Some may think this is arbitrary, unreasonable, unfair, or just plain weird. But when picking up pugs for M+, beyond io/key level completed, and comp needs, I use a really simple filter. I’ll say “hiya” in party chat and my 2-3 friends will also say their preferred greeting. After a resonable time, no response gets the boot. I’ve found this weeds out most of the toxic sweatlords before they get a chance to brick a key over nonsense. (I also steer clear of anything followed by Ragnaros and probably even give a side-eye to names with special characters but let’s not nitpick.) I just don’t get the complete lack of social etiquette in an mmorpg. Anyway, I’ve found friendly pugs to generally remain friendly in a run.
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To be fair, some people use special characters because a name they wanted was taken. Not everyone is the most creative at coming up with names. (I do this with my main toons as well so guild members also know me when playing other toons)
Being friendly is never hard, and spending 5 seconds to be nice before a key starts can reward you later. I have given PI to the tank in mid/low keys when the DPS are being toxic o.o,
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That’s awesome. Communication really is the name of the game when it comes to that organized activity.
Why not roll a magic 8-ball, it’s probably just as effective of a test. Maybe they immediately stepped up from their PC? Maybe they were distracted by looking at talents or something. Maybe they are trying to wolf down that burrito so they can play. Maybe they just don’t feel like responding. Maybe they weren’t looking at chat.
I just don’t think it’s at all a reliable indicator, that being said, I always respond because I just see it as a human etiquette thing. To truly know if this was effective you would need to have the counter factual as data, meaning you would have to keep the no responders to see if they are more likely to be toxic.
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I do the mog check. If they care enough to have a good transmog, they care enough to hit their buttons.
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I get that, especially when it’s obvious like one letter to get a more common name that’s already taken. I don’t not invite them, but I’m cautious, lol.
My litmus test is pretty simple:
Never invite players from a dead realm regardless of IO.
Oof, looks like I’m never getting an invite lol.
I always say a good mog adds 10% to output. Obviously made up, but I do say it, lol.
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If you ask me, communication is the most critical component of any group activity. Even if you wipe, something should be said. Clearly someone messed up or doesn’t know mechanics.
A simple, “Wtf mate” is better than dead silence or a leave. Though a “So what went wrong there” would be much preferred.
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That’s fair. I know it’s just my subjective observation, but after 3 xpacs, the unfriendly ones were usually the troublemaker/pooptalkers. Friendlies can be bad, but I’ll take friendly bad over toxic bad any day.
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When im invited I almost immediately “Hello, in route” 
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I usually say, “sup” when I first join…and a good number of times nobody responds back lol
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i always say hi so no issue there, however if you dont pick me bc of my special c or bc im on illy then thats def your loss. i do feel like thats what happens at times when i get insta declined. but hey its your key so nbd either way
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fair enough. some innocents will get caught in the filter because their attention is still on the extra monitors until the group is full but whatever.
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I don’t say anything because I don’t join groups due to my crushing performance anxiety, I tank exclusively for Brann, he only softly abuses me.
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Brann’s got your back and is always ready to go all out! Those dungeon followers though…won’t even release after they die. Love Brann, not so much those other guys.
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I always ask the luster if they will lust and if I don’t get an answer within 2 minutes, and they didn’t say they went bio, I’ll kick them.
Same thing if I am specifically asking a tank if he is doing any weird skips. Don’t answer questions that might impact the run? Not the time to remain silent.
Not answering simple questions and leaving it as a surprise often will lead to disaster.
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I ask the tank if they have a route or if they got something in mind with certain pulls when running +10
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ill reply hi hey or hello(if i even notice your chat) but im not gonna sit there and exchange weather details with you if thats what your being annoyed over then id say you and your group were just looking to be carried in the first place