Live letters have lost their magic - Zepla

[Kazuke_Miso]

You don’t have to care/be friends/share fanclubs/blood ties with a person to agree with their opinion right here and now if it is elaborated enough. How is it a weird concept to people? People are not black/white labels which they need to keep sticking to. They are complex, different and changing with life around them. Zepla is not a mythical idol. She is a public speaker which currently, at this very moment, resonates with some people, quite many I would say. That’s all it is to it. Her opinion does not become invalid cause of her previous history.

I agree with you. Most people just don't have the time or energy to write a script and make a whole ass video to talk about why they fall out of love with the game, as Lucy Pyre has done. Right now people felt seen when these big content creators are voicing their opinions in a clear manner. And it helps that it's in video/stream form because god knows no one has the attention span to read an essay these days. A lot of players who felt seen do not have some weird parasocial relationship with the game or these content creators.

However... the viciousness of some of the white knights, many of whom literally shared her vids and subscribed to her and loved her before her change in tune... I think it says something. That viciousness means something deeper. I've seen discussion about Zepla often using the word "betrayal" when she started attacking the game or when she started playing Hogwarts. I mean, what is there to betray for criticizing a video game?

I mean seriously think about it. She betrayed these white knights when she said Endwalker is the worst expansion. Huh?

Let's really think about what this means:

She betrayed [PEOPLE A] when she criticized [OBJECT B]

Does that make sense to anyone when you deconstruct it this way? She did not criticize [PEOPLE A]. She criticized [OBJECT B].

Ah, but the key here is that the [PEOPLE A] here treat [OBJECT B] as part of their core identity. It all makes sense when you see how a criticism of [PEOPLE A'S CORE IDENTITY] is a betrayal.

Hence, the viciousness is justified: we can slander Zepla all we want as a transphobe, question her motive and say that she is doing this for drama, or on some darker corners of the Internet, use all kinds of slurs against her, because she betrayed us!

The second part is especially bizarre. There are many people who will say that Zepla has betrayed the community and that she's just cashing in on outrage drama for clicks and views, and then a few minutes later, not even ironically, say that she's going to lose a lot of subs and views because she's betrayed her audience... Like what? Pick a lane lmao.

Ultimately though, it's not like this matters. If it wasn't a content creator making this opinion, and it's some random person on Reddit, people will just say "who are you?" "you're a nobody, you don't speak for the community" "majority still likes it your anecdotes don't mean anything". If it's a journalist, people will just say "this is why no one trusts journalists anymore" "really desperate for ad views huh". If it's a raider, people will just say "stop it elitist, game is designed for casual players, not the 1%". If it's a casual, people will say "you don't even do Ultimate, jobs are not balanced for you, it doesn't affect you". If it's someone who has played the game for a long time, people will say "you are burnt out, that's normal after 6 years" "actually a game lasting for 6 years is impressive already". If it's someone who just started playing, people will say "the game has always been this way, are you new?" "this game isn't designed for you, go play something else".

lol

[Veritas-Ancora]

Ultimately though, it's not like this matters. If it wasn't a content creator making this opinion, and it's some random person on Reddit, people will just say "who are you?" "you're a nobody, you don't speak for the community" "majority still likes it your anecdotes don't mean anything". If it's a journalist, people will just say "this is why no one trusts journalists anymore" "really desperate for ad views huh". If it's a raider, people will just say "stop it elitist, game is designed for casual players, not the 1%". If it's a casual, people will say "you don't even do Ultimate, jobs are not balanced for you, it doesn't affect you". If it's someone who has played the game for a long time, people will say "you are burnt out, that's normal after 6 years" "actually a game lasting for 6 years is impressive already". If it's someone who just started playing, people will say "the game has always been this way, are you new?" "this game isn't designed for you, go play something else".

I'm angry that this is so accurate.

[Y2K21]

Ultimately though, it's not like this matters. If it wasn't a content creator making this opinion, and it's some random person on Reddit, people will just say "who are you?" "you're a nobody, you don't speak for the community" "majority still likes it your anecdotes don't mean anything". If it's a journalist, people will just say "this is why no one trusts journalists anymore" "really desperate for ad views huh". If it's a raider, people will just say "stop it elitist, game is designed for casual players, not the 1%". If it's a casual, people will say "you don't even do Ultimate, jobs are not balanced for you, it doesn't affect you". If it's someone who has played the game for a long time, people will say "you are burnt out, that's normal after 6 years" "actually a game lasting for 6 years is impressive already". If it's someone who just started playing, people will say "the game has always been this way, are you new?" "this game isn't designed for you, go play something else".

lol

Well its obvious, they arent a true FF14 player - duh.

[Auro_Seldaris]

However... the viciousness of some of the white knights, many of whom literally shared her vids and subscribed to her and loved her before her change in tune... I think it says something. That viciousness means something deeper. I've seen discussion about Zepla often using the word "betrayal" when she started attacking the game or when she started playing Hogwarts. I mean, what is there to betray for criticizing a video game?

I mean seriously think about it. She betrayed these white knights when she said Endwalker is the worst expansion. Huh?

Let's really think about what this means:

She betrayed [PEOPLE A] when she criticized [OBJECT B]

Does that make sense to anyone when you deconstruct it this way? She did not criticize [PEOPLE A]. She criticized [OBJECT B].

Ah, but the key here is that the [PEOPLE A] here treat [OBJECT B] as part of their core identity. It all makes sense when you see how a criticism of [PEOPLE A'S CORE IDENTITY] is a betrayal.

lol

Brother, when people call them the Cult of Yoshida, they mean it. They absolutely engage in cult-like behavior. I actually used to think it was hyperbole, but after some of the behavior I have seen on the forums since I actually started posting here, I now fully believe it.

They act like a cult. They lovebombed Zepla to get her to join them, they praised her for "Seeing the Light" and leaving stinky-bad WoW (ironic considering Nadda now holds leaving WoW against her) , held her up as a living symbol of the game, then when she started to turn on the game, they felt "heartbroken and betrayed" by her EVIL!

And you're absolutely right... these people see FFXIV as being literally a core part of their identity. Liek it's a part of their actual soul. In a way, I get it. If you discovered you were gay here, if you discovered you love raiding, if you discovered you love to roleplay and be literally anyone other than your boring real-world self... believe me, as someone who used to desperately wish they were a Jedi, I get it. My message to these people is that, all FFXIV is....

is a video game. It's just a video game. One that ranges from pretty freakin great, to middling. It's not a part of your soul, it's just a part of your life. "An electric word, life. It means forever, and that's a mighty long time." And in that time, things come and go from your life. FFXIV is going to be one of those things, I guarantee it. Don't let it hurt too bad when it's gone. I'm not even being snarky or mean when I say that. It's honest advice. As someone who's been let down by things I used to love, I know that feeling, but... don't give something more power and influence over your life than it really deserves.

[Daralii]

Brother, when people call them the Cult of Yoshida, they mean it. They absolutely engage in cult-like behavior. I actually used to think it was hyperbole, but after some of the behavior I have seen on the forums since I actually started posting here, I now fully believe it.

They act like a cult. They lovebombed Zepla to get her to join them, they praised her for "Seeing the Light" and leaving stinky-bad WoW (ironic considering Nadda now holds leaving WoW against her) , held her up as a living symbol of the game, then when she started to turn on the game, they felt "heartbroken and betrayed" by her EVIL!

And you're absolutely right... these people see FFXIV as being literally a core part of their identity. Liek it's a part of their actual soul. In a way, I get it. If you discovered you were gay here, if you discovered you love raiding, if you discovered you love to roleplay and be literally anyone other than your boring real-world self... believe me, as someone who used to desperately wish they were a Jedi, I get it. My message to these people is that, all FFXIV is....

is a video game. It's just a video game. One that ranges from pretty freakin great, to middling. It's not a part of your soul, it's just a part of your life. "An electric word, life. It means forever, and that's a mighty long time." And in that time, things come and go from your life. FFXIV is going to be one of those things, I guarantee it. Don't let it hurt too bad when it's gone. I'm not even being snarky or mean when I say that. It's honest advice. As someone who's been let down by things I used to love, I know that feeling, but... don't give something more power and influence over your life than it really deserves.

[Nadda]

Brother, when people call them the Cult of Yoshida, they mean it. They absolutely engage in cult-like behavior. I actually used to think it was hyperbole, but after some of the behavior I have seen on the forums since I actually started posting here, I now fully believe it.

They act like a cult.

It’s a crisis of confidence.

I don’t believe there’s a Yoshida Cult. What I do see are a lot of folks who are tired and worn down. But what I won’t tolerate is the dragging down of people who still believe things can get better.

That’s never going to be healthy—for FFXIV or for life in general.

And it’s not something the devs can fix with the flick of a switch. Disillusionment, pessimism, and apathy are coercive. They’re demoralizing, not just for yourself, but for the entire community. It’s self-harming.

The public lynching of positive thinking—bringing others down for showing optimism, as if misery is the only appropriate response to critique that isn’t productive. It never will be.

It’s NOT gaslighting to offer encouragement when there’s reason for it. Gaslighting is manipulation that distorts someone’s perception of reality, often to their harm. That’s not what’s happening here.

In Search and Rescue, when someone’s drowning, they may panic. They’ll thrash violently, even hurt the person trying to save them. In those moments, you’re taught to leave them. You can’t let yourself be pulled under, because then nobody gets saved.

From my perspective, I’m not telling anyone things are sunshine and roses. I’m not asking anyone to accept slop. But you want to call me a cultist for trying to keep your heads above water? Where exactly am I harming you by encouraging hope?

We’re customers, sure. But we’re also investors in this game. Blind overconfidence isn’t helpful—you’ll miss red flags that way. But fear and uncertainty? That can make even the most rational investor pull out prematurely.

Confidence and clear thinking are what make a successful investor.

If you want to pull out, do it. If you want to drown, drown. But you can’t drag others down with you.
You're not going to convince me this is the rational appropriate response for fixing the state of the game.

[yesnt]

But what I won’t tolerate is the dragging down of people who still believe things can get better.

That’s never going to be healthy—for FFXIV or for life in general.

You know what's also not healthy? Chiming into threads that are clearly addressed at the company with valid complaints about the game and then dismissing other player's issues. Look, you can be happy and healthy--but do it in other threads. Go to the housing forum and share the cool apartment you built or talk about your favorite mechanics in dungeon forum. But don't go to a complain thread and then pikachu-face when people complain.

[Veritas-Ancora]

We’re customers, sure. But we’re also investors in this game. Blind overconfidence isn’t helpful—you’ll miss red flags that way. But fear and uncertainty? That can make even the most rational investor pull out prematurely.

Confidence and clear thinking are what make a successful investor.

Again, you're using language that you do not seem to understand.

An investor makes money off of a game. We are not investors. We are customers. Investors have a monetary return on investment (ROI). If you own stock in Square-Enix, you are an investor.

Consumers benefit by exchanging money for service (again, not an investor). We pay for service, we are unhappy with the current service, we use capitalism to participate in the service, or end the service.

[SongOfTheWind]

But you want to call me a cultist for trying to keep your heads above water? Where exactly am I harming you by encouraging hope?

Do you have a saviour complex? I genuinely hope you jest.

[Auro_Seldaris]

Do you have a saviour complex? I genuinely hope you jest.

Yes, they literally have Main Character Syndrome. They think Yoshida is going to give them a Gold Star for defending CSIII's honor on the internet. They also are trying to continually derail this thread and make it all about them. How egotistical can you get?