It may be a point we'll just have to agree to disagree on. I expect it in myself that in order for ME to be the best "team player" I can, it means that I will offer assistance, especially in instances where there is a mutual benefit for accomplishing a shared goal. It does me no disservice to offer helpful hints if I have them.
We play a game where it requires us to have party members help us progress in our own journey. If I didn't want to "help" anyone else, or if I felt "put out" to occasionally assist others improve as the need presents itself, then I'd be better off in a single player game atmosphere.
The whole point of an MMO is that you are able to actually make a difference to more than only yourself, and interact with other players who are real people. In MMO's the world is bigger than just you, and even though your gameplay may be focused primarily on your own progression, you have the unique ability of investing in your own future party experience by simply lending an occasional helpful hand here and there to someone else. To me it is an absolute no-brainer.... a win-win situation to help others grow as a player. They may in turn help someone else, who may eventually end up in my party down the road. We're only as strong as the weakest link.. so why not?!? If they accept the help great! If not.. so be it, least I tried to be a helpful party and game community member.
Not saying you in particular, but it is quite frustrating overall to listen to people who are more than willing to point out negatives in others, and cackle in the corner, but never even have it occur to them to offer suggestions to help that player improve. Never occurs to them that maybe a little simple communication would do the trick and improve the current party 10 fold. They feel content to leave all as is, and get some warped feeling of grandeur out of being able to feel that they are "better" than someone else.
Those who don't think through things enough to realize that everyone was new once. Not everyone comes into this game with innate knowledge of the best websites to find information at, or plain be experienced in a specific instance.
To have the attitude that it is "beneath them" to be helpful to others......... In a game where the point is to work with others.... to me just seems like an oxy moron.