Should Answers Be Behind a Paywall on Quora?

Many contributors on Quora wonder if they should start behindpaywalling their answers, especially those that are highly sought after. This article explores the implications of putting answers behind a paywall on Quora and the perspective of a prominent contributor who has had firsthand experience with it.

Insights from a Long-term Contributor

For a period of two months around two years ago, this contributor experimented with putting their answers behind a paywall on Quora. However, after a short trial, they decided to abandon this practice. The decision was driven by their core belief in providing genuine assistance to others rather than benefiting financially from their contributions.

ldquo;I came on this site to help people, and placing answers behind a paywall just doesnrsquo;t make sense,rdquo; shares the contributor. ldquo;If I am here to offer help, why would I hide my answers?rdquo;

Additionally, the contributor cites a personal anecdote from before they joined Quora. They often came across life-changing answers through Google, and these undefined sources of knowledge resonated with them. This experience further reinforced their decision to keep their contributions open.

Concerns About Paywalled Content

The contributor expresses strong feelings against answers being behind a paywall. They believe that starting to read an answer and suddenly encountering a paywall is an obnoxious and frustrating experience. They have started muting authors whose content they cannot access, emphasizing their disdain for such practices.

ldquo;I absolutely hate having to stop reading an answer because a paywall bars my access,rdquo; the contributor states. ldquo;Quora and its participants who push their content behind a paywall are making a cynical and small-minded decision that treats knowledge as a commodity rather than a gift to the public.rdquo;

The contributor also speaks out against individuals who take their answers and share them behind a paywall. They have a strict policy of blocking such individuals summarily, showing their strong stance against this unethical behavior.

Open Content Policy and Future Changes

Reflecting on their past actions, the contributor has a clear stance on maintaining an open content policy moving forward. They are committed to deleting any answers that they find behind a paywall, ensuring that their contributions remain accessible to all.

ldquo;I have no intention of putting any of my answers behind a paywall again,rdquo; the contributor asserts. ldquo;If I feel the urge to do so, it will be only for writing itch related questions and not for direct answers provided to me.rdquo;

The decision to keep content open not only aligns with the contributorrsquo;s personal values but also reflects a broader principle of promoting free and accessible knowledge. In the digital age, where information should be shared freely, contributors like this one play a vital role in upholding the open content ethos of platforms like Quora.

As Quora continues to evolve, it is essential for contributors to reflect on the impact of their actions and to make decisions that honor the spirit of knowledge sharing. This article aims to encourage other contributors to consider the implications of placing their answers behind a paywall and to maintain a policy that keeps content open and accessible.