The quality of the NN seems to vary per world, even more wildly so between JP/NA/EU. That is to be expected with different cultures, but would it be wrong to want for a better experience for NA?
I know players who are new that don't like it, some actively avoiding it. Many mentors use it as their personal chat, and I've seen some heavy, heavy trolling and story spoiling.
I have heard JP NN is mostly quiet save for when someone needs help, and I have no knowledge on what EU is like.
Suggestions:
1. 1-2 GM per Data Center to pop in every now and again.
Mentors tend to place their crowns atop their heads and add their friends in, and use it as a personal Linkshell, breaking ToS themselves and just re-invite their friends who got kicked. There is no sense of repercussions and I think a GM would help that.
Now, GM themselves may not be devoid of bias, however we are able to speak up about specific GMs here. I am sure they have a set guideline to follow, and if they're anything like forum mods, they'll ninja and stay out of the spotlight. I want to be clear, I am not trying to restrict speech. I am trying to make it a point that the NN should be a chat with a purpose. Not HROTHGAR DADDIES ARE BETTER THAN CATBOIS or [massive Nier/ShB spoiler element] was my favorite fight! Then when a new player does indeed seek help, they're ignored to the mentor only conversation can continue.
2. Permanent ban from the NN tied to account
The forums are a place for discussion, but everyone knows that if you go too far, you're out. Some people go too far, but they're only out for a set amount of time. I think it would be beneficial moreso for the NA community to have people out at strike 1 or 2. Mentors can say what the person did before kicking, and it's abundantly clear what the person can do to avoid it in the future. But if they're a problem consistently, then they likely wont stop even on a 2nd character/world.
They, unlike the forums, are not locked out of player communication either seeing as how there is /shout chat, party finder, and for free trial players, even /say.
3. Make the mentor crown a watering can.
Please. The crown is a joke now.
tl;dr a new Code of Conduct of sorts for the NN so the trolling and /b/ levels of discussion can be taken elsewhere.