Should I have reported this?

[Qujah]

2 days ago I queued for The Dusk Vigil (with my alt character, as a DPS). After completing the duty, just after I posted a "thank you" in the party chat and did a player commendation, half a second before I clicked "Exit", one of them obviously felt the need of typing this in the party chat: "UR CHARACTER IS HIDEOUS" (yes, in caps). I don't know if he meant me (my alt is a female Roegadyn) or if he meant someone else in the party. It doesn't even matter if I was the target of this. No one should be the target of insults, be it about race or outfit of their character.

I'm not trying to be "snow-flaky", but is this what FFXIV has become? I didn't see this kind of rudeness before in this game. Where did this behaviour come from?

After I had clicked Exit and realized how rude that player's text in the party chat was, I wasn't sure if I should report him. Should I have? Should I report next time such a thing happens?

[XgungraveX]

no point you're never going to see that player again.

[Kaurhz]

I mean it wasn't entirely significant, but I would still personally edge towards reporting it. - At least being under the assumption that this was not a solicited joke or something leaning to banter

When people get away with too much, they get brazen about their behaviour until it really does step out of line. So at the very least, a warning will keep their personality in check.

[Kes13a]

uh.. why report them?

this isnt a 14 thing, if you think so then you mustnt get out much. people are rude everywhere... period. if you were offended, go ahead, your call. but I wouldnt expect much out of it personally. in the end, its all personal taste, and you are likely to get insulted more on the forums than in game. if you feel the urge to report them, by all means do so. asking if you should on these forums? unlikely to get a consensus either way, so not sure what you are expecting to happen here. sure its insulting, but thats a common trait these days in any medium

[Qujah]

no point you're never going to see that player again.

How do you know?

When people get away with too much, they get brazen about their behaviour until it really does step out of line. So at the very least, a warning will keep their personality in check.

That's what crossed my mind.

sure its insulting, but thats a common trait these days in any medium

So: because people are treating each other worse and worse in other media or real life, the game has to follow suit? Or is the fact that every platform softens its rules of conduct (or just can't keep up moderating) precisely the reason for people's worsening behaviour?

[ZephyrMenodora]

I probably wouldn't have taken the time, but I wouldn't blame you if you did. No reason to be rude/insulting towards other people. So if you did, I'd support it.

[Theodric]

I'd just brush it off as a joke or something meant as banter in another chat channel. You said it yourself, you're not entirely certain if the comment was even aimed at your character or not.

[Jeeqbit]

This has always happened, it's just rare, but it used to be worse in my experience. If all they did was insult your character and not you, that is quite tame.

When I started the game and was tanking level 50 and 60 dungeons for the first time many years ago before the rules changed, it was extremely common for someone to say something extremely insulting right before exiting. And it was about me, not my character's appearance.

But yes, if you report it and SE thinks it was rude, they will usually punish them for being rude.

[Alleluia]

this isnt a 14 thing, if you think so then you mustnt get out much.

The OP specified how this generally is not common in this game, not that rudeness is a 14 thing. And they're right, in my experience.

I do agree that reporting them would be a bit much if you can't even be sure they were talking to you. And if they were talking to someone else in the group, it may have been a joke between them. I've gone into DF with only 1 or 2 friends before and I imagine some of our banter could look pretty odd or rude to the PUG we're in cus they have zero context. That might have been the case here.

[Jojoya]

Up to you if you feel it should be reported.

Personally I wouldn't bother, others are entitled to their opinions. Being the sort of comment that sounds like it's coming from a 10 year old acting cocky, I'd just assume it was a 10 year old acting cocky and move on.