Just and interesting, food for thought question here:
Is calling players out for low DPS considered harassment?
This is largely being posed following FFXIV’s latest “Live Letter” by that game’s lead developers, where they spent a decent chunk of time asking players to not use various “third party tools” for things like altering character models (… you can probably guess into what), semi-automating certain parts of gameplay (instantly moving markers), and circumventing gameplay mechanics (giving too much information like where certain AoEs are going to land).
But quite notably, they stated that they would not be adding an “official” parser (essentially a DPS meter); translation so far has been unofficial, but it has been described as creating “toxic” behaviour. This was also followed up by stating a game too focused on “efficiency” was their idea of a “fun” experience.
They also went as far as describing the act of calling out players for low DPS as being harassment. Again, this is relying on an unofficial translation at this point… but it is in line with their actions, notably that they don’t bring the hammer down for breaking the rules UNLESS someone starts calling people out for under-performing.
In any case, it’s important to note this is coming from the LEAD DEVELOPERS. Not some pundit from the internet or anyone else, but the people in charge of making the game, writing the rules, and in the end enforcing them. It’s also true that not everyone in the FFXIV community agrees with them, but at the same times the rules are the rules.
Interestingly, much of it comes across as a plea to follow the rules before they have to come down hard on enforcing them.
That all being said, WoW isn’t FFXIV.
Add-ons and DPS meters aren’t against the ToS here.
… but it still raises an interesting question, is the act of calling someone out for low DPS still considered harassment?
Looking at the way this community acts, often reaching for degrading comments (any variant of calling under-performing players “bad”), I find it hard to disagree. I’ve long been against DPS meters for the effects they’ve had on the community (even found myself slipping into some unsavory behaviours when I’ve tried them), so I could be a little biased here; nevertheless, their use is not against the rules here.
But are the actions and behaviours they end up encouraging against the rules?
Could these actions and behaviours be accurately described as “harassment”?
I can probably guess the WoW community’s answer at this point… but sometimes, just posing the question can make people stop and think a bit.
Who knows, despite my cynicism this could go either way. 