I was away for Christmas, but given I'm being directly implicated I feel I have to respond. Pray forgive my lateness.

When I say "arguing in bad faith," what I mean is arguing with no intention of compromise or understanding - going in with a hard-set belief that can't be shaken, even if your stance is shown to be built on unsound reasoning, soundly reasoned arguments are made against it, and even hard evidence discrediting that stance is shown; e.g. Varis argues against the Eorzean Alliance in bad faith, having come in with no intention of compromise or understanding. I always approach discussion with an open mind, even if I don't agree with a given stance, and strive to remain civil and polite (though I admit I don't always succeed).

Much of my bitter attitude traces back to one of the many ad nauseam debates around Garlemald years ago, wherein it was asserted that the Empire's belligerent stance against Eorzea was their own fault for not attempting to treat with them; this was pointed out as being both victim blaming and untrue, only for the victim blaming to get the "agree to disagree" platitude and Lolorito's attempts to reach out to the Empire through his merchant network deemed "not necessarily canon." Since then I can't assume the pro-Garlemald camp is really arguing in good faith, and (to little surprise) that cross-section of the fanbase latched onto the Ascians' plans as being right with the reveals of Shadowbringers, so much of my discontent carried over.

For what it's worth I recognize I can be a part of the problem, and that's why I've decided to step back and cease engaging in ad nauseam arguments surrounding the same tired points. I don't have the patience to deal with those, college essay-length walls of text, or diced up arguments anymore. Further calling people out in their unsavory behavior (name calling, personal attacks, etc.) is often labelled and dismissed as "tone policing" and/or "concern trolling," so I don't even see the point in trying to do that much. I just say my piece, maybe make a post or two arguing, and move on.

I have strongly-held opinions on the story, its direction, and its presentation; others have opinions to the contrary that are just as strongly-held, and these differences just can't be reconciled. So I've decreased my engagement, since I'm tired of those ad nauseam arguments, don't want to contribute to the environment's toxicity, and apparently can't do anything to actively combat said toxicity. That's all.