Author: Deano

Both are interesting, but the more "fun" of the two is getting the answers:

• Seeing who follows an answer can be very gratifying, especially if you recognize the name from elsewhere on the site as a common answerer, querent, celebrity, etc. Still, if all they do is follow the question, it's like being in the same room as a childhood idol, and never even saying hello… And then if you take the further step of asking them to answer, knowing they're already following the question… Well, aaaaaawkward… It's just kind of a subtly gratifying stalker situation, really.
• Given the number of unanswered questions extant across the site, getting one at all to a given question is something to be deeply appreciated… But not knowing when it'll come, or from whom, adds a certain level of excitement, should any answers actually be written. Of course, getting the answers, and reading the answers are two different things… It's possible to feel a great "deflation" should your question, which you feel to be totally fascinating, gets rather pedestrian, or even jokey answers.

When you ask a question on Quora, what is more fun or interesting: getting the answers or seeing who follows it? Why?

This is just the people I've polled this week on the matter:

• Answering honestly required revealing details heretofore unknown about said user's bust size, which then may cause other unknown effects on her participation in the site, and/or future career development pathing.
• The feeling that the question was "silly" or "non-serious", and thus to provide a good and congruent answer may in some way diminish the user's "credibility" across the rest of the site.
• Similarly, that the user always answers anonymously by default, outside a few specific areas of expertise, in order to both keep their feeds/stats "clean" to other users, and focus/increase the consistency and pedigree of their answers.
• User accidentally answered anonymously unwittingly, or to test the option, and was unclear how to revert the answer to public, or if that was even possible.

Overall, based on larger examination and feedback since I joined Quora in January, I'd say that there are four main reasons to answer or ask a question anonymously:

1. The potential to reveal personal details about one's personal history/physiology/traumatic past.
2. The idea that one might be taken less seriously by posting more "fun" questions and answers under one's own name.
3. For some, a fear that their more "extreme" personal expression might be frowned upon, and if that expression was linked to a known account, that overall perception of the user would be negative, reducing follower count/interaction with everyone else on Quora.
4. For questions specifically – a fear that one's reputation/stature on Quora and the Internet at large might alter the objectivity of answers and up/down votes, when one is more interested in said answers, than in "looking good".

What are the reasons why people choose to ask and answer questions anonymously on Quora?

This is just the people I've polled this week on the matter:

• Answering honestly required revealing details heretofore unknown about said user's bust size, which then may cause other unknown effects on her participation in the site, and/or future career development pathing.
• The feeling that the question was "silly" or "non-serious", and thus to provide a good and congruent answer may in some way diminish the user's "credibility" across the rest of the site.
• Similarly, that the user always answers anonymously by default, outside a few specific areas of expertise, in order to both keep their feeds/stats "clean" to other users, and focus/increase the consistency and pedigree of their answers.
• User accidentally answered anonymously unwittingly, or to test the option, and was unclear how to revert the answer to public, or if that was even possible.

Overall, based on larger examination and feedback since I joined Quora in January, I'd say that there are four main reasons to answer or ask a question anonymously:

1. The potential to reveal personal details about one's personal history/physiology/traumatic past.
2. The idea that one might be taken less seriously by posting more "fun" questions and answers under one's own name.
3. For some, a fear that their more "extreme" personal expression might be frowned upon, and if that expression was linked to a known account, that overall perception of the user would be negative, reducing follower count/interaction with everyone else on Quora.
4. For questions specifically – a fear that one's reputation/stature on Quora and the Internet at large might alter the objectivity of answers and up/down votes, when one is more interested in said answers, than in "looking good".

What are the reasons why people choose to ask and answer questions anonymously on Quora?

I'll say this – there are enough people on Quora with similar names already, that anything that distinguishes you from the masses, helps me (the reader) recognize and link your questions/answers together over time, assuming I'm not a follower.

Further, those who have filled in a profile, even a complete snarky one-liner, help me see "what their angle is", or any specialities they may profess or display. It's not a defining factor, it's a helpful guide, just like having a profile picture. It's one step further away from anon, which semi-unfortunately always seems to be a good thing here(*).

Topic bios work like this – if your answer sucks, a good topic bio won't save you. But if your answer rocks, and the topic bio is congruent, the chances of your profile getting a direct visit go WAY up… Because suddenly it became more interesting to see other relevant/related answers from you.

(* In truth, I'd like anon to be that magical thing that allows really tough questions/answers to come to light… But until there's a nice navigation to "best ofs", what I tend to find is that Anons are either hiding their respectable identity to throw down snark or invective, or somehow embarrassed or afraid to be associated with their truly great answers on topics that shouldn't be seen as sensitive or taboo anymore… I've noticed myself upvoting anons a lot less as time goes on. The people who put themselves out there for an 85% answer deserve the credit more from the community than the 90%er who hides behind a mask. Again, this is just based on the roads I travel on Quora, but I do so hate being unable to follow those who really nail an answer in a topic of interest.)

Why don't users fill in their bios on Quora?

Given the ratio of "more questions" to "more answers" users, I'd say it's a vital service to ask more than to answer, especially as the site grows.

Is it rude to ask more questions on Quora than you answer?