Why Can't I Edit My Question on Quora?

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why you can’t edit a question on Quora or why the three dots (options) that allow editing are missing? This article will clarify why this feature has been disabled and how it impacts your ability to modify your inquiries.

The Deactivation of Editing Options

Back in 2022, Quora decided to deactivate the editing feature on questions to curb a significant problem: vandalism. Vandalizing questions became a widespread issue, where malicious users would repeatedly edit questions just to make them look foolish or to intentionally mislead readers. As a result, to maintain the integrity and quality of the platform, editing options were removed from questions that have received at least one answer or gained five followers.

Editing Restrictions Explained

One Answer or Five Followers: If a question has received at least one answer, or has five followers, it becomes locked and cannot be edited or deleted. This restriction is in place to prevent edits that might make responses seem outdated or misleading.

Spaces Contributor Status: If a question is posted to a Space where you don't have the necessary contributor status, you won't see the editing options. Only those with contributor status can edit a Space's content.

Understanding the Impact

The removal of the edit option is primarily aimed at maintaining the quality and reliability of the content on Quora. If a question has received multiple answers, it likely indicates that the subject matter is receiving significant interest and engagement. Therefore, allowing edits to a popular question could result in losing valuable information and insights for users.

Why We Can’t Edit Questions Written by Others Anymore

Back in the day, community editors voluntarily maintained and improved questions written by anyone. This practice was beneficial for the community. However, certain trolls exploited this system by repeatedly vandalizing questions, causing widespread trouble and even maliciously merging questions.

One of the most notorious trolls was the Brazilian Bandito Boy, who had opened over 100 profiles, some of which were banned. These sock puppet accounts engaged in repetitive vandalism, creating a chaotic environment on the platform. The Brazilian Bandito Boy was particularly active between 2020 and 2022, during which time he repeatedly vandalized a question asking, "Why are certain metals better at conducting heat and electricity."

Impact of Vandalism

The sheer amount of vandalism by the Brazilian Bandito Boy and other trolls created a significant challenge for the community editors. Between September 2020 and April 2022, he targeted a single question at least 27 times. Many other questions also suffered similar fates, with multiple sock puppet accounts wielding damaging changes.

The community’s response to these vandals was proactive and collaborative. Good Samaritans such as Paul Reid and William Gunn, along with several banned accounts like Gabriel Silva, Luis Guilherme Milos, and Joo Pedro, worked to reverse the vandalism. However, the sheer volume of vandalism made it difficult to keep up.

The situation highlighted the necessity for stricter restrictions on editing, as continuing to allow edits would have led to an even messier and less trustworthy content environment.

Conclusion

While the removal of editing options may seem restrictive, it is a necessary measure to maintain the integrity and reliability of the content on Quora. The community's efforts in combating vandalism have played a crucial role in maintaining the platform's quality. As users, understanding the reasons behind these restrictions can help us navigate the platform more effectively and contribute positively to the community.

Keywords: Quora question editing, question vandalism, Quora restrictions