front porch flimflam
Flimflam /ˈflɪm.flæm/: n. Talk that intends to deceive ... v. To swindle or dupe
The emails
The following is a full compilation of all communication that has taken place between me and Front Porch Forum, and my wife and Front Porch Forum, between Oct. 26, 2022, when I was first prohibited from submitting a post, through Nov. 2 when FPF terminated the accounts of both my wife and I, and until the present day.
Name: Kristian Connolly
Email: [redacted]
Subject: Monthly posting limit?
Received: 10/26/22
Comments: I logged in to respond to multiple instances this evening of public criticism of a post I submitted this morning, as well as direct criticism of me. My account appears to be prohibited from posting anything further due to a "monthly limit"? I have explored the help center and searched for anything related to this "monthly limit," and there is nothing. This page is not relevant: https://help.frontporchforum.com/how-often-can-i-post. I would like to know what's going on, and I would like to be able to address these posts now. Thanks, Kristian
From: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 2:00 PM
Subject: your message to Front Porch Forum
To: Kristian Connolly
Thanks for your note, Kristian. In response, the member posting limit is tied into our software and has to do with activity level, posting length, topic variability, civility, etc. Your posting limit will reset on Nov. 1 and you should be able to respond at that time.
Member Support
FrontPorchForum.com
Essential civic infrastructure in Vermont
Need help? Check the Help Center.
From: Kristian Connolly
Date: Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 2:49 PM
Subject: Re: your message to Front Porch Forum
To: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
So just to be clear, I can join a discussion that another member started, have my contribution, and myself, publicly criticized by multiple other members (five in this case), and I cannot respond and continue the conversation on a platform that exists largely to foster open community discussion -- because of some software and FPF's inability to manage its own software?
Do I understand you correctly? Putting aside for a moment that you limit, at all, peoples' ability to communicate on a platform that bills itself as the place for communities to communicate, you're saying that the technology overrides the humans at FPF?
Kristian
From: Kristian Connolly
Date: Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: your message to Front Porch Forum
To: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
Also, you're saying that software determines the nature of the "activity level, posting length, topic variability, civility, etc. and decides when to cut a member off for the month?
From: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 4:32 PM
Subject: Re: your message to Front Porch Forum
To: Kristian Connolly
Hi Kristian. Over the course of our 22 years of experience moderating online conversations among Vermont neighbors, we've found that certain boundaries support healthy online, and offline, communities. We'll need to leave the exchange here as we attend to our ongoing work.
From: Kristian Connolly
Date: Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 5:07 PM
Subject: Re: your message to Front Porch Forum
To: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
You're allowing blatant and injurious misrepresentations of me and my opinions to live for free without allowing me the chance to address them in a discussion that began with someone else and in which multiple members of this community have participated.
How is this possible if FPF is what it says it is?
Kristian
From: Kristian Connolly
Date: Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 5:11 PM
Subject: Fwd: your message to Front Porch Forum
To: Michael Wood-Lewis <michael@frontporchforum.com>
Cc: Chloe Tomlinson <chloe@frontporchforum.com>
Michael, is this really what you created?
Chloe, is this really how you think it should be managed? I have not violated any written rules, policies, or terms of use. You're censoring me simply because you want to, and you can.
Kristian
From: Kristian Connolly
Date: Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 7:23 PM
Subject: Re: your message to Front Porch Forum
To: <michael@frontporchforum.com>
Cc: Chloe Tomlinson <chloe@frontporchforum.com>
Hi,
I would like you to see the kinds of things I have received privately from someone who also posted on the forum to publicly disagree with me. This is the kind of gross mischaracterization and harmful assertion that FPF is allowing others to make about me that I cannot refute in a timely manner.
This person had also responded privately initially (aggressively, but much less so), and I sent him a note in return (as I do with anyone who takes the time to reply to something I've written on FPF.)
As with my posts, in my notes I am always civil, and express thanks for their engagement, whether they agree with me or not.
But this is how that sometimes gets returned. I'll also be sending this to your membership team.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: [redacted]
Date: Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 6:50 PM
Subject: Re: The New Access Trail at Hubbard Park
To: Kristian Connolly
TL:DR
Boo fucking hoo. Your post was ableist bullshit. Do not contact me again.
PS I really hope you face a serious disability some day so you can see what it's like to have able bodied people speak for you.
****[My note: I did send that exact same note to the membership support email address, too]***
On Saturday, Oct. 29, at around 5:30 p.m., my wife submitted a post:
You've all raised points that should be addressed. Unfortunately, FPF is not allowing Kristian to address them, blocking his ability to submit a response (he can't even reach the "compose posting" page) to discuss what's been said in this conversation among members of our community.
This was done without advance notice, is not based on anything concrete, and is not because of any violation of FPF's published rules, policies, or terms of use.
24 hours later, she emailed:
From: Deborah Connolly
Date: Sun, Oct 30, 2022 at 5:40 PM
Subject: posting question
To: <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
Hello,
I submitted a post last evening at around 5:30 p.m., and two issues of my (Montpelier) forum have gone out today (Sunday 10/30 at 1:30 and 4:30) without my post included. It has been uneditable for nearly 12 hours. Is there a reason it has not been posted?
Thank you,
Deborah Connolly
28 hours after that:
From: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
Date: Mon, Oct 31, 2022 at 9:12 PM
Subject: Re: posting question
To: Deborah Connolly
Hi Deborah. Thanks for reaching out. FPF declined to publish your posting, copied below, because it contains incorrect information about FPF. As was explained to Kristian, he hit his monthly posting limit. All FPF member accounts have posting limits, based on profile type and a variety of other factors. We established posting limits years ago as a way to create a balance in each forum that helps us achieve our mission of connecting neighbors and building community. For example, business profiles have a significantly lower posting limit than neighbor profiles, as we prioritize content from neighbors. The posting limit is built into our system, and we notify members of hitting said limit via the compose posting page.
Member Support
FrontPorchForum.com
Essential civic infrastructure in Vermont
Need help? Check the Help Center.
She followed up with FPF, and also submitted a different post:
From: Deborah Connolly
Date: Tue, Nov 1, 2022 at 7:45 AM
Subject: Re: posting question
To: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
Hi Member Support,
I am having trouble understanding. Can you please point me to the part of my post that was inaccurate? Surely it's not the semantics of what it means to reach the "compose posting" page.
Also, please point me to where it is in FPF's published rules, policies, or terms of use that the "monthly posting limit" is explained to users.
Also, please tell me what my personal monthly posting limit is, as it sounds like you're saying each neighbor profile has a different limit based on "a variety of other factors" and I would like to know mine.
Also, please tell me why FPF had my 73-word post for roughly 36 hours (the time it was no longer editable) and two days of published issues before I was told that mine would not be published and the reason(s) why.
Thank you,
Deborah
The FPF post:
Question about your FPF experience
Asking for a friend: Has anyone ever had any experience with the below? Thanks in advance!
"The member [monthly] posting limit is tied into our software and has to do with activity level, posting length, topic variability, civility, etc. Your posting limit will reset … and you should be able to respond at that time."
"... monthly posting limit. All FPF member accounts have posting limits, based on profile type and a variety of other factors. We established posting limits years ago as a way to create a balance in each forum that helps us achieve our mission of connecting neighbors and building community. For example, business profiles have a significantly lower posting limit than neighbor profiles, as we prioritize content from neighbors. The posting limit is built into our system, and we notify members of hitting said limit via the compose posting page."
On Nov. 1, after being allowed to submit again, I did so. About 12 hours later, that post had been deleted, so I contacted FPF:
From: Kristian Connolly
Date: Tue, Nov 1, 2022 at 4:52 PM
Subject: Submissions not posted, now deleted?
To: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
Hi,
I would like to know why what I submitted today, Nov. 1, has not been published, and has now been deleted entirely from my account submissions page.
Kristian
Having heard nothing by the next morning, I re-submitted my post, this time just the first part. It was not published all day, and at approximately 4:35 p.m., I was on my laptop in FPF when my page refreshed and I was suddenly no longer logged in. Upon attempting to log back in, I received this message:
You are attempting to log into a deactivated FPF account. Please email FPF Member Support for help at membersupport@frontporchforum.com and include your first and last name and street address.
I emailed to inquire:
From: Kristian Connolly
Date: Wed, Nov 2, 2022 at 5:00 PM
Subject: My account
To: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
Hi,
My account has been deactivated. Please explain why.
Also, I still have an email out to you from yesterday asking about why my posts were not accepted. Please include an explanation for that in the same email.
Kristian
On Nov. 3, in the afternoon and nearly 24 hours since my account was deactivated and I contacted them, FPF sent the following:
From: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
Date: Thu, Nov 3, 2022 at 3:23 PM
Subject: Your Front Porch Forum Accounts
To: Kristian Connolly, Deborah Connolly
Hello Kristian and Deborah. Your Front Porch Forum accounts have been closed for repeated violations of the following sections of our Terms of Use:
7. CONDUCT
You agree not to:
aa) badger or otherwise aggressively, repeatedly and/or abusively contact Front Porch Forum staff or other representatives (constructive criticism and reasonable feedback are always appreciated);
bb) use Front Porch Forum in a way counter to its community-building mission. Misuse includes, but is not limited to, public shaming, leveling accusations or insults, making personal attacks or otherwise antagonizing neighbors, repetition, dominating the discussion, making inflammatory or divisive statements, or otherwise driving away other members.
Member Support
FrontPorchForum.com
Essential civic infrastructure in Vermont
Need help? Check the Help Center.
To which I replied:
From: Kristian Connolly
Date: Thu, Nov 3, 2022 at 5:01 PM
Subject: Re: Your Front Porch Forum Accounts
To: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
Hello,
Please provide examples. And explain how I've repeatedly done any of these things yet you've not contacted me about any of them, at all, until after you've closed my account.
The only time I've contacted FPF staff is either after a post's publication seemed like it had been delayed, or when something changed in my access to FPF without prior notice and adequate explanation (first the "monthly posting limit," and then the deactivation), or to report when a member attacked me personally (which is definitely a violation of FPF's rules -- but FPF never even acknowledged that report).
If FPF staff doesn't explain its decisions or policies in advance, but especially without contacting the member before or after, how am I supposed to get information about FPF's decisions without reaching out? Which, by the way, is what your website tells people to do if they have questions about their posts, their account, if their account has been deactivated, etc.
Everything I've submitted to be published by FPF has been published by FPF. There is nothing in them that is a violation of 7(bb). If there had been, you would have deactivated my account sooner than yesterday, since I haven't been able to post anything since Oct. 26, when you activated the "monthly posting limit" and later told me I'd be able to post on Nov. 1. Which I did (and FPF deleted), then did unsuccessfully again on Nov. 2 before FPF deactivated my account with no communication at all until nearly 24 hours had passed.
I would like to point out a few things:
In a news interview earlier this year, Mr. Wood-Lewis said FPF sees "ourselves as a starting point and a catalyst for community conversations." I've rarely started a community conversation, using my posts to join in on conversations started by others. But in all cases, even when I have started one, it's been published. Where is the violation?
I noticed you left out the link to the "Keeping it Civil" page when you cited 7(bb). This page is where FPF states that users should "feel free to use it to introduce and catalyze harder conversations. But when doing so, please have a thick skin and treat your neighbors with respect." I have not violated this policy, and FPF continued to publish my additions to conversations, and my conversation starters.
In the same news interview from 2022, Mr. Wood-Lewis said: "When a posting doesn’t comply with our Terms of Use, we typically will bounce it back to the user and explain why." This has not ever been true, in my experience with a post not complying. Which was only one post, and the remedy (after I reached out to FPF first) was simply to change any "you" references to a more generic "we" when I addressed someone asking for advice. Which I did, and the post was published.
In that same interview, Mr. Wood-Lewis said: "As long as people keep it relatively civil and neighborly and don’t stray into personal attacks, racists rants, or spread disinformation that endangers public health or local democracies, it’s historically been anything goes." My postings have done none of those things.
Also, frankly I am shocked that you communicated with two members in this one email, and didn't give each person the respect of communicating with them separately about your termination of their account. There had been no prior communication to FPF that was sent to, or from, both members together.
Kristian
Later, my wife also replied:
From: Deborah Connolly
Date: Thu, Nov 3, 2022 at 6:39 PM
Subject: Re: Your Front Porch Forum Accounts
To: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
To Member Support,
Please tell me how I have done any of this. My entire history of communication with FPF consists of just two short emails asking questions, with one reply from FPF in between and no further explanation or answers to my questions. The two posts I submitted the past few days were not published, without detailed explanation from FPF.
I am completely at a loss in understanding how this can be equated to repeated violations. I merely asked a question, that seemed fair given that in all the years I've used FPF, I've never had a post submission not be published - nor had a post disappear from my account without explanation. I was reaching out because I was confused as to why that would have occurred. Now I'm even more confused, and upset by these charges and the closure of my account.
Deborah
On Nov. 4, I followed up with a message:
From: Kristian Connolly
Date: Fri, Nov 4, 2022 at 6:01 PM
Subject: Re: Your Front Porch Forum Accounts
To: Front Porch Forum <membersupport@frontporchforum.com>
Hello,
Yesterday on its blog, FPF posted this member's words about the great value in sharing differing opinions on FPF, and said, "We love her perspective on this."
When you answer my previous email, I am hoping you could explain this perspective, and FPF's support of it, as it relates to what's happened with me.
The value of FPF is that it makes it possible to find common ground and discover you like or respect people despite the fact that you may wildly disagree on issues.
That’s missing in so many parts of our lives. Let’s not strip it out of FPF, too.
...
Knowing that we have such wildly divergent views on things is important because it’s part of what makes the connection so valuable and ultimately, gives me hope.
We can only control our own conduct. If I don’t jibe with a particular person in the community or with certain views and it bothers me to see some posts? The answer isn’t to tell people to be quiet. The answer is for me to decide I don’t want to listen. But I do listen and I know from personal experience that my world is richer as a result.
I hope everyone will feel free to keep posting and keep all of these conversations going. I agree there’s no room here for hateful political or personal attacks, but just because a view is expressed that one doesn’t agree with doesn’t make it hateful.
As of the publication of what you're now reading, that's the entire communication thread and history of events from Oct. 26 until today.