Privacy from third party sites

[Astronis]

Can't shake the feeling a lotta folks genuinely aren't as good as they think they are at a trivial timewaster (a game) and get real bent out of shape when people who are don't want to associate with 'em. Hurt pride is a helluva drug.

Maybe, though when I found out the place even existed a couple months ago, from logs random other players had put up with me in it, it confirmed what I already knew about my play (which was a bit above average, could be better for sure for various reasons). I just don't like having my e-peen waving in the wind for the Twelve and everyone to see, and really did not appreciate the hoops I had to go through to make that site stop displaying it. Because OF COURSE that site has a vested interest in hiding how players can opt-out themselves without making an account.

[ZephyrMenodora]

For those saying people care too much about their data - Why do you care so much if people want to opt out of this? Especially when they didn't consent to being logged, and logs violate the TOS.

If they apply to your static, then and only then might you care to ask for more info.

[Ramiee]

Yeah I've edited the post to make it clear this isn't an attack on parsers who use them to set up speedrunning groups, week one clearers or parsing groups. At the end of the day there are deep dungeon leaderboards, this is just a third party leaderboard people will use to try and do the best they can possibly do which is fair enough. Attacking people who are explicitly using logs to set up groups made with the context of logging in mind is not what im intending. Its the right for people who don't wish to be a part of this circle to opt-out.
I think thats a valid way to play for people if they want to play like that, I do think having a rank in a leaderboard you're not actively uploading to is the problem.


Also tried to add more to help make it clearer where you're meant to type on your profile.

[LilimoLimomo]

Now that I think about it, I'm actually surprised that these sites haven't yet run afoul of regulations like GDPR. After all, they are collecting, storing, and publishing people's data without their consent.

Though maybe it's just because they're so small-time that nobody has cared to raise the issue.

[Keldion]

Y'all are way too afraid of a number on a website. All parses do is show how well you are hitting buttons (The right buttons, at yhe right time, in the right order, without gaps).

Can't shake the feeling a lotta folks genuinely aren't as good as they think they are at a trivial timewaster (a game) and get real bent out of shape when people who are don't want to associate with 'em. Hurt pride is a helluva drug.

Also to the lass calling all raiders rude/toxic/etc... Sorry but I disagree. Near every serious raider I've met has been pleasant and understanding. You have to be, because if you start friction in content that takes 40+ hour to clear with the same group (pool, in the case of PF) you will quickly finds yourself booted from groups, blacklisted, or removed from raids.

Anyway, see some of you in Arcadion!

This is an awkward attempt at defending parsing. I wouldn't try to shame someone into accepting that numerical parses are The Way™ to evaluate performance, as opposed to merely one way.

Hurt pride or not, any kind of parsing or logging in the public space should be 100% voluntary from all participants as a courtesy. If someone is represented and they didn't consent to being parsed, don't publish it to the wider Internet. I've already spoken against players being shunned over third-party websites as opposed to observable game performance.

However, I value freedom of association in both directions. If someone isn't a good fit for a static or PF, then they shouldn't be permitted to hold the others hostage.

Fact is, anyone using third party tools to "optimize their DPS" is by definition, cheating.

An uncomfortable truth, technically correct.

I hold the following opinion on this context of cheating - if I act like a turd and raise a stink by flagrantly displaying parses or 3rd party tools, and/or disrupting the experience of others, I deserve to be flushed.

[DPZ2]

Running a parsing program is technically against ToS, but having or checking a parse made by another is not in any way problematic.

Until someone tries to use those parses as a means of denigrating another player as part of an argument in, for example, these forums.

Then, public access to parses that require an opt-out becomes problematic.

Easy fix: fflogs anonymizes players without an account on their platform.

[Somnolence]

Running a parsing program is technically against ToS, but having or checking a parse made by another is not in any way problematic.

It is possible to copy paste the output of battle log to another program, which would be 100% legal.

As for all the log hiding stuff, I have not seen a single static that does not ask for logs when recruiting. Even more casual ones ask for them, not for nice number but to see what you cleared, when and if you are using your buttons in somewhat sensible manner. Only those that are ultra casual and accept people new to raiding don't.

For better or worse its just the way it is so if you are hiding logs you will have to PF as statics will assume you are bad and ignore you since there usually other candidates to choose from. Its exactly the same how companies don't even invite for interview if your CV is lacking.

[Its_Kazzy_D]

I don't know why people keep bringing up "well if you want to join a static it looks bad to hide logs". Most people will unhide them if they're looking to join a static? It's such a nonsense argument made for the sake of arguing.

[Dzian]

Not really

If i see someone hiding parses, I will immediately assume that they are very bad

That just shows how much of an idiot you are. The problem with those sites is they don't really tell you all that much.

You cannot for example look at a parse on fflogs and be like ok that players dragoon is i1000 and has an i950 weapon. And gear is a major component in damage, especially with the games power creep..

So while you may look at a parse see a player is green and conclude that players terrible. Maybe they're not. Maybe they're playing the job properly but don't really chase the treadmill to much. It's tedious af having to rebuild every job every patch..

It doesn't take much to drop you from lets say the 90th percentile right down to the 60s or 50s. Sometimes just 10-20 i-levels. And if your around 50% your basically "average"

Better gear alone can take a player from green to purple in some cases but players just see green and automatically conclude bad player.

This is also why many players pad the level requirements on PF groups so much because gear goes a very long way to cover for a bad player.

I do very much agree with the op that these things should be opt in. Not opt out. And any player dated from players not opted in should be anonymized. And show as "unknown dragoon" or something.

[Sotaris]

If someone wants to parse my shitty gameplay I couldn't care less. It's kinda cringe to parse anything that isn't savage/ultimate anyway.