"Everyone's so open and friendly" is a lie

[Krotoan]

And there is some truth to that. But does that make my experience any less valid?

No. But "positive bias" isn't it I think.

Toxic positivity is a thing, for sure, but it's not because of any sort of built in propensity of people to only notice positivity. More like "wishful thinking" creating toxic positivity.

[Solowing]

No. But "positive bias" isn't it I think.

Toxic positivity is a thing, for sure, but it's not because of any sort of built in propensity of people to only notice positivity. More like "wishful thinking" creating toxic positivity.

So my question to you is, does toxic positivity exist here?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om57...AsmongoldClips

Zepla is joking about it, but its baked in truth that the community can kinda act like this.

[Krotoan]

So my question to you is, does toxic positivity exist here?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om57...AsmongoldClips

Zepla is joking about it, but its baked in truth that the community can kinda act like this.

Sure. But it's not like FFXIVs community is particularly unique. It's the same people except with different rules and standards. I've been in nearly every major MMO's community at one time or another.. it's not like they ATTRACT different people entirely, it's all gamers. It's just the same people and those that can either stand the others or follow the rules end up being representative. As much as some players here would say something about "well this game caters to GOOD people"... naw.. you just can't constantly yell the "my ding-a-ling" limerick in shout all day like you could in the barrens.

People like to hopefully be a part of the "good" people or the "realistic" people or the "thick skinned" people, but they're just people. We're all gamers and that's like being someone who likes cars: Y'all can Chevy this or Toyota that.. but neither of those actually attract some type of person.

I think if anything I prefer this kind of community where there's at least superficial civility. I don't particularly like interacting with anyone other than my friends anyway and since it's basically against the rules to force yourself into my attention constantly, it's pretty good for me here.

[Izar_Chillen]

Sure. But it's not like FFXIVs community is particularly unique. It's the same people except with different rules and standards. I've been in nearly every major MMO's community at one time or another.. it's not like they ATTRACT different people entirely, it's all gamers. It's just the same people and those that can either stand the others or follow the rules end up being representative. As much as some players here would say something about "well this game caters to GOOD people"... naw.. you just can't constantly yell the "my ding-a-ling" limerick in shout all day like you could in the barrens.

People like to hopefully be a part of the "good" people or the "realistic" people or the "thick skinned" people, but they're just people. We're all gamers and that's like being someone who likes cars: Y'all can Chevy this or Toyota that.. but neither of those actually attract some type of person.

I think if anything I prefer this kind of community where there's at least superficial civility. I don't particularly like interacting with anyone other than my friends anyway and since it's basically against the rules to force yourself into my attention constantly, it's pretty good for me here.

Its the downside of every MMO that has lasted through multiple years and expansions . It happens to every game like it.

Take SWTOR a fully VO'd MMO with multiple cutscenes in all of the early flashpoints . In the early years you would be shunned for demanding players "SPACEBAR " to skip cutscenes and their were many across the board in dungeons.

Skip to 5+ years in and the group component for semi to hard content ( bar specific dungeons modes and raids of course) isnt necessary ( the healer tank dps combo isnt needed for normal dungeons any more and the old dungeon content scales upwards to max level) , vastly increased power creep , less and less content , players that need to take breaks but dont are yet again in the grind for the same old endgame gear/tokens and the attitudes even from vets is they dont care anymore and their acceptance to let new players experience cutscenes without being harassed is long gone .

Some people are so unaccepting now they will have no hesitation to rage quit leaving new players stranded or to make it worse the duty pop screen actually shows you the level of the team make up and if it isnt to their liking they will auto cancel the accept window and you could be stuck with duty pops being refused multiple times even in peak hours as there is no cancelation penalty for refusing a duty pop , and because so many now just expect the daily done in 10-15 minutes ( easily done with BiS equipped players in older upscaled dungeons) and not 25+ like it may take with upscaled lowbies.

Compared to the early years its hellish now.

[SamSmoot]

Seems ok to me, I've been playing several years now, but then I rarely talk to anyone in game other than to ask an occasional question like where the hunt train is at the moment.. In WoW, my talk was limited to announcing rares, which I later assigned to an addon to announce them automatically.

[DanielNegreanu_Adamantoise]

"Everyone's so open and friendly" is a lie

Good that you have realized this. But now remember it, because always will be a lie

[Starshower]

It's generally true, but if you are unpleasent people won't be as nice to you. Also, I'd rather receive fake friendliness than earnest agression. The moderation is doing a good job to create a more positive environment.

[Merrigan]

I honestly find it hard to understand this kind of "problem".

Are you saying that there is a form of social hypocrisy? Well done, you've just described every form of human interaction. Your neighbour pisses you off because he's making noise while he's doing work; you won't go and smash his face in or shout at him (poor guy, he's got the right to put up his wardrobe); but you'll be moaning in your beard in your corner. That's what happens on FF, no more and no less. If I come across a challenge with a bunch of sprouts tomorrow, I'll be grumbling behind my screen. But I'll also take the trouble to explain it to them. Is this false kindness, knowing that I'd rather be with veterans who know their stuff? Yes. Is it still more pleasant for everyone? Also yes.

Another thing: in my experience, leaving it up to the players to sort things out "by themselves" has never been beneficial. No matter how much you pretend it's more constructive, in reality it leads to extraordinarily toxic communities, where you get kicked, insulted, and cursed at for trivial reasons. Let's be a little honest: humanity in online games... Is hopeless. A lot of people allow themselves to behave badly. This is a pessimistic statement, but it is true. From there, a very simple conclusion: it is necessary to reintroduce rules to replace the "social varnish" that we keep IRL.

And finally, as far as criticism is concerned: ask yourself a minimum of questions about the way you phrase things. When I see a player doing something stupid, I say so; when I see that a rotation is not mastered, I say so too. I don't hesitate to ring the bell for a healer who doesn't use a dps spell in a dungeon. And yet, I've never been banned or deferred; nobody (or almost nobody) has ever yelled at me. Because I'm polite in the way I phrase things. And here again: use your common sense. If someone comes up to you IRL and says "you're doing shit, get out of here, you'll never get it right": you'll get angry, take it badly, and generally not really listen to that person. If, on the other hand, a colleague advises you to proceed in such and such a way, to use such and such a tool instead, while remaining pleasant and encouraging: you will appreciate the advice, listen to it, and progress.

It's exactly the same thing with MMORPGs. How many times have I seen people complain about newcomers without even bothering to address them directly? "Raider leader, why did you take that guy", etc. And then the same people tell you that the community is too touchy. That's just stupid. Address the new guy directly, explain why coming without matéria is a bad idea, and you're done. I can guarantee you that it will go down better.

TDLR: I'd rather have restrictive rules than a complete jungle + stop acting as if the IG world should be a lawless space totally dissociated from IRL social rules + use your common sense, it helps in many cases (even if the "I make no effort" specs exist too, I don't deny it).