You don't go to StackExchange to hang out - you go there
to ask answer/ask questions. It's like Wikipedia.
Maybe I'm missing some portion of Quora then, but that's exactly how I use Quora. I've never found any indication on Quora that I can do anything other than ask and answer questions.
Whenever people tell you to look into something that
appears curious - try it for 2 weeks and make your own
judgement.
That's what I've been trying to do, I've even gone out of my way to ask questions on Quora just so I can understand the experience, my problem seems to be that how you're describing it (as some form of community?) does not match how I've experienced it.
Perhaps there is a feature or section of the site I'm not aware of? As I mentioned, some sort of example on Quora or Quora being this fascinating and valuable community experience would be great, because I just can't find it.
My experience with Quora mirrors your own. However a friend of mine was absolutely nuts about it, he chalked it up to having found a group of people to follow who were asking and answering interesting questions.
This difference made Quora less of a Q+A site and more of an interesting news, facts and opinions site to him.
Ditto. Quora's strength is only the competencies of the people who contribute. With any Q/A site that deals with subjective content that isn't moderated by knowledgeable/qualified persons in those matters, it's more of a rush to see who can answer the question first with the most words and inflated vocabulary to warrant upvotes more than it is a place to get real responses. When anyone and everyone is allowed to pour in their two cents, and especially when credence is given based on popularity or place of employ, the results cannot be taken as seriously as they could be. Doubly so when it is used as a means to advertise your half-baked startup initiative.
Perhaps there is a feature or section of the site I'm not aware of? As I mentioned, some sort of example on Quora or Quora being this fascinating and valuable community experience would be great, because I just can't find it.