Why so much in-game racism?

[KairiElise]

I'm fine with pretty much every race in this game. If anything because I think they're cool in their own way, and even the ones I think are less cool have people who clearly enjoy them.

I know I joked about Hyurs before, but that was me trolling, and that happened because I was just tired of stupid racist comments primarily from Midlander players. Otherwise I really couldn't care less, I've certainly met more Midlander players who were kind and willing to help than otherwise. And the Highlander experience is... yes pls <3

Now, what I don't understand is the community's insistence on sweeping experiences under the rug.

I had attachment to my Roegadyn, and I didn't like it that it was the race used for people trolling and memeing. The attention I got from that was pretty off-putting, and I did get comments once that riled me up. But it didn't make me change races. The comments I've gotten on Hrothgar, though? They definitely have. And I feel far more attachment to Hrothgar than anything else. Yet woe betide me if I point out that there's A LOT of really harsh crap told toward Hrothgar than almost any other race. Because then I'm pretending to be a victim or something. I'm not pretending. That trash does happen. I still remember that stupid thread where some broad came in and compared me being called a Zoophile and being told that the reason SE doesn't do work on Hrothgar is bc they think cats should be skinned alive to Miqo'te and Au Ra being called "same-y". Those two "insults" do not compare in terms of intensity. The only other race my personal experience shows garners just as much potential for stuff like this is Femroe.

There were comments before, I won't deny that. But they were rare, and it felt like the community was a bit more uniform in its acceptance of others before. Even if people didn't like a race, they weren't this terrible. But it feels like the community took a nosedive in Shadowbringers, because that's when I started seeing behaviours escalate. I might be biased because that's been my experience, but... still.

The community should do better and act as it preaches. Because if it's going to keep advertising itself as inclusive and welcoming, it definitely should be more vocal against this sort of behaviour. Rather than telling people that it doesn't exist and they're exaggerating.

You’re on point with this. Sadly, some people in this community seem to be okay with the hate behavior as long as it’s not happening to them personally.There are some that will gaslight what happened and justify it even. And the last will stay silent cause there are not enough people to stand up with them. I saw that post not too long ago about Lalafell players being targeted on Sargatanas in Limsa by a multi boxer just because they didn’t like them. To spend that much time worrying or even excessively caring what someone else plays baffles me.

[Jojoya]

You’re on point with this. Sadly, some people in this community seem to be okay with the hate behavior as long as it’s not happening to them personally.There are some that will gaslight what happened and justify it even. And the last will stay silent cause there are not enough people to stand up with them. I saw that post not too long ago about Lalafell players being targeted on Sargatanas in Limsa by a multi boxer just because they didn’t like them. To spend that much time worrying or even excessively caring what someone else plays baffles me.

Why act like this is a game-specific problem when real life society has the same problems? If someone is racist in real life, they're going to carry that over into their game play.

I don't like lalafells.

That's okay. I don't like Au Ra.

But I'm still going to treat you fairly because I assume there's a decent human being at the keyboard/controller behind that Au Ra (or at least until something happens that proves otherwise).

[Midareyukki]

Why act like this is a game-specific problem when real life society has the same problems? If someone is racist in real life, they're going to carry that over into their game play.

Maybe because real life is a complete clusterfug with little moderation on issues like these, whereas this is a community with standards and ethics? Especially in-game where there IS such an ethical conduct to follow.

:I Like, I said, back in the day, you wouldn't find such crass comments and mindsets being so easily vocalized because the community would not tolerate them at all. Now the community sweeps them under the rug.