I think players who joined in 2.0 are missing some very vital perspective and backstory on why the Gridanians are the way they are. Prior to the Calamity, the Twelveswood (known as the Black Shroud to outsiders due to its dangerous and impenetrable nature) was a hostile and frightening place where invisible creatures meted out the inscrutable will of the wood with extreme prejudice to any who angered them. There was not always warning, and it often did not make sense. In such an environment, if you wish to survive, the only reasonable response is to learn how not to anger the things that can cause forest guardians to rise to vengeful life, trigger wildlife stampedes, or simply emerge from thin air to steal you away or just flat-out kill you. All this and more used to happen regularly.

Those who did not have to live there or simply did not understand the way of the wood were less invested and less knowledgeable about things and did things to anger the elementals quite regularly... Then they'd leave. Who had to suffer this invisible anger? Those who remained - the Gridanians. They have suffered quite a lot at the hands of ignorant or just plain uncaring outsiders by their stomping about, and there are plenty of examples of them having stolen, damaged, or otherwise mistreated the forest because they did not have a concept of it as a living thing, when it is in fact very much a meta-organism, like as a beehive or anthill. Illness or injury in one part affects the health of the whole.

"Forgive and forget!" you may say. Sure, that'd probably help now that the elementals are too weak to do anything post-calamity. But try telling that to Ferguson; I'm sure they'd love to hear it. The writers have attempted to create real people with real prejudices. Stuff like this doesn't vanish overnight. The Gridanians are the way they are due to a long and storied history. To insist this is wrong and ought not to be over sentimental idealism is to oversimplify and to rob the setting of some of its nuance, flavor, and realism. Because that's the point, isn't it? Not what is right or wrong according to our modern Western views and sentiments, but what is realistic and vital and interesting for a fantasy world upon which hard times, trials, and tribulations have fallen.