linkshells. link shells REALLY grind my gears.
and you wanna know why? because they behave like the antithesis of how the game is designed. they behave like exclusive cliques, and elitist borgeoisie. from mind numbing applications, to tedious interviews, to waiting for an answer like it's the outside of a nightclub, it is incredibly detrimental for a game COMPLETELY designed around the social experience.
dont get me started on applications, these things are the bane of my existance. why should i have to fill out the equivilant of a resume, and be treated like this linkshell is the combination of my wife and a part time job? my LS history, my dungeon experience, all my classes? why don't you try getting to know me as a person instead and see if my attitude and personality are more in line with ideals of the LS, instead of behaving like i need to have proper qualifications/references to join.
then there are ones only accepting X class, because they need it for their runs. this absolutely reeks of elitist behavior. adaptibility, and enjoyment should be what makes dungeons happen, not whatever makes it "EZ MODE" for the experienced dungeon runner. if there is a dearth in a particular role, improvise and/or train/let someone play a role they can enjoy, while maintaining a quality run, it's far more efficient than excluding the proletariat because they do not have X job or X skill readily at their disposal.
lastly, the inner circles of "friends" with the leader are the worst. you know, the leader's sycophantic right hand guy(s) who get first pick on roles in party, or loot? don't tell me it doesn't happen, because it always does. fellow HNMLS or dynamis LS should know what i'm talking about, there is always a favorites played eventually.
in fact, it happened to me just not about a week or so ago. we ran a PUG AV with half LS members, part shouted individuals, and part acquantances of the leader and his posse. we eventually get to AV, and find a darklight helm, standard rules were for PUGs were to mention before hand which jobs youd like stuff for, and i made it clear i would like things for warrior (50)/dragoon (which i was in the process of leveling, 41 at that time).
what happens? i get excluded from the lot on the basis "i've wanted it since it came out," "you can't even use it yet," and "it's mostly a drg only helm" by the leader and his ...well might as well be boyfriend. i was literally indignant at such disgusting elitism, (these guys have triple melds, already cap stats to the point they dont need +stat rings, i dont know how it would've helped them in any way) that per usual, the leader and his little boytoy friend got first pick at classes to play, and loot.
quite frankly, i want to be part of a social experience that doesn't pidgeonhole me to some role i dislike because "it's what we need," or to jump through hoops to get in, just because you think it'll weed out bad players.
and that's what really grinds my gears.