Why Are the FFXIV Forums So Bad?

[Orinori]

You basically said the most probable reason people acted as they act is because they "lack healthy social life" or "are mentally ill". You also described them as "children starved for attention" and "Neckbeard". You basically insulted 80% of the forum users. It's kinda mean spirited, and you didn't even realise it. This is part of the reason, people don't even realise when they stop being civil. As I said, it's very weird it only happens on english forums, and japanese, french and german ones are decent.

Someone explained this to me earlier, and I apologize if I offended you. English is not my first language and I didn't think I was actually insulting anyone, just trying to joke around but this isn't the first time I've had misunderstandings like this, so apologies to you if I offended you in the post

[Reap00]

Just ask yourself why you post such a mean spirited topic and maybe you will find your answers.

They do have a good point. These forums are a cesspool. So much trash. So much negativity. I am sure SE ignores everything here. I certainly would.

[Carin-Eri]

They do have a good point. These forums are a cesspool. So much trash. So much negativity. I am sure SE ignores everything here. I certainly would.

I do wonder if it's some 'burn out' thing myself as I don't think they've always had a predominantly negative tone - or perhaps I just didn't notice it.

I mean, I joined early 2022 having started playing the game December 2021. One of the first things I did here was make a thread asking for advice, as was finding elements of the MSQ difficult and even came to question whether I should persist with the game. And I received a lot of friendly replies and good advice.

But it does seem that the 'tone' changed somewhat as more players-come-forumites completed 6.0, didn't enjoy it nor the post-Endwalker patches, and clearly found themselves reflecting on their dissatisfaction and discussing said dissatisfaction here.

Maybe things will lean toward some more positive-themed discussion when 7.0 launches - who knows?

[Jeeqbit]

don't think they've always had a predominantly negative tone - or perhaps I just didn't notice it.

You didn't notice it. I was posting here in Stormblood and it was like that then. Back then, I was defending Eureka against all the people who didn't like it (and now somehow people miss it after seeing the alternatives in Endwalker). Back then, people were wanting Heavensward job design back. Of course, then we got Shadowbringers, which simplified jobs even more and even the very announcement of it all invited criticism here.

So I was around here again at the end of Shadowbringers (2021) and same sort of thing which hasn't changed since.

However, I think many of the most negative posters probably actually quit or unsubscribed or stopped posting during Endwalker, so that might be why you didn't notice it. But it is still a fact that people are more likely to come to the forums when they have a complaint.

first things I did here was make a thread asking for advice, as was finding elements of the MSQ difficult and even came to question whether I should persist with the game. And I received a lot of friendly replies and good advice.

That's pretty normal, but especially in the New Player Forum.

Maybe things will lean toward some more positive-themed discussion when 7.0 launches - who knows?

There's no chance. People who have been here as long as I have will surely agree.

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

You didn't notice it. I was posting here in Stormblood and it was like that then. Back then, I was defending Eureka against all the people who didn't like it (and now somehow people miss it after seeing the alternatives in Endwalker). Back then, people were wanting Heavensward job design back. Of course, then we got Shadowbringers, which simplified jobs even more and even the very announcement of it all invited criticism here.

So I was around here again at the end of Shadowbringers (2021) and same sort of thing which hasn't changed since.

However, I think many of the most negative posters probably actually quit or unsubscribed or stopped posting during Endwalker, so that might be why you didn't notice it. But it is still a fact that people are more likely to come to the forums when they have a complaint.

That's pretty normal, but especially in the New Player Forum.

There's no chance. People who have been here as long as I have will surely agree.

It's been going on since 2013.



https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...al-Fantasy-XIV

[Kaurhz]

In-game is moderated a little more stricter, and for the most part the severity of loss is much higher.

If you're banned on forum, I don't think the ban extends to in-game. If you're banned on forums, then you're banned on forums alone. Whereas with in-game you have the potential to lose hundreds or thousands of cumulative effort.

If bans on forums extended to in-game bans, then a lot of what happens here would quieten down.

Plus, the purpose of a forum is to debate and discuss more than anything else, so you get a lot of conflicting personalities, and generally speaking people can take disagreements as an attack, regardless of what side. Compared to in-game where you're more just using it as a social outlet, so the interactions are more of a social manner.

[Orinori]

In-game is moderated a little more stricter, and for the most part the severity of loss is much higher.

If you're banned on forum, I don't think the ban extends to in-game. If you're banned on forums, then you're banned on forums alone. Whereas with in-game you have the potential to lose hundreds or thousands of cumulative effort.

If bans on forums extended to in-game bans, then a lot of what happens here would quieten down.

Plus, the purpose of a forum is to debate and discuss more than anything else, so you get a lot of conflicting personalities, and generally speaking people can take disagreements as an attack, regardless of what side. Compared to in-game where you're more just using it as a social outlet, so the interactions are more of a social manner.

Thats a good point, though I wasn't aware just how poorly the forums were moderated, I was kinda just making a joke over how ratchet it gets in here. I also assumed your square account was just your square account and if you got banned that was it for that account, so that actually makes a lot more sense, theres not really any consequences so people just treat it like twitter lol

[Kes13a]

Thats a good point, though I wasn't aware just how poorly the forums were moderated, I was kinda just making a joke over how ratchet it gets in here. I also assumed your square account was just your square account and if you got banned that was it for that account, so that actually makes a lot more sense, theres not really any consequences so people just treat it like twitter lol

poor moderation is one thing

the moderation here is virtually non existant.

it was not always this bad, it was not the flaming dumpster of a trainwreck it is today. in recent years it has deteriorated, and some of the forum users take full advantage of that. there is the rare occasion when they wake the moderator up, more to justify whatever pay they give them as opposed to any real sense of moderation. kind of like the way the Special Task Force deals with in game bots....

[Myrany]

In-game is moderated a little more stricter, and for the most part the severity of loss is much higher.

If you're banned on forum, I don't think the ban extends to in-game. If you're banned on forums, then you're banned on forums alone. Whereas with in-game you have the potential to lose hundreds or thousands of cumulative effort.

If bans on forums extended to in-game bans, then a lot of what happens here would quieten down.

Plus, the purpose of a forum is to debate and discuss more than anything else, so you get a lot of conflicting personalities, and generally speaking people can take disagreements as an attack, regardless of what side. Compared to in-game where you're more just using it as a social outlet, so the interactions are more of a social manner.

Actually forum bans can at severe enough levels cost you your in game account. I have read enough SE emails about forum bans that have been posted elsewhere on the net to know the company specifically warns you that that is possible. That said I haven't seen it actually happen in a VERY long time.

Mostly the forums are not moderated unless someone files a report on someone else and even then it is minimal. So nasty behavior is free to continue. Sad state of affairs but it is what it is.

[Supersnow845]

I mean if the forums were moderated as heavily as in game you basically wouldn’t be able to actually have a discussion because you can barely present a dissenting view in game without risking someone reporting you (and no this isn’t a case of “you are just rude but don’t want to admit it”)

You notice the moderation though, people rarely insult each other, at most you get some heated arguments but nothing ban worthy, if anything the forums are a more accurate representation of the actual community opinion on things without the ever present threat of the ban hammer in the main game