Barb L,

• RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. Understand that the internet’s various social media accumulate information from all sources. All posts are given equal weight. What happens to that information once posted is up to the media platform (Quora, Facebook, YouTube, Google, etc.) and YOU.
• KNOW YOUR INFORMATION BIASES. What you see in the world depends on how you see it. Understand how and why you react and what triggers your emotions. Commentators featured by the internet information silo where you spend most of your time often present a single point of view. Monitor your internet behavior. Poke your head out of your information silo every once in a while for a breath of fresh air!
• LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY LIES. Gossips and rumormongers sometimes unwittingly spread lies. They are misinforming you. Propagandists spread lies for a political purpose. They mean to mislead you with disinformation campaigns. Regardless of the poster’s motivations, lies are lies! Learn how to distinguish facts from lies.
• Even if Quora does not recognize an offense, such as TROLLING, or certain ways of SPAMMING (spammers are constantly evolving their techniques, comment spamming being the latest trend on Quora) REPORT actions that violate Quora policy regardless. For instance, trolls are not labeled as such on Quora, but trolling activity invariably will violate Quora policies at some point.
• WHEN YOU SEE BIAS, LIES, ETC. SAY SOMETHING! Growling and grumbling to yourself gets you ulcers. Avoid upset. Let others know what you have discovered. ON QUORA, respond to “questions” that are actually statements, harassment, insults, spamming, etc by:
• answering the question. Try (though this may be hard in many instances) to respond as respectfully as you can. Do not engage in name-calling or disparage the character of the person who asked the question.
• clicking the “Report” option on the drop-down menu generated when you click the “overflow menu” (….) to report the “question” to Quora. (Do not expect to hear back from the Quora directly. Reporting is your only responsibility. It is up to Quora to act on your report.
• NOTE: Quora changes the categories of reportable content without asking users. Instead of asking users directly, Quora tries to discern user wants and needs by observing user behavior. The results are delays in recognising problems and the isolation of management from Quora users.
• Categories of reporting may not match the policy offense you have uncovered. Be not discouraged! IF there is an “other” category, use it. Otherwise use the best match and always explain your report. Material from the offending post can be copied & pasted into your report as an image or by using copy/paste.
• You can also report the offending questioner’s profile by
• clicking their name to go to their profile,
• then clicking (“…”) next to their name for the drop-down menu.
• click “Report” then the appropriate offense if you can find it.
• MUTE their profile and BLOCK their ability to communicate with you directly by clicking those three dots (“…”) on their profile and selecting “mute,” (confirm) then “block” from the drop-down menu. YES, it is advisable to mute and block profiles that have been deactivated by their owners. “Deactivated” profiles can always be reactivated by their owners. [I also block banned accounts just to be sure.]
• As of summer 2024, you can download something to speed up muting & blocking as part of your Chrome or Firefox browser:

• Mute Block speeds up your Crowdsourced Moderation activities considerably as you investigate both followers and following.
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• PERSIST. You are not alone. There are many here on Quora and on other platforms who have your back. On Quora, they will upvote your answers, edit topics and file reports when they see something, too. Your efforts may be a mere skirmish in a much larger battle, but they are very important and will be effectual.
• The ability to report SPACES should not be overlooked. As of October 2022, here are the options displayed for reporting spaces that are no more than refuges for Quora policy violators or that have harmful, lying content:

• Report Space categories as of October 2022:
• Spam
• Selling illegal goods, money scams etc. (Learn more)
• Hate Speech
• Serious attack on a group (Learn more)
• Harassment and bullying
• Harassing or threatening an individual (Learn more)
• Harmful activities
• Glorifying violence including self-harm or intent to seriously harm others (Learn more)
• Adult content (Consensual)
• Nudity/Sexual content (Learn more)
• Prohibited cover image and/or icon
• Adult or graphically violent images (Learn more)
• Sexual exploitation and abuse (child safety)
• Sexually explicit or suggestive imagery or writing involving minors (Learn more)
• Sexual exploitation and abuse (adults and animals)
• Sexually explicit or suggestive imagery or writing involving non-consenting adults or non-humans (Learn more)
• Underage users
• Use of the Quora Platform by anyone under 13 years of age (Learn more)
• Using Quora brand and logo
• Using the Quora brand name or logo (or variations) (Learn more)
• Impersonation. Upon clicking Submit you will be directed to a form where you can provide details (Learn more)
• Copyright. Upon clicking Submit you will be directed to a form where you can provide details (Learn more)
• Doxing
• Sharing of sensitive personal information (Learn more)
• Harmful misinformation
• Certain types of verifiable false or misleading information (Learn more)

Example: Space report

• CARRY ON! Look on the bright side. As Gen. Colin Powell used to say, optimism is a force multiplier!
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See also:

and

Comments welcome!

-Jeff

Footnotes