The bullying on these forums is concerning

[FudoMyoo]

U came from WOW? /crybaby.

[SturmChurro]

I am not sur I count you as nice.

By not reporting them, you left them free to turn that outrage and hate on somebody else, while letting them think they are allowed and encouraged to do it.

That hurts! I am very nice! Ask anyone around!

I see no need to report someone in-game over something petty like this, to be frank. SE GMs don't seem to hand out actual 'warnings', it's a permanent strike to a users account, a permanent mark in any case. Worse than a forum ban even. I actually couldn't care less about the "bullying". It's not like I haven't been subject to much worse than that anyway. So meh. I was just having fun, and warning them. Thought it was a funny story.. Anyway, they were lucky I was there! Many players would actively report someone for the admission of griefing, and then on top of that profanity afterwards! If they get reported by someone else later and banned, that's on them!

[Drakonic]

just look at beginning of his thread: drakonic straight up quoted multiple of damien's own posts and you can't tell me damien didn't realize - yet he played along - even though some of these posts were aimed AT drakonic a DAY before. no one has a memory this bad, especially when that 'bullying' is supposedly affecting him so much
you're doing everyone that has ever gotten bullied or is still experiencing it a huge disservice by defending people like him

hahaha someone else figured out the obvious tell

op is a god at his craft

[Drakonic]

These conversations are works of surrealist art

they really are

[SturmChurro]

people should stop calling trolls and drama seekers out?

I'd say, yes. Unless people want a ban. I mean people won't necessarily get one, but I know I would. Either way, anyone doing so is open to a ban. It is actually against the forum guidelines, whether someone is proclaimed a "troll" or not.

I personally keep much of my conversations on Discord, or third party in general. I need to add my discord to like my signature or something, I wouldn't mind adding a select few here.

[Jandor]

That hurts! I am very nice! Ask anyone around!

You are! Top tier nice!

[Resurrection_three_three]

Section 3.3 does not prohibit bullying OP, as long as you do not use profanity and offensive language. So go forth my children!

[Bacent]

so in a sense, you're saying that people should stop calling trolls and drama seekers out? because that's what 90% of the so-called-bullies did, independently of each other
even now, with this thread active, the OP goes into other threads and thoroughly enjoys the victim complex he has created for himself, or, if we're generous, his complete lack of self-awareness and his abusive behaviour
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...=1#post5581209

so again, you're asking people to just be okay with manipulative trolling when they have made inflammatory and very controversial posts and topics for half a decade because they say that the people who have enough of that behaviour bullies?
I'm very sure you people know what real bullying is, as you've either seen, experienced or read about it first hand - and this isn't it, not even cyberbullying because not a single person is going into threads to insult him or follow him in game to harass him - and yes, he said several people did just this, apparently

just look at beginning of his thread: drakonic straight up quoted multiple of damien's own posts and you can't tell me damien didn't realize - yet he played along - even though some of these posts were aimed AT drakonic a DAY before. no one has a memory this bad, especially when that 'bullying' is supposedly affecting him so much
you're doing everyone that has ever gotten bullied or is still experiencing it a huge disservice by defending people like him

I'm not gonna lie, I've interacted with him in other threads before and some things he's said have made me squint rather hard in the past, but I'm being legit serious about telling him that I strongly believe he needs to take some time away from the forums. It's getting old from all sides really. I won't go further about my own interactions with him.

If he continues doing stuff like this, more than likely multiple people, possibly the OP himself, may be removed from the forums for a time.

Though with the memory part, from my own personal experience I've had head trauma in the past, and there've been days I call to make an appointment only to be told 'you called earlier to make one'. Though on a forum where everything you say is kept as a record of your own behavior, minus when the forums mods delete stuff, it's easy to see what someone has said previously. But I HAVE seen people who are completely unaware of how they come off to others, it's always questioning if people are seriously like that, or if they're in denial about it... things do feel a lot like hot takes at times with how he posts on the forums. Strongly looking like he revels in this kind of thing.

And there are people who enjoy at causing this kind of chaos. Though with the tags that are on this thread, I'm wondering how it hasn't been deleted yet...

[DamianFatale]

snip

I sincerely apologize if I have ever came off too strong, but that is never my intent. I may not have the thickest skin, but I believe my sensitiveness can be a strength. Sure I get more upset than others at times, but I also have the capacity to use it as a learning point, and as an intent that helps me to be open to listening.

Some things absolutely will not change in my mind. One of those things is the sudden surge of micro-transactions, and expensive exclusive content that is ripe in the video game industry. We went from the majority of games having a complete and total finished package, to having exclusive codes on expensive/and or low stocked merch, season passes that have permanent limited options on way too many games at once, gacha mechanics, expensive waves of dlc, and so many other ways to lure people into paying for extra micro-transactions. Even the Final Fantasy VII remake interlude wanted me to pay 10$ for a single extra weapon..

These are topics that absolutely need to be discussed, and they need to be addressed by the companies that run these things. We absolutely do need to draw the line somewhere, and we will need to push back in some way. Sometimes our wallets are not going to be our voices. People buy things anyway all the time, and with the pressure of exclusivity, it will never go away.

Could I have written and titled my earlier post better? Absolutely. I think I fell into the trap that some sensationalist journalists go into for clicks, and set the tone in the wrong way. I am sorry, because I know I could do much better than that.

As for your advice on having a friend go over with me when I write, I know someone I have connected with for a long time in game, that I think I could do that with. I also have a boyfriend, and I think that he will help me greatly. He is willing whenever I ask, and quite honestly has the complete opposite personality as me. We compliment well, and I think he would do a good job of helping make sure I say better things if I asked for his help. I will try to do that more often if he has the time.

Stepping away for the past day has been great. I went out and got some food with some friends for the first time in a long time since the pandemic turned for the worst. It was healing, and It helped me get my mind away from the computer. I hope that as things start to get better, that I will have more chances like that. I think being stuck in affected my mental health, though I don't believe it was the sole cause. That is something I would have to ponder and sort out with a therapist, or an insightful friend to figure out.

Bacent, thank you for your kind words and reaching out to me. I haven't always liked what you have had to say, in fact to be blunt, I didn't really like you, but the humanity in your words shows, and I am changed by it. You helped me. Please take care. I'm sorry for misjudging you. :3

[ICountFrom0]

That hurts! I am very nice! Ask anyone around!

I see no need to report someone in-game over something petty like this, to be frank. SE GMs don't seem to hand out actual 'warnings', it's a permanent strike to a users account, a permanent mark in any case. Worse than a forum ban even. I actually couldn't care less about the "bullying". It's not like I haven't been subject to much worse than that anyway. So meh. I was just having fun, and warning them. Thought it was a funny story.. Anyway, they were lucky I was there! Many players would actively report someone for the admission of griefing, and then on top of that profanity afterwards! If they get reported by someone else later and banned, that's on them!

Yes. But they will think they got reported, and got away with it, in turn internalising the belief that such bad behavior is allowed. Thus being encouraged to continue to do it to others. It's not as bad as if YOU where doing it to others, but you did make the problem worse instead of better.

A quiet report and move on, without the comment, would have done more. The GM bans and strikes, you can't say that person didn't deserve it. You thought you were being kind by giving them another chance, and I can't blame you for that, for what they do with the chance is up to them.