Selling clears maybe within the rules of the game - but is it within the spirit?

[Kitano123]

A discussion took place on my server yesterday re selling clears - started by someone offering them in general chat.
[snip]
After watching the discussion unfold on chat I was left with this: The next time I see someone with a nice mount, title, gear etc
- I'd wonder did they play well for this or just buy it through clear selling groups?

Each to his own I guess - thoughts?

I'd imagine theirs more people being carried by their friends/FC than buying clears. Other than gil changing hands how is that any different? Mercenaries for hire is also a common theme in FF games so in that respect i'd say it was perfectly within the spirit of the game.

There is also the argument about undermining the accomplishments of the people who actually worked hard for it when others could just pay for it. Personally I do not care for the type of people who hold being a first timer against someone so do not mind the fact their agenda of exclusion is undermined by clear buyers

Having cleared the fight is the only metric we have for judging whether someone is good enough before you see them in action. If you had you're way farm partys wouldn't exist as no ones going to join a farm group that has multiple first timers in it.

I wasn't a big mmo player before this game so I was surprised that players selling themselves is a thing. Somehow I just imagined an idealised community where people gave up their time to help others without asking for payment. I'm not a fan of it, but it doesn't break the game if that's how people like to play it. The only thing that upsets me is people breaking the game with third-party tools to get an unfair advantage of any kind.

People who sell runs also help their friends/fc mates for free as well, it isn't an either/or situation. A community is something you have to work to be a part off, you shouldn't expect free hand outs.