Dumb question

[Aulayna]

But which chat channel is the "general/area" one that can be read by anyone in the same area?

[Ouch!]

/say and /shout are both open chat channels, the latter having a greater range than the former.

[Loony BoB]

/p = just your party
/l = just your linkshell
/say = people you're standing next to
/yell = wider area than say
/shout = entire map, I think?

I may have yell and shout confused, as I've never really tested them out.

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

Shout is the entire area. Yell just a wider area than Say.

[Mirage]

Are you sure? I think SE considers yell stronger than shout. At least they did in FFXI. Shout is a range that is roughly 25-50% of the map you're on, depending on how large the map is. Yell is entire map, plus linked maps. Again, in FFXI. I think it would be reasonable to assume that they follow the same order in XIV.

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

Nope, they clarify it in the instruction that it shout for the whole area/map.

[Mirage]

Ok.