So Google Answers tanks while Ask MetaFilter thrives. Why’s that?

According to Anil Dash, it is partly because MetaFilter was already a thriving community site when AskMeFi debuted, but also because it is moderated wisely by site owner Matt Haughey and his very able assistant, Jessamyn West. And, sez Dash,

Just as importantly, Jessamyn is a librarian. I can’t overstate how much a site that’s about providing information benefits from the presence of a librarian, someone who’s an expert at retrieving and disseminating information.

Emphasis in original.

via http://del.icio.us/popular/