Quote Originally Posted by Lurina View Post
To be honest, I don't go to official forums because I want to discuss stuff with other fans - obviously that does happen, but I'm not under any illusions about it being a productive thing to do. Busy online boards are actively hostile environments in regards to disagreeing in a healthy way; text doesn't carry tone and intent easily, and when there are so many people talking over each other, it becomes impossible to clarify oneself or establish a rapport.

I only come to an official forum when I feel strongly enough about something that I want those feelings to be carried to the creators (since there's no feedback email address, lol) in the hope that they'll respond in some way going forward. Creative people are generally most influenced by, rather than the simple majority, the people who are most passionate and willing to talk about their work, so long as that talking is in broadly good faith. I've loved large amounts of FFXIV's story, and that's what makes me want to clarify my feelings and the breadth of my discomfort with parts of EW in the hopes that maybe they'll get it where I'm coming from and change course a tiny bit.

Yoshi-P has spoken about how the writing team reads even the English feedback here in the past and that said feedback does influence their choices, so in book, it's good for these threads to stay active and create a better shot at them actually seeing it. Though honestly, people with an opposing opinions are basically bystanders in this context; I wish there was a way I could express my opinion in a manner the writers might see without the pretext of a debate, though I do respect most people with contrary opinions as individuals. As least as much as you can respect a faceless person who you only know through their perspective on RPG plot points.

I can't speak for everyone, though.
Then I suppose it best that I speak my mind then. I would not be a fan of some of the choices many here would have the writing team make, so let the circle remain unbroken.

Quote Originally Posted by Theodric View Post
I'm inclined to suggest that nobody here needs the 'permission' of other forum goers in order to discuss certain topics relevant to the game's ongoing story. Even if the Ancients were to never be mentioned again, they're still a part of the established narrative and will be brought up in various relevant discussions.

The strange insistence on trying to force everyone into being on either 'Team Hydaelyn' or 'Team Zodiark' has always struck me as bizarre, too. Especially since it ignores the nuance that exists in a fair few of both the latter and the former being very much on board with some sort of 'third way forward'. Obviously that didn't happen but it hasn't been 'Team Zodiark' who has been wishing death upon them around these parts.

I also think it's very disingenuous for someone to downplay the existence of death threats and personal attacks when they, themselves, were quoted very recently as insulting the intelligence of other posters and openly fantasising about killing them.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has recognised and pointed out the common trend of certain posters resorting to such tactics and then engaging in gaslighting and misdirection in an effort to pretend as if they, themselves, are the victim instead.

That some people can't see the difference between a fictional character being insulted and an actual person being harassed is not my concern. I certainly don't come here and post in order to seek 'approval' from individuals and cliques with an overly inflated opinion of themselves.

Not everybody is going to be everybody else's cup of tea and that's perfectly fine. Perhaps the efficient solution is for those who aren't fond of discussing the Ancients to simply...not participate in threads that involve discussing the Ancients.
See I agree with most of this post, the issue however, as it inevitably was going to be, is who you think is doing the gaslighting or insulting. I know what my experience in the months that we’ve been having this discussion has been, but I imagine no few would disagree with where I find fault.