Anyone else use (Auto-translate function) as the sole means of communication in pugs?

I just find that, while I've met quite a few nice people in this game, I most often meet unpleasant people.

The place I meet the largest quantity of unpleasant types is often the easiest content, like the dungeons we farm for tomes.

One way I've gotten around having to talk to them, is using the (Auto-translate function) even if I speak the language of the party. The main reason I started doing this was just because I felt a bit lazy to type out (Hello!) and such, since those are typed frequently. I soon realized though, since the responses are "canned" and not as personable, it's harder for the troll types to try to become argumentative about them. I mean, if people think I'm a emotionless robot, how are they going to get me upset and then laugh about it?

Do any of you also do this to avoid being trolled in the mundane grinding exercises of this game that should otherwise be troll free?

To someone that wants to break apart what I just typed and have issues with it, I just say: (Nice to meet you!)

;)

I typically start off with only auto-translate, then move over to more specifics as the run goes on, depends on how it goes.

(Hello)
<t> (focus target)
(Ready!)

Being a healer, a lot of attention ends up on me.. especially if the tanks have issues so I prefer to keep it impersonal unless the group is fairly relaxed about everything. It isn't like I require speedruns and when I get frustrated enough I tend to do something more relaxing like TLCoA.

you can be completely silent and they will still insult you if they feel like doin it , also they dont care if you speak the language , they need to vent :D

Besides saying 'hello' and 'thanks for the group', I tend not to talk in pugs. I will speak up if someone needs something explained to them, but I personally don't see the point in talking more than that if I'm never going to see the people again. :O I will use auto-translate if I see others using it, as a courtesy on the off-chance that they do not speak English as their first language or they simply aren't comfortable with it. The majority of players I have met are comfortable speaking English, though.

You're right that using auto-translate will lessen the chances of someone insulting or trolling you, but only because they know they can't affect you if you don't understand them. If I don't react to their internet 'bullying', they also get no satisfaction. There was once a dude in a Castrum run back when people did that for philo... he was a 2nd tank and refused to do anything... MPK'd us multiple times, but we couldn't kick him because votekick didn't exist yet. He just laughed and told us to carry him. We all mass-reported him and then just ignored him and moved on. I'm not sure if anything was done about him, but the fact that he didn't get any of us to rage or freak out probably disappointed him.

I just use it out of habit from years of XI.

Auto Translate is quite useful, especially depending on the time of day/night you are playing. If there were a party member that did not speak English, I would make the effort to use auto translate to include them in tactics/strategy discussions. Its not perfect, but you can get simple ideas across. One thing I do enjoy doing is keeping Google Translate up on my laptop, so when I see group chatter in another language, I can at least get a rough idea of what is being said, or I can get a rough translation to actually type in. This can have hilarious results sometimes. It may also upset you, because it might be something negative or bad about you, in this case, its best to let the language barrier stand. But give it a try, breaking down the communication walls is more to the good than bad, IMO...

I realize I went WAAAY off topic of the OP query, so let me redeem myself: I use AT for greetings, and goodbyes. If there is party banter, I like to join in. If someone is trolling, it does seem to work if you pretend you cant speak the language. But trolls aren't known for being easily discouraged, which is sad...

I was experimenting the other day with auto-translate, while I had my healerpants on. I was amused to discover that, in a full day of running dungeons and only using auto-translate to communicate, I got fewer commendations, and people seemed more willing to bail on parties I was in. This is, of course, anecdotal evidence at best, but as I say... it amused me.

Only time I ever use Auto-translate is for typing out "Congratulations" when I notice people leveling...WHen tends to happen mid-combat.

Enter -C-O-N-Tab-Enter is just faster.

I guess at times I do talk normally, but overall I prefer the auto-translate. Like if I start with a (Hello!)(Nice to meet you!) and people respond and are nice, perhaps I'll actually "talk". If they don't respond or try to respond in some kind of trollish way with a explicative or some other unpleasant language, I'll know it's best to keep it "canned".

As far as commendations, I still get them myself when I use the auto-translate. I think much of getting a accommodation has to do with your timing. Frequently the tank or healer is going to win a commendation (if any are given) by default. It's just one of the perks of playing that job. Dps win them too though. If you handle yourself well during the run, and offer a timely (Thank you.)(Nice to meet you!) right when they are making their commendations, often even a dps can nab one. Bonus points if you are appropriately geared and not cheeky in the slightest. Or if, for instance, you are a melee dps and do a nice limit break at the right time in brayflox HM's last boss for example, a well timed polite goodbye will go a long way to getting a DPS commendation.

In my personal experience, giving out commendations is largely a arbitrary thing. Sure, there are times people stand out. Sometimes that is because they are chatty and you liked what they said. Other times it could be that quiet stoic type that just did their job a bit better than the others that nabs your vote. You can still get them with Auto-translate only parties I think. At least I manage to get them as dps even while using the auto-trans by just a few polite interjections at the right times.