Quora Top Writer Vanishes, Raises Questions of Broken Real-Name Policy

We recently reported on Quora’s growing problem with misogyny. One of the issues contributing to the rise of sexism on Quora may be its real-name policy, as several instances of banned users reappearing to send sexist messages have been reported.

While Quora allows users to ask, answer and comment anonymously, it requires that users sign up using their real names.

In response to the Quora question “Why has there been an outcry against real names on Google+ but not on Quora?” Yishan Wong explains:

Quora is somewhat further along this understanding than Google is (maybe due to its Facebook DNA? Unclear). Answers with real names attached can be reasonable authenticated to a known individual, thus adding value for all parties. At the same time, selective anonymity makes people comfortable sharing information they wouldn’t otherwise share. While this information can’t be identified, it still ends up being a net-positive sharing of information.

But authenticating a user’s real name on Quora is apparently not as far along as Wong suggests. Top Writer Alia Caldwell is a case in point.

Writing about sexism on Quora, one user made reference to Calwell’s recent disappearance: “The most shocking was Alia Caldwell’s situation, in which her online stalker actually moved near her and coerced her to leave her hard-worked-for home.”

Shortly after Caldwell allegedly complained of being stalked on Quora, she vanished. Caldwell, now known as “User,” deleted all of her contributions to the site, leaving gaping holes in the site’s content and upsetting many of her friends and fans, who have lost all contact with her.

Caldwell was vigilant about protecting her (persona’s) privacy. One anonymous user posted the following question in October of 2012: Why are people on Quora not obsessed with Alia Caldwell lately?

Additionally, Caldwell’s website aliacaldwell.com, where …read more

Source: Social Times