Improving Quora Quality: Ending Stupid Questions, Better Algorithms, and Rethinking Merger Policies

Introduction to Quora Quality Concerns

While I have a strong military background, my recent interactions on Quora have mostly revolved around questions that could easily be answered through a simple Google search or repeated answer patterns from users aiming to hit question threshold goals for financial incentives. These issues, among others, are hindering the overall quality and user experience on the platform. This article focuses on specific areas where improvements can be made to enhance the value and reliability of Quora as a knowledge base.

Ending Stupid Questions and Anonymous Bots

One of the most abusive and detrimental practices on Quora is the frequency of stupid questions.

Stupid Questions

These are questions with obvious, easily found answers, or those that are just absurd and unrealistic. Examples include military-related inquiries such as basic Army rank structures, pay scales for private soldiers, or bizarre hypothetical scenarios like a recruit donning a ninja uniform and attacking a drill sergeant. These types of questions not only waste time and resources but can often make the platform seem less credible to legitimate users.

To address this, I suggest that anonymous questions be pre-approved by a Quora employee, not a bot, before they can be posted. This would ensure that only legitimate questions reach the community, thereby improving the overall quality and focus of discussions.

Enhancing User Experience with Answer Requests and Login Issues

Answer Requests and Login Problems

The persistent issue of answer requests is another major frustration. These requests often state something along the lines of 'I can’t log in to my Quora account' or 'someone is requesting answers from me'. Initial efforts to help were appreciated, but now these requests are something I ignore after simply clicking 'pass' from the dashboard. This process needs to be streamlined to either automatically handle these requests or completely eliminate them to enhance the user experience.

It would be more efficient if the platform could filter out such requests automatically or remove the feature altogether, allowing more time to focus on actual content and questions of value.

Rethinking Question Merging Policies

Merging Issues

The merging of related questions is yet another area that needs significant improvement. Quora often merges questions for convenience, but this process often leads to a loss of context and relevance. Instead of merging, posts should be allocated to the most relevant question to maintain clarity and coherence.

For instance, when a user asks a question and receives multiple related answers, merging these answers together often results in a choppy, disorganized response. This not only confuses users but also dilutes the quality of the information provided.

Implementing a tagging or sub-question system would be a better approach. Questions can be tagged with sub-questions or related topics, allowing readers to navigate through different perspectives and insights more easily. This method would ensure that the allocated answers match the original question, providing a more useful and coherent experience for the user.

Improving Algorithmic Accuracy

Improving Algorithms

The algorithmic issues observed are also a major concern. For example, users answering questions about tattoos in the military should not be considered experts solely because they touched upon this topic. The algorithm should be more nuanced, recognizing the context and expertise of users based on their actual contributions and knowledge relevant to the specific question.

The focus should be on users who have a comprehensive understanding of the topic at hand, rather than those who merely scraped together a few sentences from a quick Google search. This would help filter out unqualified responses and ensure that the community remains a valuable repository of knowledge and experiences.

Conclusion: Enhancing the Quora Community

In conclusion, Quora can significantly enhance its user experience and maintain its position as a respected knowledge platform by implementing these proposed changes. By ending redundant and nonsensical questions, improving the user interface for answer requests, and rethinking the merging process, the platform can better serve its community and elevate the overall quality of its content.

Finally, a more accurate and context-aware algorithm is essential to ensure that experts and qualified contributors are highlighted, driving the community towards a more informative and engaging experience.