How often do the different Races inter-mingle with each other?

[Berethos]

I'm tempted to agree with Theodric.

Whether or not he's right about the story needing to do more with the issues of racism and xenophobia isn't actually what I was responding to...

It was the conclusion for why it was designed that way that I criticized, nothing more and nothing less.

Regarding Ishgard's xenophobia...most of that is concentrated in the 35-40 questing experience, and at that time we hadn't really proven ourselves to Ishgard. Once we have, via that story and the stuff in the 2.x patch cycle, our experience with them is going to be different...

Now, once you're actually in Ishgard? The main thing then isn't xenophobia, it's class division, which is very much present. Outside of cutscenes you never see the poor in the pillars, and while they spend their time worrying about whether so-and-so Lord's son noticed them or not, or the deal they got gold and silvery jewels, or even having trouble figuring out which store to go to because they spent too much time playing cards instead of studying (so even the kids live differently)...

Those in the Brume are dealing with hunger, and damage to the city, and injury, and the cold...

And those divisions between the rich and the poor, nobles and not, in Ishgard has been pretty central to the story so far. Ishgard's xenophobic nature really only applies when you're outside Ishgard, and is also the whole reason you can't go there until you've earned it in the story.

[Theodric]

Whether or not he's right about the story needing to do more with the issues of racism and xenophobia isn't actually what I was responding to...

It was the conclusion for why it was designed that way that I criticized, nothing more and nothing less.

...and yet I still stand by my words. You don't really see any of the protagonists express the same views as many of the more conservative Ishgardians do. Even in regards to the disdain towards the poor whenever a character expresses contempt for those living in poverty they're almost always presented as an antagonist.

I'll admit, we've yet to see the actual resolution to the Ishgard storyline so there's a chance I may be proven wrong. I hope I am - because I want Ishgard's 'grit' and morally dubious nature to persist. I'm not a huge fan of the idea of sweeping changes to fantasy nations that lead to modern real world ideals becoming dominant. I want conflict and protagonists that are rough around the edges. Who aren't 'politically correct'.

[Berethos]

...and yet I still stand by my words.

That they haven't gone hardline on portraying racism so they don't hurt the feelings of people playing catgirls? I guess I can understand standing by those words, since they make for a nice easy target for criticism. Certainly easier than just standing by your own conclusions, have to insult others as if that some how reinforced your argument (pro tip, it doesn't).

As for Ishgard, the poor pushing against the upper crust of society that has been stepping on them isn't exactly modern...unless we stretch modem back to at least 1789. Also we often interact with non-antagonist characters that occupy more of a middle ground between full on disdain for the other class and full on "P.C." acceptance.

Plus there's the background world building stuff, which is neither protagonist our antagonist, just showing how things currently are in Ishgard (and the other city-states).

[Theodric]

Er, what 'insult' would that be?