If the Best Answer in philosophy is a good pick, should it not suggest the Q-asked or some Q close to it?

Question

If the Best Answer(BA) in philosophy is a good pick, should it not suggest the Q-asked or some Q close to the Q asked? Alot of poor BA's do not have that quality. What do you think?

A wise man's question contains half the answer.
Solomon Ibn Gabirol

Answer 1

I'd have to say that whatever I think doesn't matter, because the Best Answer is up to the asker. I'd much rather they choose instead of leaving it up to the voters. I once wasn't alerted by Yahoo that I needed to extend my time on a question, & of all the truly beautiful answers, there was ONE that was very nasty. It got the community vote.
This section isn't "strictly" philosophical, (actually your question isn't, either!) but I like it best, & try to use logic in my answers if it's truly a philosophical question. Whatever the asker picks is fine with me.

Zelda's answer to you was thoughtful, & complete. I especially liked, regarding obscure double messages: "These are like precious little gifts to be unwrapped carefully."

Answer 2

I believe that every valid answer is included in the question asked, so yes I think that a BA should have that quality. It's a pity that few here have such a command of logic or interest in the questions implied in those asked to make their answers at least germain to the question at hand.

[Like my friends above said it's often a shooting match. I've even had to withdraw a question not to give a BA to one like Psychic Cat ended up with. I think the NO BEST ANSWER category should be offered the asker, without a vote left to an ignorant community.]

Answer 3

I don't really stress out on it, because a lot of question here don't even belong in this section. A lot of answers are intuitive, some are unrelated to the question, and many Askers choose their friends or even just some answers they find interesting. There is a social component, and this does not bother me. Sometimes it seems to be little more than a popularity contest or just questions and answers for the fun of it. There are some people here who ask a lot of questions, and they make it worthwhile for the rest.
Then there are some here who ask questions with obscure double meanings. These are like precious little gifts that need to be unwrapped carefully.
Not everything is so simple as Type A Question must produce Type A Best Answer. Sometimes someone can give a good and appropriate answer, but it is not chosen because the answer was arrogant. There are a lot of possibilities.

Answer 4

Great question. However, we don't have any hold from the one picking up the best. He has all the options, freedom and the opportunity to pick one. The least it could is to pick that there is no best answer then to toss this up to the community. Neither the community is an assurance that such answer is the best. This we have no control and you are right in you are right in your opinion. I respect that much as you do.

Thanks to your question. Have a great day!