Racial selection in a roleplaying game ultimately boils down to aesthetic choice, rather it's the appearance, lore or a mixture of both. If the game allows for a race/class pairing, you can guarantee someone out there is going to roll with it because the option exists. It should exist. That's a huge draw to RPGs, that ability to create just about anything you want within a game's setting.
Roleplaying itself? It's a form of escapism. Deny it all you want, but it's the truth. We live in a world where racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc. somehow still manages to thrive. That people want to distance themselves from that, especially in a game that quite frankly shatters stereotypes left and right (see: minorities in power throughout the entirety of Eorzea) shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, much less roleplayers of all people.
Then there's how exceptions exist, both in-game or otherwise. Sounsyy earlier pointed out just how diverse Ala Mhigan heritage actually was despite the Highlander Hyur stereotype. While a Miqo'te in Ishgard might be uncommon, it is just that: uncommon and set for a struggle. No society as a modern as the ones pictured in this game is that racially exclusive. It's not believable, fantasy world or no.
The moment our community realizes all of the above is the day we can move on from this petty, hurtful and unnecessary glorified flame-baiting.
Roleplaying itself? It's a form of escapism. Deny it all you want, but it's the truth. We live in a world where racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc. somehow still manages to thrive. That people want to distance themselves from that, especially in a game that quite frankly shatters stereotypes left and right (see: minorities in power throughout the entirety of Eorzea) shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, much less roleplayers of all people.
Then there's how exceptions exist, both in-game or otherwise. Sounsyy earlier pointed out just how diverse Ala Mhigan heritage actually was despite the Highlander Hyur stereotype. While a Miqo'te in Ishgard might be uncommon, it is just that: uncommon and set for a struggle. No society as a modern as the ones pictured in this game is that racially exclusive. It's not believable, fantasy world or no.
The moment our community realizes all of the above is the day we can move on from this petty, hurtful and unnecessary glorified flame-baiting.
