Day 51: Another Email Sent. The Question Remains the Same.
Today, I sent another email regarding my request for the Nextdoor study.
The recipients were:
Nirav Tolia, CEO
Jacob Chavis
Sarah Leary, Co-Founder
Investor Relations
Communications
Bekah Hufnagel, a Nextdoor intern studying Communication Design at the University of Cincinnati
One thing I can confirm:
None of the emails bounced back as undeliverable.
So, as far as I know, the message reached the intended inboxes.
The email wasn't complicated.
It asked a straightforward question:
How does a simple shareholder request go unanswered for 51 days?
At this point, the study itself has almost become secondary.
The larger issue is communication.
If the answer is "no," say no.
If the study can't be shared, explain why.
If it no longer exists, say that.
Communication doesn't require agreement.
It requires acknowledgment.
One reason I included Bekah on the email is that she's studying Communication Design. This is a real-world case study in corporate communication.
If this situation were presented in a college classroom, what discussion would it generate?
How would 51 days without a response from Jacob Chavis, CEO Nirav Tolia, Investor Relations, or the Communications team be evaluated?
As someone who has spent much of my career in learning and development, I believe some of the best lessons come from real situations—not hypothetical ones.
This continues to be one of them.
I'm still willing to have a conversation.
I'm still waiting to see if it's worth having.
Join the discussion at NielFlamm.com/blog. Leave some feedback—I'd love to hear from you.
SOULM8TE: AI, Obsession... and a Familiar Story?
SOULM8TE puts a new spin on AI companionship, but while watching it I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd seen this story before.
In my latest movie review, I compare SOULM8TE to Subservience, Her, and especially the 1995 The Outer Limits episode "Valerie 23." Was Blumhouse's latest thriller worth the watch, or did an old TV episode do it better?
🎬 Watch my full SOULM8TE review at:
https://NielFlamm.com/videos/moviereviews
Then check out Valerie 23 and decide for yourself:
Scamming, Site Traffic, and an Open Invitation
I’m aware that maintaining even a small online footprint can expose me to hacking, scams, and other security risks. That’s why I regularly monitor my site’s traffic, metrics, and visitor demographics.
When people hear the phrase “online scamming,” Nigeria may be one of the first countries that comes to mind—fairly or unfairly. This morning, I noticed repeated activity from the same IP address, geolocated to Nigeria.
Of course, an IP location isn’t always accurate, and someone’s country doesn’t prove malicious intent. Still, the activity caught my attention.
So, if you’re the person behind those visits: What brought you to my site? What are you looking for, and how can I help?
Let’s bring your intent to the surface. It could lead to an interesting conversation—and perhaps even an opportunity we can monetize together.
Post your contact information at NielFlamm.com/blog or email me directly at niel@nielflamm.com.
The Profile Views Keep Coming... Now from Across the Pond
Yesterday, I noticed something interesting.
My LinkedIn profile received several views from people at Nextdoor.
First was Bekah Hufnagel, whom I tagged in yesterday's post after Nextdoor shared a look at life as one of its interns. From her profile, she's studying Communications at the University of Cincinnati.
Then I noticed two more.
One viewer chose to remain anonymous, showing only "Advertising Specialist at Nextdoor."
The other was Kathryn Lee, an EMEA Account Manager at Nextdoor, based in the United Kingdom.
So...
Hello from the other side of the pond! 🇬🇧👋
I appreciate the interest.
Whether you're reading my posts, viewing my profile, or simply curious about what I'm writing, thank you for taking the time.
Since several people at Nextdoor appear to be following along, perhaps someone could ask a simple question internally:
Why has it been 51 days since I requested a study from Jacob Chavis without receiving a response?
I'd also pose another question.
If Bekah is studying Communications, what better real-world case study could there be than observing how a company handles a straightforward request from a shareholder?
How does 51 days without communication from Jacob Chavis, CEO Nirav Tolia, Investor Relations, or the Communications team become an example of effective corporate communication?
If a communications professor presented this as a case study, what grade would it receive?
I've said from the beginning that this isn't about "winning."
It's about communication, accountability, and the culture a company chooses to build.
If my posts are making their way around Nextdoor, perhaps this one will reach the right person.
Please and thank you.
Join the discussion at NielFlamm.com/blog. Leave some feedback—I'd love to hear from you.
$786 Million and a Lesson in Fraternity Economics
If you've been following along, you know I've somehow become the unofficial Commissioner of the Fraternity Lottery Pool.
With the Powerball jackpot sitting at $786 million, it seemed like the responsible thing to do. (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.)
Over the past few weeks, I've been collecting money, organizing who is in and who is out, driving to the local Harris Teeter, standing in line, buying stacks of South Carolina Lottery tickets, photographing them, keeping track of everything, and sending the group updates.
At one point, I walked up to the counter and bought $200 worth of lottery tickets.
The cashier gave me that look.
You know the one.
The look that says, "Sir... are we okay?"
Yes, we're okay.
No, gambling isn't one of my problems.
If anything, my problem is volunteering for too many projects.
The funny part is that after all the work that goes into organizing this little adventure, a few of the fraternity brothers have started sounding a bit... ungrateful.
Who knew that trying to make everyone a millionaire could become a thankless job?
Maybe I should charge a convenience fee.
Or a ticket-handling fee.
Or an emotional support fee.
We'll see where this goes. The Lottery Commissioner may be considering early retirement before anyone actually wins enough to retire.
Stay tuned.
There may be more to come.
Until then, if our numbers hit tonight, I promise not to hold a grudge.
Probably.