My Second Analysis of Quora

After my initial encounter with Quora, the question and answer site that is the sudden darling of social media junkies, I figured I need to at least give it a fair try. So, like a helpless Farmville addict, I went back for more.

I resolved to ask questions, read and vote for answers, and find cool stuff. I was going to separate the good and the bad from the hype in what looks like the next big social network.

Instead, I read some questions, read more answers, voted a lot of bad answers down, and came away with this impression of its users:

Second Analysis of Quora, or I'm smarter than you - The Anti-Social Media

I thought I ditched the smart kids who want to show off in high school. Do we need to go through this again, and does it have to be in front of the entire internet?

Tags: ,

Join The Social Media Sociopaths

Misery loves company. Subscribe by RSS or email for more social media sadism.

13 Responses to “My Second Analysis of Quora”

  1. John Morrow January 29, 2011 at 7:56 am #

    Well now, I gotta partially disagree with you here.

    I find that there certainly are a lot of wasted vowels on Quora - letters that could have been used to feed Ethiopian orphans or something, but there is a fair bit of interesting discussion and debate.

    I find the technology questions interesting and the international relations questions thoughtful.

    Like everywhere else in the US these days though, stay the fuck away from any questions on US politics. You’ll get that muck spattered all over you. I do enjoy tweaking irrational people in the omnipresent theist/atheist threads too, but I’m perverse that way.

    I don’t think it’s a complete loss yet.

    John

    • Jay January 30, 2011 at 12:20 pm #

      There’s a topic on Justin Bieber and another one on Ke$ha. It’s already ruined.

  2. Chris Syme January 29, 2011 at 12:23 pm #

    My prediction: Quora will do a slow fade.

    • Jay January 30, 2011 at 10:04 am #

      I can only hope.

  3. Leslie (Rational Chica) January 29, 2011 at 7:51 pm #

    You’re article was reminiscent of a Geeky Bully Beatdown. As we tell our daughters, “Nerds rule the world!”

    • Leslie (Rational Chica) January 29, 2011 at 7:53 pm #

      That should be ‘your’; not ‘you’re’. oops. my apologies.

    • Jay January 30, 2011 at 10:03 am #

      Nerds rule the world until someone beats them up and takes it from them.

      • Leslie (Rational Chica) January 30, 2011 at 12:46 pm #

        Nerd’s don’t have to be weak. Martial arts training and pocket protectors can go hand-in-hand….like PB&J.

  4. Ace January 30, 2011 at 2:28 pm #

    This attitude seems to be common practice on a lot of Ask & Answer type forums. Some are a bit more subtle than others. One perfect example is on some travel forums - combination of “well I’ve been a Platinum member for 20 years so I know everything,” and “DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM? OF COURSE I KNOW EVERYTHING.” It’s rather intriguing, but one practice is common: ask a stupid question and you’ll get a snarky “try some of your own quick research or thinking, idiot” response.

    I just can’t stand when a questioner completely ignores the prepopulated questions even though one is an EXACT MATCH. Definitely discouraging to those already involved in the community.

  5. Claire Wagner January 30, 2011 at 7:58 pm #

    I was really reluctant to use another site because I don’t get paid for about 95% of the time I spend hanging out on social media sites. I’d just about given up on amplify and tumblr and wasn’t in the mood for anything else. But I did find some good advice and info on Quora, sort of on accident. Just still not sure I want to keep digging. It will get to be more and more of a labyrinth with all of the discussion threads. FYI - as if anybody cares but I’ll say it anyway - this is one reason I gave up on Third Tribe. Tribe too big. Too much talk, couldn’t navigate through it all. I guess the only easy way is to ask your own question and follow its answers - don’t try to wade through everyone else’s questions. But then that gets repetitive.

  6. Ashley Sue January 31, 2011 at 1:49 pm #

    I could not possibly agree with you more, Jay. As soon as I went and explored, I was left thinking, “What, is the Yahoo Answers for smarter, more pretentious people?” I tried again, and even posted a rather analytical question about creating more style in your home and physical life… which someone quickly changed from a question on “Fashion” and “Lifestyle” to “Psychology”. He left no answers or ideas… just wanted to throw his feeling into it. And I knew it was a pissing contest for those who need to feel validated in their intelligence.

    Not saying everyone who likes it is this way… but I’m done. Everyone has their opinions… do we need to ask our questions via internet and have a hoard of self-important “experts” answer it definitively? Not me.

    I am hoping for the slow fade as well. Really? Questions on Ke$ha and Beiber?

  7. Morgan January 31, 2011 at 4:52 pm #

    Don’t worry, Quora will turn into 4chan soon enough.

    • Jay January 31, 2011 at 10:50 pm #

      We can haz caturday!