Should Quora Provide an Option to Block All Anonymous Questions?

As a user experience enhancer, the inclusion of an option to block all anonymous questions on Quora would significantly improve the platform's ecosystem. Users frequently encounter numerous issues related to spam and annoying questions when anonymous users utilize the platform.

Reasons for Blocking Anonymous Questions:

First and foremost, allowing individuals who have been blocked and muted to still send questions to users is inherently unreasonable and disruptive. Many users find themselves frequently being bombarded by such questions, which can be both frustrating and time-consuming.

Secondly, the integration of the Quora Prompt Generator has introduced a new wave of inane and irrelevant questions into the user experience. These prompts often generate questions with no real purpose or value, which serve only to clutter users' inboxes with spam.

For example, one recent insipid question posed to me was: 'Who’s the better athlete: Patrick Mahomes or Stephen Curry?'

Both athletes are certainly top-performers in their respective sports. While it might be interesting to debate their strengths, such a comparison often lacks real context. For instance:

Could Mahomes play basketball? Probably not at Curry's level. Could Curry play football? Potentially, but likely not up to Mahomes' professional standards.

In another case, a user suggested evaluating their skill levels based on their golf handicaps. However, Mahomes started playing golf only a few years ago, compared to Curry's years of experience. Thus, while it's tempting to try to generalize their athletic prowess, such debates often lack substantive value.

It's clear that these prompts and questions generated by the Quora Prompt Generator are designed more for generating content than for genuine discourse. This results in an overwhelming amount of spam and irrelevant content flooding users' inboxes.

The Historical Context:

Back when anonymous questions were allowed on Quora, I was one of many users who felt strongly that this should be an option. However, at the same time, anonymous questions were effectively removed from the platform. In their place, multiple account and pseudonym functionalities were introduced, providing a way to ask sincere questions without the need for anonymity.

While these measures did address some of the egregious behaviors, the underlying issue remains. Since the accounts used by anonymous users can still be traced, the platform can now more effectively combat trolling and malicious behavior.

Conclusion:

Given the current state of the platform and the ongoing issues with spam and low-value questions, it's imperative that Quora provides an option to block all anonymous questions. This would not only improve the overall user experience but also help in silencing trolls and curtailing the influx of irrelevant content.

Let's hope that Quora considers implementing such a feature to ensure that the platform remains a valuable and engaging space for genuine discussions.