Is Quora's Obsession with Thousands of Answers Justified? Unpacking the Impact and Role

In the world of content-driven platforms, few have as vast a reservoir of user-generated information as Quora. But, is the site's abundant and often repetitive content serving the true purpose and benefit of its users? Let's explore if having 325 answers to a question that's a few years old and based on yesterday's news is a required or justifiable phenomenon.

Volume Over Quality?

Imagine this: a 3-5 year-old question, expectedly about some piece of news or event from a few days back, garners 325 answers. Is this the premise for a science-fiction series? Not only would such a scenario be highly unusual, but it might even require a fundamental shift in our understanding of the laws of time and space. The sheer volume of responses indicates a different motive rather than the actual curiosity or interest.

The Business Angle

While it may seem counterintuitive, the tech powerhouse behind Quora, Alex… (the founder of Quora), is also closely involved with the board of Chat GPT, a leading player in large language models (LLMs). This strategic business alignment suggests a different perspective: the more answers, the better. Each additional response contributes to a richer dataset, enhancing the training and quality of AI models. For Quora, the goal is not merely to serve the user but to maximize the value and depth of their content as a whole.

User Perspective vs. Business Strategy

However, this business strategy seems to take precedence over user experience. The user, often seen as the content producer, faces a stark realization: where once you were given a platform to share knowledge, now you might be seen as the product being sold. This shift in perspective is quite drastic and might make even the most seasoned users question whether their input still matters.

Productivity and Engagement

There is no blanket rule that constrains the number of answers a question can have. Potentially, a question could receive hundreds or even thousands of responses. The key lies in the quality of the answers and the interest they generate. If a particular question resonates deeply with a wide audience, it will naturally attract a significant number of responses. Conversely, for everyday, lesser-interest considerations, it might be better to keep things concise.

User Empowerment vs. Endless Digressions

On the flip side, the abundance of answers often raises another concern: do users truly understand that they can simply scroll past questions they do not feel compelled to answer? The frustration with seeing questions about irrelevant old news can be palpable. Instead of complaining, users should simply pass on them. This approach could promote a healthier user engagement model where the site remains a valuable, efficient resource rather than a cluttered mess.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Quora serves a significant role in aggregating information and fosters a community of knowledge sharing, its current approach of generating and retaining a vast amount of content, regardless of its relevance, seems to prioritize business objectives over user experience. The importance of striking a balance between producing valuable content and maintaining user engagement is crucial for the platform's long-term success and satisfaction.

Keywords: Quora, Large Language Models, SEO