We need more GMs in the forums.

[BluexBird]

Have you tried not taking everything you read on the internet so seriously? I've been doing it for like... well actually, since I started using the internet. And I must say, it's done nothing but wonders for me!

Definitely give it a try. While you're at it, perhaps learn not to be offended by minor things that can easily be ignored? It might even apply to real-life situations as well!

[Breakbeat]

Have you tried not taking everything you read on the internet so seriously? I've been doing it for like... well actually, since I started using the internet. And I must say, it's done nothing but wonders for me!

Definitely give it a try. While you're at it, perhaps learn not to be offended by minor things that can easily be ignored? It might even apply to real-life situations as well!

These things you proclaim to be easy are, unfortunately, subjectively different for each human being. While it may be easy for you to ignore communication from other human beings on the internet, it's not easy for all people. For some it is decidedly hard.

Also, again, "being offended" by something is a result of brain impulses that vary wildly from person to person. When you drop an idea on thousands of folks at once, someone might find it offensive. So be it. You and the person who takes offense are equals; your brain and thoughts aren't any "better" than theirs.

Further, "Just do this and that and such and such as you'll be as happy as me," doesn't really work in the real world, at all. That should be obvious to anyone observing what is going on here on Earth.

If you can take 100 people and find 25 that don't really like chocolate cake, how the hell does one drop something as complicated as behavioral change advice on a public forum on the internet and expect it to automatically apply to the random person they don't even know.

You do realize that other humans vary from being somewhat different than yourself, to being drastically different from yourself, right? I mean, you clearly think you have the whole thing figured out, and maybe you do, but that's a solution for you personally, in your own head. Other human brains may or may not find your sage advice to be applicable.

And yeah, do pay close attention, because you are correct - these things do apply in real life as well. If you think everyone is the same (as you) inside of their heads, you're sorely mistaken. Drastically, sorely mistaken. When you look at the homeless guy and say, "just get up and get a job," that doesn't really do anything positive at all.

Likewise, when you tell random humans "not to be offended" by such-and-such, it's nonsense. What makes your ideas and morals the end-all-be-all of what is and isn't offensive?

[DamianFatale]

I appreciate your feedback as a qualified GM. Where do you think it gets hardest to draw the line from?

[Escalon]

I appreciate your feedback as a qualified GM. Where do you think it gets hardest to draw the line from?

Let me state first this : I'm not a qualified GM, that's way too long ago to even count. I cannot speak for the GM's in this Forum and this game, at the end of the day, they are humans with their own views on topics and issues and thus one GM can deviate from another.

So all I can speak is my past experience, not for GM"s here.

The Hardest line to draw for me personally, was when people were bringing in real life issues into the fantasy world and via-versa. As much you love the game, its not reality and as much you love reality, its not the game and people need to learn this. Topics from real life can be discussed, but it will always end up a mess.

[Rinhi]

There's even threads where people on other forums talk about who to bash, doxx, and brigade here. They are actively targeting people that some do not agree with, and creating issues.

care to provide a link to those so we can all report them?
asking because it's been multiple times that you've said it now, along with things like that people from the forums stalked and harassed you
which I doubt, tbh, but if it happened, their behaviour obviously having been horrible and that you've hopefully reported them

[Batbrat]

A lot of people step on your neck here, but you're not a bad or annoying person.
How do I say it. What would be the point if we all agreed on everything. Without our opposing opinions, there'd never be much to say. So although I can't say I've agreed with you often, what I can say honestly is that you're needed and your different perspectives are just as important as ours or anyone elses. I appreciate the passion that you put into your posts. Your intentions are always pure and that's what matter most. That's the nicest that I'll ever be to you in your entire life, ok so now onto the point

First of all, XIV twitter has meltdowns literally every week over their so called "modding community". I have seen FOUR PAGES. Ok someone wrote FOUR PAGES in a google doc on why they needed almost $20,000 to make updated improved foot mods. and I do believe they raised most of that money, so you can't convince me any of them have anything of any importance to say ever. They 'keke' and then proceed to go pay for stolen ripped assets from other games. So considering they're about as bright as blackhole, I think what they think about here is of the lowest of importance. They'll laugh for 5 minutes and then go pickup their pitchforks to find someone new to cancel so they can all go 'omg yes i knew something was off about them yuck oof yikes heres my discord logs too (4 screenshots of the most mindless conversation youve seen in your life)'

Moving right along then.
Game forums havent been respected for a long time. I can't tell you how many times I've seen forum posts directly result in changes in-game. Yet for some reason despite that, a lot of people still refuse to believe that it's possible. They cross their arms and cry "devs wont care!" pouting about what they wish would change, but make no effort in attempting to communicate it. Probably the types that end up in bad marriages. Anyway, so it's kinda been shrugged off for a while now. It's just how it is. But their pessimism doesnt have to effect you directly. So what if they think its a trashheap here. Everywhere else is a trashheap too.

The forums actually do reflect the community very well. The forum, the reddit, the twitter, the other place. Those are all players. That is the current community that you're seeing. It just isnt as pretty as it used to be-it isnt as kind as you remember. but that's because it's now so big and popular that a lot of that kind community is drowned out. But it's still there. Don't become discouraged.

Just this once, I will agree with you. but only because I see no reason not to. It's convenience, really. Don't get any other ideas. More GM's I suppose wouldnt hurt. Now stop looking here if it bothers you so much. You don't have to be so troubled and weighed down by things you can't control. Just focus on happier things. Etc.

[Rinhi]

Your intentions are always pure and that's what matter most

I didn't wanna bring it up in an earlier post but lol, lmao even
the OP tried to threaten another poster into silence with vague threats on this forum when they talked about having a bad experience with a manipulative FC, which was either the FC the OP is/was a part of or one of their friends' (also proving the OP right)
...and then made a topic about how he was getting bullied when people rightfully called it out
there's nothing pure about the OP, most of their posts are about getting outraged over miniscule issues as if they're the end of the world, all they try to do is stir drama in some way so they can have a laugh

BTT: I'd still love to see proof of people of people congregating on other forums/sites where they pick target on here to harass and doxx, I'll gladly eat my words and apologize to you if that really happens, but I find it really hard to believe

There's plenty. It only appears they aren't because they don't mingle among us.

they should show some more presence, though, and should actually read some of the threads where they remove posts
losing multiple pages of discussion despite it being a civil one is weird, seeing many posts where others are subtly or not so subtly insulting another, homo- or transphobic or racist posts not getting deleted is even more weird

[Quintessa]

There's plenty. It only appears they aren't because they don't mingle among us.

[Darthgummibear]

What would this "outside" be that's actually in a place to judge this community? If you say reddit I'll just die lmao

[dapperfaffer]

I have never seen this games forums so toxic in all of my life. It has become so apparently toxic, if you even mention this place outside of the forums, people will laugh and eyeroll anyone who participates here. That isn't good.
What is supposed to be a place of constructive criticism and feedback has become a place that reminds me of the real world we live in. Fiercely divided, ruined by trolls, and negative people who don't care about anybody else.

For a long time I have loved to participate here, but I find my blood boiling so much at some of the posts, replies, and comments here, that I have had to actually force myself to stay logged off on my mobile devices, and only on my home computer. That way I can only browse, and not be in a perpetual state of anger, and disappointment. I have to actually force myself to have self control, so that I don't live to regret how I react to some of the vile things that happen here.

This place should be a place that reflects the community in a good light, so that we are heard by devs when we feel we need to voice our wishes and concerns for FFXIV as a whole. Not a place where people get laughed at, mocked, and harassed just because they share a different point of view, or happen to be the victim of an online hate mob for a day.

There are several twitters that mock this place, and take the most awful posts for people to look at and laugh. There's even threads where people on other forums talk about who to bash, doxx, and brigade here. They are actively targeting people that some do not agree with, and creating issues. We need more involvement from the people that run these forums. This forum has lost its way. I am deeply concerned about how people are affected by the lack of oversight here. With that said, I don't want the place to be locked down to the point where we cannot relax, and talk freely. We just need way more middle ground, because it's become obvious that things are way to lax here. People get away with way too much negativity and hate that shouldn't be tolerated. I watched as someone was LITERALLY BEING A RACIST toward African Americans today, and the post is STILL UP. This is just one tiny sliver of the discourse we have gone on. These kinds of things happen everyday, and I don't think the staff that SE has allotted for the forums can keep up. It is plainly obvious. Please do something.

I have. The only reason these forums are nice in anyway is because of the arbitrary bans that get handed out.