Regarding TOS and its stance on public religious/political discussion. Your thoughts?

[GothicDolly]

Hey there. I rarely use the fourms. Like at all. So I hope I'm posting this in the right spot.

If you enjoy what I'm throwing out there? Cool. If not? That's no problem, I understand this sort of thing isn't for everyone.



It's a long one.

I'm going to be blatant, I've never been a big fan of how there's (in my opinion) a widespread mentality that public political or religious discussion is inheritably bad. I get it, political/religious topics often result in people becoming too emotionally invested--to the point things turn ugly/immature.

To me; the way an individual decides to behave during controversial discussion should be taken into consideration rather than villainizing the entire topic itself. None of us should be penalized for just bringing up something political or religious in a public setting.

I get it. Not everyone wants to look at Shout and see political or religious conversation even if it's actually going civil. However, some people enjoy talking about sports--and sports have teams. There are people who can talk sports with fans of the opposing team and either behave maturely or immaturely (People have stadium fist fights over this stuff). How someone behaves is what should determine if they receive a penalty or not. I hate sports. But I'm not trying to forbid the topic of sports from being uttered in Shout simply because it's not my thing. If you don't care to listen to a particular topic, I believe the best course of action is to blacklist the individuals in question or disable Shout for a bit altogether--instead of completely prohibiting certain topics.



"The activity is not relevant to the game."

Neither is the activity of a player using Shout to declare they think a different MMORPG is "better" then promoting said unrelated video game to other users. But those behind the TOS don't care about that and neither do I. However; the mere mention of anything political or religious? Penalties can be issued. I feel like it's a double standard. Unfair and all that.

I enjoy hearing the political or religious stances of strangers--whether I agree with them or not. Everyone has topics they find fun or engaging--and prefer to spend their downtime in Shout in numerous ways.

Political nor religious discussion is inheritably negative, so why punish those who just -like- these topics? "It's fine as long as it remains civil" just sounds so much better to me. Like they trust us to behave. And for those who can't help but act rudely based on differing opinions? Punish them.


You could say there's a "time and place" for respectful political or religious topics, and I could say the same for people gushing about literally anything in public chat channels that have no relation to FFXIV. Anime--Vtubers--ect. The examples are night and day in many ways but I hope you get where I'm coming from.

[Vahlnir]

I have no issue with such discussions. I too love seeing what people think. They are just largely seen as a big no no in most MMO communities. It's a surefire way to get other people riled up, and those people are hiding behind a PC/TV screen knowing full well they can say whatever they want with little consequence. In a perfect world these topics could be discussed in a mostly calm but civil manner regardless of location, but it is not. All one has to do is look at the forums the last couple of days to see just how heated things can get over small things, let alone the bigger ones like politics and religion.

[Haseno]

I enjoy politician conversation, and it's more important than FF14. People should be free to discuss something which impacts their life way more viciously than FF14 ever could.

It's just another attempt to censor any conversation or speech that can cause "disputes."

[Izscha]

If people were able to behave correctly about politics / religion we would not need such a thing.
Rn we got people who can't even talk about gender lock glam in a video game without being smug / condescending and insulting.
So no better not get politics or religion involved as well, even if a lot of social issue brought here are basically politics tho.

[StriderShinryu]

Or you could just set up your own linkshell, use FC chat, create a Party, invite others to your house, etc. if you want to have political discourse. I mean, if you recognize that it can create controversy and can make others uncomfortable when brought forward in a public space then you're the one making the choice to create controversy and/or make others uncomfortable.

[Lunalepsy]

People never discuss politics or religion—they just talk about what they think is correct or should be the right thing. No one ever sits down and talks about the benefits of debating and actually learning from each other. Those topics always end up with heated arguments and personal attacks. Square Enix wants people to enjoy the game and not attack each other because of personal beliefs.

[Iscah]

The GMs don't want to have to draw a line between "acceptable" and "unacceptable" discussion on these topics, so a blanket ban solves that issue. Simple enough.

[PlushyprincessMusa]

Honestly the two of them lead to some of the biggest arugements and uncomfortable discussions.

Tbh i think they should be avoided at all cost as both topics are used to bait ppl into a huge argument where one if not many end up banned.

"Ya they have baited me alot for personal reasons in both


Also i feel like they avoid the fact ppl bait ppl with the tos...

Baiting should be against the Tos more than anything...

I have always been annoyed with the fact that people are dumb.

People: pokes and baits constantly
Someone else: bites and has an emotional breakdown
People: You can't do that im offend so i cry report.

Honesty they should enforce the tos in if you bait the situation you cant report it.

Now politics is ify

But religion doesnt belong in public many people have bad experience with certain groups that causes anxiety and emltional issues to swell up..

Personally im one of them, want it in a whisper,fc or dome were private fine..seeing "christan talk" i cant promise ill be able to control myself
But if someone comes up or walk by

Ps: there is a huge difference in something meha to dumb like sports that i mostly harmless

And subjects were ppl have been harmed or suffer because of it.. Many ppl hsve suffered because of religion and politics so it kind of does matter.

[Takamorisan]

Coming from other MMOs and how people behave on those discussions.

General chat will become a latrine, either religion or politics. Find a proper group of friends if you really wanna partake in such activities.

Keep to yourself.

[Izscha]

While i'm ok with the whole "dont discuss it in public" i have one with the whole "you keep that with your friend thing" that's exactly what's wrong with the internet rn.
If you lock yourself with people that only share you view it's a bad thing for you, that's what happens with a lot of thing like twitter reddit and so on, you're in your little bubble and you're hostile to anything or anyone that doesn't fit your view and beliefs in this world and that's how extremes do get rooms and grow.