Development of WoW's Communities: Thoughts

This discussion is meant to gather player opinions regarding the development of World of Warcraft's community over the past 6 or so years. I myself started playing right before the launch of BC and therefore I have limited perspective. I am hoping other older players (and perhaps some moderators) will be willing to join in and offer their 2 cents.

I'm just going to come right out and say it: WoW is about communities; not meta-gaming, not efficient content clearing, not title-touting pvp masters. Communities. People interacting together, enjoying each other's company, learning and growing together as people and as players, celebrating each others' triumphs, supporting each other in hardship, and laughing our heads off; together.

Lately, I have been noticing a lot of frustration in the community (at least more than usual) both in game and on the forums. I have never seen so much class warfare and general obsession with meta-game mechanics. I believe there is something deeper going on here.

I would like to specifically discuss two events that I believe have been key in setting the tone for the new age of WoW: 1) the introduction of the cross server Looking for Group/Dungeon tool, and 2) the changing of forum focus (especially realm forums) to gameplay only discussions (which, by the way, this thread is). I discern one reality from these two events: we as players are expected to care more about clearing our content efficiently than about making lifelong friendships and growing a thriving server.

I believe (though of course I can't prove) that these shifts in focus, particularly over the last year, have led to a more restless, dissatisfied, and disconnected playerbase. People don't get angry and quit WoW because its too hard or too easy. People get angry and quit because they don't have a sense of belonging which then leads them to throw a microscope to game mechanics and nit-pick about things that will never be perfect (nor ever should be).

WoW has always been more like a summer softball league than a place of employment. The focus had always been on having fun together, performing tasks that may or may not have been that entertaining or innovative in the first place but having a ball regardless. Until recently. Now the focus has shifted to quickly and efficiently completing tasks.

For the sake of our game, I hope this is a phase that we snap out of. And soon.

NOTE: PLEASE keep this discussion constructive and focused on World of Warcraft; I don't want it to get locked or deleted.