no there was also a legitmate bug/problem in those early days where if you got really close to the flag it would seem like you touched it, i cant remember if a sound played or you had a flag glow or what i twas, and the flag would get 'small' and disappear as if it was moved to your player.
but you didnt actually touch it, so all that was reversed right away. i swear there was something like that going on too, and i bet worse connections made it worse.