Unbelievable Rudeness!

[Vahlnir]

While unfortunate, this is just how the internet can be sometimes.

[savageink]

Isn't the game for 16 years old and older?
You might want to start there, perhaps.

Then, MMOs are like that. I don't want to sound like an annoying guy but there's clearly a lack of judgement there. Playing FFXIV or any other online means exposing yourself to other people, and the internet has some kind of amplification effect on these kind of behaviours (being entitled, agressive and else). That's not something to consider lightly when choosing such a game.

Here in the USA it's rated T. That's listed as 13 + according to the ESRB or whatever garbage industry watchdog runs it.

[Enla]

I'm sorry your daughter had to go through that. Sadly however I also agree that it might be wise to use this as a teachable moment, as no matter where she goes on the internet she's likely to encounter this sort of thing. It's just that being in an MMO exposes you to more people and thus many more instances where people will give into to being jerks. Please understand this isn't me condoning what happened. However it might be better to prepare your daughter for this inevitability now so she's equipped to handle it when it happens again. Because even if she stops playing FF14 it /will/ happen again on other sites and communities unless she avoids the internet entirely.

To paraphrase the Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory:

Normal Person + Internet + Anonymity + An Audience = The potential to be an asshole.

You can't control other people being horrible. You can however equip your daughter so that she can brush those people off.

[Mansion]

Here in the USA it's rated T. That's listed as 13 + according to the ESRB or whatever garbage industry watchdog runs it.

Oh I didn't know that. It's weird because here in EU it's 16+ (and I agree on this actually, not for the game content itself but precisely this interaction with other people that is beyond anyone's reach).

[JunseiKei]

I was watching my 13 year old daughter playing a trial boss. And some mouthy little entitled twerp started blaming her cuz she was panicking a little and the party wiped. She was in tears and left. Now she\\'s saying she never wants to play again.
She\\'s always been a bit sensitive and shy but enjoys final Fantasy games even the old ones I grew up playing. She was very proud of herself for getting into stormblood and kept saying she was looking forward to the new expansion. Her confidence level was starting to show and it was a great way for us to do something together.
You rude players out there need to stop expecting others to be like you! Be understanding! you don\\'t have most of the facts and can\\'t judge them nor blame them. You do not know what is going on in other people\\'s environments, various distractions occur, and stop freaking out cuz your video game wasn\\'t perfect.

*Eyetwitch.*

This post sounds too much like "OMG, don't tell my kid how to play a game! *Engages overprotective parent.*"

With the limited given information, mistakes will happen and people will point them out, especially to the person who caused a wipe. Since the statement is vague, we don't know how [potentially un]kindly this criticism was given. You admit she's sensitive - so it literally could have been something not even rude and set her off. Text doesn't translate into tone very well unless you know that individual's mannerisms very well. Pointing out mistakes and giving criticism is not rude by default, especially if it's something that could be considered basic competence (you know, a healer healing, a tank holding aggro and using the correct CDs, DPS not eating bad and doing decent numbers). It's an MMO - a team-based one.

You can teach her how to take the comments in stride - how to handle criticism, how to correctly deal with rude players (making use of the blacklist feature) or even killing people with kindness (sometimes people do back down or change their tones by saying sorry I messed up). I wouldn't suggest teaching them going to the forums in a futile attempt to change thousands of strangers - changing a single person's reaction is far more plausible.

[Nora_of_Mira]

All they're doing as her parent is coming here to remind people not everybody playing is an adult and should be respectful to your fellow player.

so i should ask everyone if they're a minor before I say something rude, what can go wrong.

[Lersayil]

so i should ask everyone if they're a minor before I say something rude, what can go wrong.

I mean right?! Can't even be an asshole without first asking the ~9ft tall male roe in a leopard tanga if he's a minor? /s

[SerLuke]

so i should ask everyone if they're a minor before I say something rude, what can go wrong.

Or you could just not say rude things to people?

[Driavna]

Well, without knowing what was said is hard to "judge", in special with today's extreme sensibility. Being told you are doing something the wrong way is the ultimate insult. And by the way, being blunt is not the same as being rude so:

"You are doing it wrong, never use a single target rotation with 3 enemies or more" is not the equivalent of "OMG YOU XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX !!!!!1111"

[SenorPatty]

The kid might be thirTEEN and the game is rated T for TEEN but most of the times, the online experience is definitely M for Mature with shades of AO (adults only).