What's the point with that quite lackluster story in Endwalker?

[Theodric]

The forums and those sites aren't that different, from my experience. The main difference being that the short-text Twitter format and cross-your-fingers-and-pray moderation consistency of Reddit make those areas a bit harder to parse.

Zepla can think whatever she wants, since she never actually read the the thread and just looked at the title.

Too many social media sites promote fly by commentary rather than deep discussion, unfortunately. I don't bother saying much on Twitter and instead use it for fan art/watching game trailers. I don't think the downvote function on Reddit promotes healthy discussion, either.

Has 14 always been like this? I always use to find the 14 community to be decent if maybe a little over defensive, but though I don't like the terminology it seems to be getting more like cult in a lot of online spaces

I'd say it was pretty relaxed back in ARR and HW. SB was a bit divisive and did Ala Mhigo dirty but I don't recall much vitriol being spewed at anyone who criticised the game. ShB and EW both have progressively more hostility aimed at anyone who suggests that something could be better.

On some level I think it's due to the game's age. It really should arguably be doing more to shake off the rust but we're still getting more of the same.