Being on the same server is on some levels more limiting. They won't have access to linkshell/party conversations unless they happen to be in the party/linkshell. Shout wars are one angle, yeah, but that's something I've usually just avoided due to the inane, of unrelated to the game, content being slung around. We're also largely past the days of Kings drama, and while little tiffs inevitably spring up here and there over popping mobs or claim jacking, ego flexing has tapered off significantly. Even then, being on the same server doesn't automatically give them a clue on how any person plays or even when. We're effectively phantoms once we're offline or text scrolls from view.

Not quite the same for boards, where this post and all we've made will remain for however long SE hosts them or google makes a back-up copy. Players don't even have to be on at the same time to pick a fight with one another, and an issue someone dropped weeks back could suddenly be dredged out of necrobump hell just because they thought they were being smart/cute/witty/WINNING!/whatever. I suppose with the average FFXI player being a college male or older these days, the fear of being stalked isn't really there. Regardless, a toggle would not harm while at the same time offering some peace of mind.