Understanding Why Answers on Quora Get Collapsed

Quora, the popular question and answer platform, has certain criteria and policies that dictate when an answer gets collapsed. This can happen due to user actions such as downvotes, or because the answer itself violates specific guidelines. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind why an answer might be collapsed on Quora and what it means for the answerer.

Reasons for Collapsing an Answer

When an answer is collapsed, it means that it is no longer shown prominently in the list of answers on the question page. Instead, users need to take an extra step to view it. This can be disconcerting for answerers, but it is important to understand the reasons behind this action.

Single Word or Excessively Short Answers

Answers that consist of a single word, such as a yes or no, or a short phrase like I don’t know, are not considered helpful and are therefore collapsed. Additionally, answers that are too short with no explanatory elements are also subjected to this action. Quora's guidelines require answers to provide sufficient explanation and detail to be useful to the community.

Downvote Thresholds

Answers that receive more than a certain number of downvotes but have not been reported for violating policies are also collapsed. This is a common reason for answers to be hidden, as it indicates that the community finds the answer inadequate or potentially misleading.

Policy Violations

Answers that are reported for violating Quora's policies but are not immediately deleted may also be collapsed. This can include answers that are classified as spam, plagiarized, or consist primarily of images with no substantive text. While such answers might not be deleted, they are still hidden from the main list of answers.

User Reports and Accidental Downvotes

In many cases, answers are collapsed due to user reports or accidental downvotes. Answerers may not realize that their answer is being reported or downvoted until the answer is no longer visible on the question page. While this is not the ideal situation, it often provides an opportunity for the answerer to refine their response and improve it based on feedback from the community.

What Does Collapsed Mean for the Answer?

When an answer is collapsed, it means that it is temporarily hidden from the main list of answers on the question page. Users can still find and read the answer if they click on the collapsed answers section. This is typically found at the bottom of the question page or when the answer is sorted by Recent or Upvotes. It is important for answerers to understand that while their answer is hidden, it is still accessible to users who are interested in it.

Conclusion

Collapsing an answer on Quora is a tool used to maintain the quality and usefulness of the platform. Whether it is due to downvotes, policy violations, or user reports, collapsed answers are hidden to ensure that the community has access to the most valuable and relevant information. While it can be disheartening for answerers, it is an opportunity to improve their responses and provide better answers in the future.

Key Points to Remember

Single word or excessively short answers are collapsed. Answers with a high number of downvotes are collapsed. Answers reported for violating Quora policies are collapsed. Collapsed answers are still visible but require an extra step to read.

Understanding these reasons can help answerers improve their responses and ensure that their answers are helpful and well-received by the Quora community.