FAQs and Support
Wildfire CityPages Discussions FAQ
Wildfire CityPages aims to build the most trusted discussion system in the St. Louis metro area, covering both Illinois and Missouri. Our goal is to create a space where local residents can connect, share ideas, and discuss community topics in an open, authentic, and accountable way.
How does user verification work?
Every member must verify their account through our mailed authentication system. When you sign up or request to join discussions, we send a unique verification code to your physical mailing address on file. You enter that code to complete registration. This simple step confirms you’re a real person living in one of our covered communities and helps maintain trust and accountability.
Everyone has a voice.
We believe every verified resident deserves to be heard. Whether you’re sharing local news, asking for recommendations, or weighing in on community issues, your perspective matters. Our system is designed to feel like sitting down for a face-to-face conversation—open, direct, and respectful.
It’s like a Town Hall meeting.
In our discussions, everyone knows who is speaking because accounts are tied to real, verified people. Just like at a real town hall, you’re free to speak your mind, but you must stand by your words. There’s no hiding behind anonymous usernames. Your contributions are connected to you, encouraging thoughtful and responsible dialogue.
Why don’t we show profile pictures, headshots, avatars, or icons next to posts?
We intentionally keep discussions name-only, without any profile images or icons.
Here’s why:
- It puts the focus on what you say, not how you look. Conversations stay about ideas, questions, and community topics rather than appearances.
- It protects privacy—some people prefer not to share a recognizable photo on a public local forum.
- It reinforces accountability through your real first and last name (visible to logged-in members) while keeping things simple and uncluttered.
- A clean, text-based display feels more like a serious town hall discussion and less like a social media feed.
Your verified name and community location already make the conversation feel personal and trustworthy. Adding photos isn’t needed and could distract from the real goal: open, thoughtful dialogue among neighbors.
How do we handle names for non-logged-in visitors?
To protect privacy and encourage thoughtful posting, we hide real names from anyone who isn't logged in.
If you're not signed in and viewing discussions:
- The original poster and all repliers will appear as "Local Resident" (or "[City], [State] Resident" if the post is tied to a specific community).
- No first or last names are shown.
Once you log in (and are verified), you'll see the actual first and last names of posters—making conversations feel more personal and accountable, just like talking to neighbors in real life.
This simple rule helps keep things friendly: people post knowing their words are tied to their name within the community, but casual visitors can't browse personal details.
We don’t want to babysit.
Your words are your words. We trust our community to engage respectfully and constructively. That said, we do reserve the right to step in when necessary. Moderators may remove or edit content that includes:
- Inappropriate or explicit images
- Vulgar, obscene, or hateful language
- Personal attacks, harassment, or threats
- Spam, advertising, or off-topic commercial posts
- Illegal content or calls to violence
- Doxxing or sharing private personal information without consent
How can businesses share specials, press releases, articles, or other updates?
Business owners have a dedicated, separate section of Wildfire CityPages (outside the main discussion board) where they can post:
- Daily/weekly specials
- Press releases and announcements
- Articles, blog-style updates, or event details
- Job openings, menu changes, or other business news
This keeps the discussion board focused on genuine neighbor-to-neighbor conversation while still giving verified local businesses a clear, appropriate place to share information with the community.
In the discussions themselves, business owners are welcome to participate as regular community members—just like any resident. They can answer questions, offer helpful advice, or join conversations naturally, but direct advertising is not allowed there. Questions in your field can be answered.
This separation helps everyone: - Residents get a clean, spam-free space for open dialogue. - Businesses have a proper channel to reach local customers without cluttering discussions. Thank you for respecting the balance—it helps keep Wildfire CityPages a trusted place for real community connection.
We intervene only when needed to keep the space safe and welcoming for everyone.
Why don’t we have thumbs up, thumbs down, or any voting system?
We intentionally avoid likes, upvotes, downvotes, or similar scoring. Voting systems can turn discussions into popularity contests, discourage differing opinions, or lead to silent judgment instead of real conversation. In a local community like ours, we want people to respond with words—agree, disagree, explain, or ask questions—rather than just clicking a button. This keeps the focus on genuine dialogue, reduces toxicity, and makes every voice feel equally valid, just like in a real-life neighborhood conversation.
