Exactly how harsh are the chat rules?

[Thorio]

Plenty of people talk in the sitcom known as the novice network.

[Shuuli]

I'm on aether, ada - spend lot of time in gridania cause limsa is a bit too much. There are times when people dont talk much, but most of the time there are lot of chit chatters. Perhaps you are just not on a server with many talkative people, or you don't play in the busy hours.

Rules are not that strict and if you want to make sure you are not breaking them, make your friends and then join an FC or linkshell which have their own chats.

In these chats you have a bit more freedom. As you only get punished if you are reported and hopefully you can trust your FC / linkshell members to be more open minded than just any random person on the global chats.

[Illmaeran]

Are the rules really this extreme where people are afraid to make the social game... well... social? and if so, what in particular is causing this?

No, the rules aren't extreme. I talk to random strangers every day I play and have had zero issues the entire time. Mind your manners, speak kindly and considerately to others, and you'll be just fine. A segment of the, mostly recently joined, population come from games where the community and staff have much less, if any, regard for what people say to each other. Coming here where the staff actually enforce language restrictions causes the issue to get blown out of proportion.

If people are too afraid to talk to others out of concern for getting reported for violating harassment terms, those folks need to reassess the language they use toward others.

[Alaray]

End of the day, you can chat to your heart's content. Just know that the GM's action based on the letter of the ToS and, a bit less so, the spirit of the ToS.

Most things that seem to get people in trouble is unsolicited advice (which usually has a little spat in the chat, which then someone's petty enough to report over it), or wording criticism too aggressively (idrc about aggressive criticism, though lots of people don't really realize it comes off a bit dickish sometimes, which is actually what's getting them reported for it).

But, the only things I ever report for is just... if I think there's cheating going on, or someone's intentionally griefing (ie. Standing afk in a ranked PvP game the entire time and messing with target markers), or if what someone said is just a general attack on a group of people/straight up using actual slurs in the chat (which, does happen -- rare, but I've seen my fair share of them over time).

But with how many topics Balmung Shout chat goes through, the NN, and some duties, there's a degree to which I do think the "if I say anything I'll be Banned" crowd overplays, but there's a bit of truth in "be a bit mindful/careful of what you say, since if you do technically break ToS and someone dislikes you enough to report it, you do have a higher chance of being actioned".

[StriderShinryu]

The rules are really not anywhere near the issue that some people make them out to be. I haven't noticed any difference at all in the usual hangout places with the amount of chat or the type/tone of chat. I also haven't really noticed any difference in dungeon runs or other group content. Some times you get groups that chat a lot but most times you don't. It always been that way as, for the most part, people are just there to do the content. They aren't there to hangout and see the sights.

As someone who does offer advice whenever I see someone noticeably struggling, I've never received any blow back. In fact, most of the time I've given advice it has actually been taken and acted upon.

It's never been about what you say. It's always been about how you say it. (And the devs themselves confirmed that the rules haven't changed beyond adding some examples).
If you're ever wondering to yourself "Huh, maybe I shouldn't say that" or "I bet if I say that I'm gonna get reported" then maybe just don't say it that way (or don't say it at all). Just be a mature, respectful adult and you shouldn't have any issues.

[Nav_Fae]

I wish Balmung Shout chat had more moderation than it does. That unfiltered cesspool is cringe to read 90% of the time.

[TaleraRistain]

Just don't be a jerk. And activity can depend on server/DC. Limsa and Sharlayan shout chat on Jenova is chatty af

[DixieBellOCE]

Calling somebody a child is enough to warrant a ban.

never, ever, EVER! direct anything towards anybody in the game or they will report you for it like the snowflakes they are.

Been banned twice for what i would consider normal language in Australia.

[Vav2021]

Calling somebody a child is enough to warrant a ban.

never, ever, EVER! direct anything towards anybody in the game or they will report you for it like the snowflakes they are.

Been banned twice for what i would consider normal language in Australia.

I'm upset to say that I've seen some folks in the thread that rather alarm me, because they seem to fit that criteria. I'll quote one of their message, but I won't put them in the spotlight, where they said

people were teabagging others in PvP or spam laugh I wouldn't concider that as harmless it's pretty insulting and infuriating in an already frustrating situation.

I am going to assume that they don't represent the majority of the community, but that someone would consider emotes "not harmless" because it causes frustration, and worthy of punishment is disturbing.

Edit 1: Specification to avoid blanket statement.
Edit 2: To make this message.

[Kes13a]

I'm upset to say that I've seen some folks in the thread that rather alarm me, because they seem to fit that criteria. I'll quote one of their message, but I won't put them in the spotlight, where they said

I am going to assume that they don't represent the majority of the community, but that someone would consider emotes "not harmless" because it causes frustration, and worthy of punishment is disturbing.

bottom line is, if you cannot refrain from insulting others, or affording another human being basic respect that everyone deserves... then say nothing.

its not rocket science. the community is what it is, quite a lot of different people all on the same server. you are going to get all types. if you have played online games before, then I am positive you are aware of this. but they do enforce some rules, so always best to at least attempt to follow them. this isnt the wild west.