Understanding the Quora Policies: Why Your Comment Might Be Marked as Violative

Introduction

When using online platforms like Quora, users often encounter situations where their comments are flagged or removed without clear explanation. This article aims to demystify the reasoning behind Quora's policies and the automated systems that may affect your content. We will explore common reasons why comments might be flagged and provide guidance on how to avoid such issues.

Automated Moderation and Community Reports

Quora employs a combination of automated systems and community reports to address content moderation. While the exact details of their moderation processes are not publicly disclosed, it is known that even a small number of reports can trigger automated actions to remove a comment. In the example given, five users reported the comment, which was enough to initiate the removal process, despite the absence of rude or inappropriate language.

Community Impact: Community reports play a critical role. If just one or more users flag a comment, it can lead to its removal. In the scenario described, a single upvote alongside multiple reports was sufficient to qualify the comment for removal.

BNBR Policy and Criticism

Quora's rules are designed to ensure a respectful and constructive discussion environment. The BNBR (Be Nice. Be Respectful. Be Responsible.) policy is a cornerstone of these rules. Violating BNBR often leads to the removal of comments. In the specific case mentioned, the user criticising someone for a baseless comment about a book series might have violated BNBR if the criticism was perceived as rude or personal.

Personal Criticism: According to Quora's guidelines, users are allowed to critique the argument of another user, but not to attack or belittle them personally. If the comment was perceived as targeting the person rather than the argument, it may have been seen as a violation of BNBR.

Societal and Cultural Sensitivities

The given example highlights the sensitivity of certain topics, particularly those related to ethnic, religious, and caste-based issues. Sensitivity in these contexts can often lead to the quick removal of comments, even if the content is factual. The article mentions how communities like the Whites, Anglo-Sphere, and Indians might perceive facts differently and react strongly to what they view as offensive.

Societal and Cultural Perceptions: The article points out that: The White Anglo-Sphere and Indian Islamic cultures are more sensitive to truth and fact, often viewing them as offensive. Freedom of expression and truth are more likely to be seen as offensive in these contexts than in others. European and UK individuals are less likely to be offended and more likely to listen to such content.

Consistent Rude Behavior Predicts Flagging

Your behavior on Quora history shows a tendency towards rudeness, adversarial confrontation, and obnoxiousness. Such behavior is likely to trigger the automated systems and community reports more frequently. Even if the specific comment in question did not violate the BNBR policy, previous interactions might have contributed to its removal.

Past Behavior: Your comments have been flagged frequently due to their confrontational nature. Much of the content of those remaining comments does not contain significant factual information.

Common Reasons for Comment Flagging

Comments on Quora can be reported for two main reasons: harassment and spam.

Harassment: Any form of abusive language, insults, or aggressive behavior can lead to a comment being flagged. Even a neutral yet confrontational tone might be seen as a violation of BNBR. The article suggests that your behavior falls into this category.

Spam: Attempts to sell products or link to external sites are often flagged as spam.

Automated Identification: Comments containing offensive language or spam links can be automatically flagged by Quora's systems.

Conclusion

While Quora's policies are designed to maintain a respectful and constructive dialogue, users often face the challenge of understanding what constitutes an acceptable comment. The insights provided in this article should help users navigate these challenges and ensure their contributions align with Quora's guidelines. Always strive for a respectful and constructive tone in your comments, and be aware of the cultural and societal sensitivities when discussing sensitive topics.