What is the reason behind Facial Expression emotes not being Persistent?

[Ghastly]

I can see a case for making them last longer, or letting us toggle their length (/smile 10, for 10 seconds or something), but persistent would just be creepy. Anyone who maintains a solid smile for longer than a minute is an unholy abomination and should be treated as such.

This made me laugh because I thought about how this would look creepy irl

But...I also respect the point of view of wanting the expression to last longer. I can picture a situation where we could have a happy expression for 2-3 minutes.

[Neshendra]

I am like a thousand other FFXIVers (or any MMORPGers for that matter). I am a guy playing a female character. I enjoy looking at an attractive female character. I would much prefer a smile or grin as her static look as Neshendra looks waaaay too serious. Just saying.

[NyarukoW]

We don't want everybody looking like the joker now do we?

[Preinfalk]

If you change your pose while you have a weapon out, some affect your facial emotes for as long as you're in that pose. Some examples are the whm and pld

[Kling-Klang]

That would be great! I would love to smile all the time... hehe

[DefendPopPunk]

I also think it would be great. I've always wanted this to be my permanent facial expression:

[Bluevann]

If you change your pose while you have a weapon out, some affect your facial emotes for as long as you're in that pose. Some examples are the whm and pld

Yes, but those are just specific expressions that the devs added to the pose. If you try to use any other expression (for example, I don't like the smile on conjurer's pose.), it will again last only a few seconds, and then bring you to /straightface again (even if your weapon is still out).

[KaedrianLiang]

cause if you make that face for too long it'll get stuck like that

Hmmm, I don't see how. The /straightface facial emote would bring your character back to the idle facial expression, so that prevents getting stuck on a certain facial emote.

i guess parents dont say that phrase anymore. lol

[Nuinn]

If it were possible, and I saw someone with a permanent facial expression other than the default one I would assume they suffered a stroke.

[Bluevann]

i guess parents dont say that phrase anymore. lol

It's just not a thing here in Italy. Not all of the internet is NA <_<

If it were possible, and I saw someone with a permanent facial expression other than the default one I would assume they suffered a stroke.

And yet, there are many faces whose default /straightface expression is a smiling one (Miqo'te female comes to mind, only Face 4 is neutral).