But...I...I don't wanna DPS, I'm a healer...

[Lyrica_Ashtine]

Well, the "dps whip" isn't too far off. It's simply more subtle or in form of subliminal messaging. The front is like this:
One group says don't DPS and "play as you like"
One group says "You don't have to, but you're expected to/good healers would"
One group says it's pretty much mandatory

But if you break it down:
If you play as you like and the group doesn't like "your play style", don't be surprised to be branded as a bad healer by the local community or even a potential kick from the duty you're in
If you don't have to DPS, but you're expected to, how would this be any different from a more simpler version of "You could and you should"?

So this just all funnels into "You should dps". Early when FF14 was fresh, nearly every healer were only healing. But the moment the healer DPS fever started to spread, it was unstoppable. For majority of the player base telling healers to DPS because "they are expected to" is pure hypocrisy. Surely a lot of you have experienced terrible DPS and/or tanks who can't even get their rotation right, yet they expect the healer to pull off 110% effort and perfection.

Someone mentioned that healer DPS isn't as pressing for regular content, compared to Alexander Savage. This is true to an extend. The best place to practice your off-DPS capacity would be in more casual duties, however. If you're the kind who likes to push their limits and do as much as they can, stick with healing in this game. Otherwise, you're in for a journey that'll lack in glory, recognition and suffer from the scapegoat stigma which only a very selected few will acknowledge you for it.