start in the same area in RL, they would have to either get along or fight.  Im sure this has happened in RL and why shouldnt it happen in a game. Especially in a game with this setting, 2 Sovs could meet and decide right there to duke it out.  I like my maps random, which means anything goes.  Others may not.

While it is random, starts like that are really undesirable and put the civ that gets it - player or AI - at a severe and sometimes insurmountable disadvantage.

No argument there. Sometimes it's worth it to give it a go.

My understanding is that most core stamps that create starts like that were edited to not do it.

Hey nice pic Phaedyme! I love Olivia Dunham!