It isn't just noise. I've had multiple, unaffiliated people threaten to kill me, my friends and my family over choosing to role-play a Garlean. They've done as much in-game, on this very forum and on places such as Twitter and Reddit.

I know multiple people in the same situation. They're actively stalked, frequently harassed and all for something as simple as claiming to like the antagonists in a fictional fantasy setting.