Tank asked BLM to "mark and sleep"? Is this normal?

[Raestloz]

I don't see why you're refusing his request based on artificially enforced guidelines that no one actually needs to follow i.e. tanks and only tanks mark.

For the same reason nobody walks down the Hollywood completely naked: it's the norm. There are two kinds of laws: written and unwritten. Written laws say that tanks need to tank, just as BLM need to actually kill things. Unwritten laws say tanks need to mark, just as BLM needs to sleep if the mobs can be put to sleep and the tank can't take the incoming damage instead of just keep using Fire Fire Fire

Just because tanks usually do it doesn't make it their job. It sounds more like you saw something unusual, but not wrong per se, and simply refused out of habit.

As the more experienced player you were in a better position to help the run, or at least communicate.

I actually see it as a bad habit. I refused because I believe that while DPS can mark as well as the next guy, they can't take damage as well as the next tank. Tanks need to mark to ensure that the DPS are hitting the correct mobs at the correct time so they don't steal enmity so easily and disrupt the flow of combat, time that can be used to generate even more enmity on that mob that is on the verge of running to the healer.

HOWEVER, I also know that different culture may have different way, which is why I'm here asking. If what he did is, in fact, the norm in E culture, then that'd be what I do next time that happens.

I actually do not see the value in the effort to antagonize me that some people here do. Becoming a makeshift hero and making me look like a jackal now won't magically make him tank better in the past.