Reposting Questions on Quora: When to Renounce and When to Revive

When you ask a question on platforms such as Quora, the nature of the community and the policies in place can influence how your post is handled, especially if it's not answered. It's important to understand the nuances of whether you should repost a question or if it's time to let it go. This guide aims to clarify the best practices.

Why Reposting Isn’t Permitted

There are clear policies against reposting questions on Quora. If you have a question that hasn't received an answer, simply asking it again, word-for-word, is not allowed.

When you want to ask the same question again, you have two main options:

Destroy the old question and ask it afresh. This guarantees your new question won't be merged with the original. Ask the same question but phrase it differently. While this option might help in getting a unique set of answers, any new answers will likely be merged with the existing question, resulting in a single thread.

Attempting to merge a duplicated question yourself is considered a significant hack as it circumvents the database's efforts to maintain cleanliness and ease of use.

Common Grounds for Question Rephrasing

Rephrasing a question to get more suitable answers is encouraged. However, it's crucial that the intention behind the question remains unchanged. Common sense suggests that if you're only correcting the phrasing, spelling, or grammar, this is generally acceptable.

If the rephrased version is deemed to solicit new and different answers, it is more likely to be well-received and not merged with the original. However, if the altered question is still similar enough to be seen as redundant, it will be merged with the existing one.

Reviving an Old Question

If a question was previously asked but didn't receive much attention, you may want to ask it again with a fresh approach. In such cases, you can revive the question by generating new activity, such as requesting answers from different users or engaging with the community.

If you're a Quora Power Player (QPP), you may even be rewarded for your efforts in re-requesting answers, but remember, this should be done ethically to contribute positively to the community.

Common Reasons for Unanswered Questions

Questions on Quora often go unanswered for various reasons:

Peerless or Rhetorical questions, which don’t warrant an answer and are often reported. Badly worded questions that are difficult to understand and answer. Stupid or unsupported premises, which often lead to downvotes and discouragement. Questions that lack concrete or verifiable information, which may be ignored or ridiculed.

It’s essential to frame your question carefully, ensuring it's clear, specific, and backed by adequate information.

Conclusion

Deciding whether to repost or rephrase a question on Quora is a strategic endeavor. While you should avoid merely republishing the same question, rephrasing to improve clarity or to solicit new perspectives can be beneficial. Remember, the quality and engagement level of your question can significantly impact whether it receives answers and how helpful the responses are.

To avoid breaking Quora's policies, always ensure that any new version of your question aligns with the community's expectations and contributes meaningfully to the platform.