Built-in Parsers

[HyoMinPark]

@OP—

This is generally what happens when you bring up the discussion of a parser, or of parsing in general. The two sides will always clash. And you will never be able to get a straightforward answer to your question(s) from either so long as one side continues to endlessly debate with the other. I’m always one to welcome friendly debates, and I’m sorry that your original questions have remained unanswered. But such is the way of discussion forums, generally speaking.

I am pro-parser, especially in content where parsing can be an immensely useful tool in terms of progression (Ultimate, Savage, and Ex trials), and I am of the firm belief that implementing a condoned, built-in parser would in no way increase nor decrease the amount of harassment that currently takes place in this game. Like I have repeatedly said in this thread and all other parser threads made on the OF, people are going to be jerks with or without a parser, and people should stop blaming the tool; they should blame the person. A parser will not directly or indirectly affect the way an individual behaves—if they seek to be a twat, then be a twat they shall, whether or not they have a parser at their disposal.

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1. I do believe that, if a parser were to be built into this game as a toggable feature in PF, GMs would still take appropriate actions against any and all reported harassment, especially if there is sufficient in-game proof (via chat log) that harassment/griefing occurred. I doubt that, because a parser would now be considered “legal” in FFXIV, that they would start letting blatant cases of harassment slide. When it comes to people that would outright harass regardless, generally these people don’t really think about, nor care about, the consequences of their actions, so the threat of a ban probably doesn’t even scare them. Hence, why they act as such. Of course, they could also be under a misguided assumption that, because the GMs do not report on the actions they take, that they will get lucky enough to walk away with a slap on the wrist, instead of something more severe. Who really knows. Point of the matter is: even if parsers were officially condoned by SE, the consequences of using them for the sole reason of being a twat are not going to go away. Official parsers =/= a green light on harassment.

(Adding in here that criticism does not necessarily equate to harassment, especially if delivered tactfully and respectfully. Criticism—from yourself and from others—is necessary in improving performance. Constructive criticism is not a bad thing, and I really wish that people would stop perceiving it as such. Sure, if someone said “X, you’re only pulling 2k DPS as a DRG; YOU SUCK. Please uninstall the game”—that is a clear case of griefing/harassment, and the person should be punished. However, saying, “X, I see that you’re only pulling 2k DPS as a DRG. And I’ve noticed you haven’t been keeping up your Heavy Thrust buff, or using Blood of the Dragon. I can give you some advice to improve your rotation and numbers” is not harassment, but constructive criticism/advice. It all boils down to 1. How the criticism/advice is delivered, and 2. For it to not be perceived out of context, or as inherently malicious.)

2. As far as I am aware, there has never been any official types of research on the effects a built-in parser has on the community of an MMO as a whole. Most of the discussion about how a parser changed the playerbase is nothing but accounts of personal experience, which are naturally going to vary between individuals, and are not a very good/quantitative way to analyze the effects of parsers, especially when one side fights so vehemently to paint the parser in the light they deem appropriate; and really, to come up with raw, quantitative data would be quite a bit of a challenge, since most games do not tell people of any actions taken against individuals they report, much like the FFXIV GMs remind people every time they submit an harassment report.