For those with low percentages of best answers: something to think about...do you think?

Question

I don't want to seem arrogant, but if you have a low percentage of best answers is it because:

1) You don't read all the details of the question, and therefore your answer does not even address the question.

2) You insult people on a regular basis.

3) You answer with no knowledge of the subject at hand, do no research, and just post what you've "heard", or just want to hurry up and answer to get points.

Why do you think your percentage is low (below 5%)?

Nemo, a percentage is based on how many questions you actually DO answer; has nothing to do with the ones you don't.

Pirate, you need to look at the list of questions I do answer.

I'm amazed at the amount of people who actually thing that a percentage has to do with how many question they answer at all. A percetage is how many "best answers" you got out of only the questions that you did answer.

Many good answers, and I'm glad that I'm not being attacked.

I think it's true that this section is a very volatile one, and most assuredly is part of it.

Yeah, Deus, but you've been here approximately 500% longer than I have.

Answer 1

Mine is 7%, but I happen to think thoroughly before answering most of the time. I just happen to answer questions that are heated topics, meaning there are about a million (maybe not that many) other people that have answered, thus reducing my chances of getting the best. That, and well, maybe I don't always agree with the one asking the question. However, I try to not be rude unless pure stupidity is involved in the asking process.

Answer 2

Well, I don't have a low percentage but lately I have been answering only questions in the R&S section and have only garnered a few Best Answers.. not because my answers were bad or that I insulted people on a regular basis but because my answer wasn't what the asker wanted to see.

It seems that the asker is either being:

Hypothetical or
Rhetorical

and doesn't want a true answer - one that actually answered their question. They just pick something that they already believe or think is true.

It's like asking: Is the invisible elephant pink? And then getting an affirmative answer and picking it as Best when all the sane people say that the elephant is invisible and one can't know the color.

Answer 3

My percentage of Best Answers is low because I often answer questions posted by atheists who don't like the fact that I'm a Christian.I've got no qualms about answering anyone,and I am not naiive enough to think that if I write the 'best' answer I will get chosen as the Best Answer.People here choose answers according to their own beliefs,not how good the answer actually is.I find it unfair that you're boxing everyone with a low percentage of Best Answers into three categories.By the way,I wasn't meaning that as an attack.

Answer 4

My problem is that

1) I sometimes insult people

2) I usually go for spiritual and political questions and in those areas I like to answer the questions that actually go against my thinking, so as to make a point that someone might not have thought of in the asking of the question.

True to there nature though, people hate it when you contradict them, no matter how good your point, and people always get mad when you make fun of them (a bad habit that I am trying to kick, sorry all).

I do put research into my answers, however, and I have noticed a lot of people don't really seem to have any idea what they are writing about.

Answer 5

My percentage used to be as high as you (higher, in fact), but it dropped because the TOTAL number of answers I have grows at a faster rate than my best answers, and the dropping of the percentage of best answers is kinda inevitable. It may also be because every time I get reported, I try to make up for the lost points by answering a flurry of questions with only "Yes" or "No", and sometimes I get a little outta control and end up answering like 80 questions with only "Yes" and "No".

By the by, I have about 332% as many best answers as you do at the time of this posting.

Answer 6

Did you ever think it just has to do with the fact that many people have many different opinions on things? Everyone is not going to agree with someone. Your examples only cover a small percentage of people. Perhaps you should be asking yourself why you are asking such a question.

Answer 7

i think there are a lot of reasons some people don't have a high percentage of best answers. maybe they don't take the time to answer quickly. Maybe they always answer the older questions, and therefore their questions don't get voted on properly. maybe they prefer quick short answers, which some people don't pick. Or maybe their answers are not original.

Answer 8

There are other reasons as well. A person may have a thoughtful but unpopular point of view. Or they may have the unfortunate habit of trying to reason with askers who have no intention of seeking information. But your points are well made. I would anly add that one should also choose questions based on intelligibility and sincerity. And don't feed the trolls!

Answer 9

All the above are very possible, but sometimes the person may be so clever and smart that his or her answers constantly 'float over' the general public's comprehension. Or s/he may give too many details that aren't understandable, so the person asking the question may vote for a simpler answer, even if it's more stupid.

Answer 10

I don't care about percentages. I am mostly here for entertainment when I am bored. Just because a lot of people believe or thing something does not make it right. I believe what I believe regardless of popularity.