In your opinion, why are the majority of best answers short, smartassed, inane & often irrelevant??

Question

I've noticed that some questions are well thouht out and multi-detailed. Yet quite often the questioner will choose the briefest, or those with often vain attempts at wit, the irelevant or those answers that leave facets of the question hanging, and they'll ignore several more pertinent well considered answers. The same applies when the "community" votes.

Answer 1

Essentially the answer is that people simply cannot be bothered to read through all the answers, and though it is true that the longer answers are often the best, as they address all facets of the question and justify their answers, people don't see this as they have fifty answers to a question they didn't really care that much about to begin with. (Goodness, I write long sentences!)

Community votes work as above. Everyone wants the 1point for voting, or will vote for their own answer. People looking fora point will vote for whatever, and certainly cannot be bothered to read a long answer.

There was actually a question on here recently about how everyone waffles in long answers, so I think we've been stereotyped my friend.

Alas I am guilty of being one of life's more loquacious answerers...

Answer 2

Sometimes people are looking for something short and sweet. The best answer doesn't always have to be epic in proportion, just to the point. In regards to being smartassed, inane and irrelevant: sometimes people just want to laugh. Maybe their question was a little too serious for their own good and the laughter is the answer they didn't know they needed and not so much the literal answer to the actual question

Answer 3

I dont think best answers are irrelevant..they express their views in the briefest way possible..i think you are one of those people who think the longest the answer the better...I think even if the answer is of two lines still contains the some matter of facts pertaining to the question..that answer can be chosen as the best..

Answer 4

the people who choose answers with vain attempts at wit are usually vain & witty themselves;) i have a variety of best answers.some are thoughtful while others are only one word answers.people have different humor.what others may think is not funny,others find hilarious.i think people who type considerate/detailed answers are also vain because they can be seen as know-it-alls.i'm vain either way lol at least i'm not in denial^_^ what i don't get is why the asker chooses a best answer yet rate it with like one star.shouldn't the best answer automatically be a 5 star choice?! i'd also like to see who gave my best answers a thumbs down:(

Answer 5

I find that between the unresearched idiotic answers and the lame attempts to be either funny or rude makes asking anything here a waste of time. Use google or an encyclopedia if you really want a answer.

Answer 6

Because alot of ppl dont have the patience or guidance themselve to answer. so instead of them just passing up the questions they cant answer the use their time to be hostile or crittickle 2 someone elses ideas.those inabilities can make the maturaty side feel insecure so there way of lashing out on ppl makes them feel. they got the power back in thier hands if u let them knowit.

Answer 7

I've noticed this myself and I wonder if this isn't playground psychology in action.
You know, where the kids think the guy with the snappy, witty, (and even disrespectful) come-back, is the 'King of Cool', and hang out with him in the hope that their own 'Street Cred' will benefit.
Sad really.

Answer 8

because some just want to have the precious "2 points" for every answer (irrelevant or not to the question asked). some are just really prefered it to be short but straight forward to answer the question. and some are just really like that...

Answer 9

Most likely they dont care about the question and as most other have said are just going for the points.

Answer 10

Short attention spans.