what makes a good answer?

Question

l like it when l get a best answer...but what makes a best answer...

Answer 1

Well, my idea of a "best answer" is one that's on point and as explanatory as possible. But who can tell what's in the asker's mind, especially when it comes to some of the questions they post lol. Sometimes I think the "best answer" chosen is the one that is just brief, and witty. I usually aim for that when it seems obvious that the asker had his tongue in his cheek when he posted the question. I try to be sympathetic when the person is clearly in distress emotionally, but I also don't believe in jumping in there only to present my shoulder to be cried on. If it's pretty obvious that person got him or herself into that particular sitution, for example, through the most mindboggling stupidity, I'm not afraid to diplomatically say that -- with a careful choice of words, lol.
But yours is an interesting question because it reminds me how often I have posted an answer and I thought I really had this one " in the bag" and, boy was I wrong LOL. Then there have been other times, where the question wasn't all that serious, I'll give it my best pun as a response, and then move on never expecting to make any points, and to my surprise it's a "best answer"
I know I get "longwinded" sometimes - where I happen to know a little bit about the topic and I really want to share what I know with that other person. LOL I suppose I might lose a few because of that. But, the way I look at it, it's not ALL about the points. At least it shouldn't be. I think it's about being able to use this incredible technology to reach out to others and interract with them. These are the gazillion fellow humans whom you would have never even known existed, and here you are, reading what they have to say, learning a little something about them and how they feel and think. I think that's pretty exciting, don't you? Who knows? Perhaps in some way, sometime, somewhere on down the road, this kind of interraction could lead to us all becoming a little more united. I think the world could use some of that.

Answer 2

Agreement, sympathy, with what the asker wants to hear is usually the most likely to get the best answer vote. Cockiness and arrogance and insults won't get you votes, that's for sure. Many of the questioners here are only looking for someone to validate their own feelings, like begging for approval. (I've had that attitude in some of my questions at times too.) You can give an intelligent and well-reasoned answer and get nowhere if its not in agreement. You can give a correct answer to a cut-and-dried question and still get nowhere if the person is too dimwitted to recognize the right answer when he sees it.You can often tell by the question itself and the way it's presented what the person is like and what he's looking for. Check out the details about the asker to see what kind of person he is so you can figure out how to butter him up with all the right words. :) If he's obviously an idiot, there's no telling what he may choose as the best answer, so don't even bother to answer, it only makes your percentage go down when you're not chosen. Keep it short and to the point, my biggest fault, (I'm too damned wordy, as you may have just noticed)

Answer 3

a best answer, as you know, is chosen with by the questioner or by voters. a best answer completely answers the question, and often has to have good detail. usually best answers state more then one way to fix the problem the questioner is having, and gives ideas how to fix the sticky situation that they are in. sometimes, though, a best answer can be short, but to the point. it does not have to be elaborate, as long as it is clearly understandable. best answers are just the ones that hit the spot. but, the best answer also depends on the type of question asked. for example for a joke, someone who has a good reaction might get a best answer; opposed to someone who is helping with a relationship problem, that answer is usually longer & includes more views & ideas. so what makes a best answer? the way you answer a question to make people like it.

Answer 4

truthfully, i don't have a clue, the best answers i got,i don't really understand y , i got them. As some one has said, try 2 give the questioner what they want to hear. its up 2 u if u want 2 be truthful or not, and it helps to make it funny.

Answer 5

i like to get a best answer too yet i think it all depends on the asker.hope u get more best answers in 2007 :)

Answer 6

Hello Hill,

I really don't know, because I always give fantastic answers and don't very often get the points. I think it's because I'm to honest and don't try to tell the person what they want to hear..... OHHHHHH SOOOOO that's it, never put the truth and only ever put what the other person wants you to say if you can ascertain that.

I often give the points to the one who makes me laugh the most. Unless it's lefty, and then I just give her the points anyway because she talks to me.

Answer 7

Short but detailed to the point.

Actually answers the question.

Provides links/recommendations where appropriate.

Easy to read and polite.

Answer 8

Helpfulness and honesty always makes for "Best Answer."

Answer 9

it depends what the quest is and if its serious and someone needs help and you can give that person some kind of assurance then they will vote for you and a few more might like it and vote there's your 10 points

Answer 10

depends on the question, some only need a few words to answer others need more detail