Freeboard

Freeboard is a throwback idea. Open the site, type something, and it's posted, with no sign-up, no profile and no follower count. Posts show only Anonymous, how long ago they went up, and, if the poster allowed location, a place name and how far away it is. Turn on location yourself and the front page leans toward posts near you.

There are two other ways to find conversations. City pages collect posts tagged to a place, and topic Boards cover things like tech, anime, food sharing, rentals and for-sale listings, programming and pets. Boards also have a live chat. The project's own pitch is sharing a post link with a friend so they can reply without making an account, which works because every post has its own address.

The privacy page keeps it simple. Accounts are optional, posts and live conversations are public unless a feature says otherwise, and location is attached only when you post with it on. It tells people not to post private or sensitive information, and the Freeboard Team's starter posts repeat that. Each post has a report control, and the terms reserve the right to remove content or restrict access for safety and abuse prevention.

The terms are short, though. They don't set an age requirement or list prohibited content, which matters for an anonymous board with live chat. Anyone thinking of pointing a community at it should read them first.

This is early. The front page showed two people online, and many of the nearby posts were weeks old, mostly from Honolulu. That's normal for a new board, but it shapes what you'll find. Right now it suits a small group that agrees to use it, or someone who likes the idea of a local board and wants to help start one.