What is the probability here of a Best Answer being a wrong answer?

Question

Can anyone recount a specific experience?

I have seen enough - thanks to those who gave me examples but even without that it would not have taken me long to learn from my own experience that "Flippancy rules OK" and that one is wasting one's time trying to explain to the living dead.

Answer 1

it is impossible to know. sometimes someone can spew a lot of garbage, and sound like they know what they're talking about, and be completely wrong.

also, answers can be chosen based on the opinion of the asker [or voters]

it's a good idea to read all of the answers, on a question you searched, to give a broad, general idea of what a right answer could possibly be

you have to remember, this was set up so that someone can do an internet search, and instead of just matching words, get answers that came from people that were trying to answer the question

worrying about the 'best answer' is useless, a better process is to hope that a general feeling for the right answer is available, based on the many answers given

Answer 2

Quite honestly, the Best Answer is subject to the person choosing, and it may be a complete and utter lie; usually the answers that are worded most appealingly will pull above those that are not. Also, the choice is entirely subject to the person choosing, and so, especially in debates, may be biased. A person choosing the best answer may just pick the one that best states what their own beliefs are, not necessarily the one that best analyzes both sides of the argument and most fully answers the question. Seeing as I myself have only discovered the wonders of Yahoo! Answers yesterday, I have yet to find a specific Best Answer that was utterly wrong, yet I do know for a fact that the best and most analytical answer does not always win. One such example, in my opinion, would be this question here. I know it may just be my own bias, but I think my answer may have been a bit more informative than the one that was chosen as "Best". See the link below.

Answer 3

About the probability, that is incalculable as it is impossible to determine the rate at which people continue to be so dumb.

As for personal experience, I have answered several math and gambling odds questions (and also history, music, etc.) where my own direct "training" qualifies me as an "expert" - like what year was Beethoven born in - me music major in college - duh! slam dunk -WRONG!! idiot gives it to someone off half a century. So by my experience, I've answered thousands and gotten 12% bests. About another 2% should have been, so in my case its 12/14 or 14% I should get and don't.

Answer 4

About 25%.

Answer 5

Fairly high. I have seen this happen lots of times especially when the correct answer is not what is commonly believed. Also a lot of people vote for an answer which they agree with rather than an answer which is accurate.

Answer 6

quite high. I have had some jokers give me a thumbs down for stating a fact. You might ask if the world is round, I would answer yes and some fool would give me a thumbs down - with people like that out there, the chances of a best answer being a wrong answer is quite high.

Answer 7

(b) 5 or 6 defective pens 5 defective pens = 5 defective pens AND a million sturdy pen 0.a million^5 cases 0.9 (not plus because of the fact it particularly is AND) 6 defective pens 0.a million^6 0.a million^5 * 0.9 + 0.a million^6 (c) decrease than 3 defective pens = 2 OR a million OR 0 defective pens (2 pens) 0.a million^2*0.9^4 + (a million pen) 0.a million*0.9^5 + (0 pens) 0.9^6 bear in suggestions for probability AND is * and OR is +

Answer 8

very high as the questions here are not voted by fact but by who agrees with what ever they ask

Answer 9

many questions asked yet I answer only a select few. misspipik is all seeing and all knowing.

Answer 10

You must have lots of time on your hands to ask this.