So many games now do not even have any way to effectively communicate, which I find even worse. I found so many good friends while gaming, all impossible in those games where you end up with random people game after game with no communication.

Cataclysm destroyed Barrens. Maybe WoW Classic has the old Barrens chat though.

Started playing again with a duo partner and was a bit shocked at the toxicity in Trade chat. I've been playing the game less and less over the years, and I guess I was used to it at one point. I suppose I also just have less tolerance for bullshit than I used to.

I don't know how it is now, but Classic was even worse at launch. Blizzard underestimated player demand for the product from the start, so a company that had already slashed their GM staff to the bone wasn't ready for it (and players in public chat channels were aware and took full advantage).

Chat is non-existent in World of Warcraft anymore. You can get banned or muted for basically anything now because people have a right click report button and often abuse it for no reason. I was completely banned from the game for an entire week for this exact same username that I have here, someone reported me and said my name was inappropriate. I've had it for 15 years, and was randomly deemed to be not allowed anymore, so banned. Also had guild members that I was very close with through discord banned for a week for simply making a joke or saying the word fuck.

what started that meme in wow?

You will never hear of Chuck Norris’ exploits while hoofing it across the entire Barrens to finish one fetch quest again.

Despite all that, there was the Warlock who Ninja'd the Sword dropping in Naxx on the final day. Fun times. Now that we're slowly approaching Classic MoP we'll finally see if the masterplan worked out too.

Coincidentally, loot drama that wouldn't have been possible in retail WoW is exactly why I stopped playing Classic a few months after launch.