PorchTalk exists because people deserve a safe place to share what they are carrying and to receive genuine help. These guidelines exist to protect that space for everyone. They are not a list of rules for their own sake. They reflect the kind of community we are building together.
The spirit of PorchTalk is simple: show up for others the way you would want someone to show up for you.
How to post well
- Be honest. The more real you are about your situation, the more useful the responses will be.
- Choose your category carefully. It helps the right people find your post.
- Provide context. A short title and a detailed description will get you much better responses than a single sentence.
- Stay anonymous. Do not include details that could identify you or others, such as full names, specific addresses, or workplace names.
- One post at a time. If you have multiple situations, post them separately so each gets the attention it deserves.
How to respond well
- Lead with empathy. Someone has shared something vulnerable. Acknowledge that before offering advice.
- Speak from your own experiencewhere possible. "In my experience" is more trustworthy than "You should..."
- Be constructive, not critical.If you disagree with someone's choices, say so kindly and explain why.
- Do not give advice you are not qualified to give. If someone needs medical or legal help, say so and point them toward the right resource.
- Do not pile on. If many people have already responded, add something new or nothing at all.
What is not allowed
- Harassment, bullying or targeting of any person
- Hate speech based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion or disability
- Sexually explicit or graphic violent content
- Attempting to identify or expose an anonymous poster
- Impersonating an Imoran, moderator or PorchTalk team member
- Spam, advertising or self-promotion
- Soliciting money, personal contact details or sexual content from users
- Deliberately false or misleading advice intended to harm
- Sharing another person's private information without their consent
Zero tolerance
The following will result in immediate and permanent removal from the platform, with no warning:
- Content that sexualises minors in any form
- Content that encourages, glorifies or provides instructions for self-harm or suicide
- Content that incites violence against any individual or group
- Coordinated harassment campaigns
Crisis and mental health content
If your post contains language that suggests you may be in crisis, PorchTalk will automatically attach a list of crisis support resources to your post. This is not a judgment. It is a safety net.
If you are responding to someone who appears to be in crisis:
- Stay calm and compassionate in your response
- Point them toward the crisis resources listed on the post
- Do not offer diagnoses or tell them what they are feeling
- Use the flag button to bring the post to our moderators immediately
Imoran conduct
Verified Imorans are held to a higher standard. In addition to these guidelines, Imorans must follow a separate Code of Conduct agreed upon at verification. Imorans who give harmful, misleading or inappropriate advice will have their verification removed.
Reporting and consequences
Every post and response has a flag button. Use it if you see something that violates these guidelines. Our moderation team reviews all flagged content.
Consequences for violations, depending on severity:
- Content removed
- Warning issued (for Imoran accounts)
- Temporary posting restriction
- Permanent removal from the platform