Is that a change, because you used to have to be behind the base to build the posts, and that kind of puts a wrench in base building

I just went to another vanilla server on Livonia and got the same thing
Set a fence, built the posts, and was able to dismantle from the front

I just tested again on Vanilla just to make sure and it is still happening

In T168506#2374905, @ArmoredArtist wrote:

I just tried this on my vanilla server and I did not get the dismantle from the hard side like you do. I tried with a shovel and with a hatchet. Seems to be working fine. Do you have mods?

I just tested this again and it still happens.
I also added attachments to the fence posts and even with sheet metal or planks attached I still get a dismantle prompt from the outward facing side of the fence posts

Thanks for the response.
That makes things tough because I like having a solo character and then one for grouping on official servers, but that is how it is!