This game used to have a fun playerbase. What happened?

[lotlizard]

The game never had a good community because even in ARR you see the same toxicity you see now.
But arguably it's gotten worse over the years. Borderline impossible for people to get into hard content with how absolutely terrible the community is.

Pardon me, but are you a "scab" healer (a healer who will continue to heal in lieu of the current healer strike), or a healer who will heal my scabs? Just asking for a friend here

[DrForester]

Game still has a fun playerbase.

Thing is, they're playing the game rather than flinging their fleeces around the forums.

[Turnintino]

Try focusing less on what you don't like and finding what you do. The community's bigger now than it was; snobbish raiders and Lominsan loiterers are just two drops in the bucket. The friends I've made since I started playing seriously only a couple years ago, and the folks in my FC, are very much like the community you described. It's not hard to find.

[HisuianMiqote]

most of my interactions in-game have been good, either you're deliberately seeking out rude people/communities or you're spending too much time on social media which is intentionally divisive, made to farm rage clicks, and sow petty discourse

[Wildheaven182]

Huh, FF fans really dont have a sense of humor beyond omg urianger talks fancy xDDDDDDDDDD