How do YOU choose a best answer?

Question

Do you choose wisely or for your own selfish reasons? Do you consider all answers and carefully screen them until you understand who's behind them? What they are offering before you reject them? Are you certain that you rejected the WRONG answers to what you asked or just maybe you chose mistakenly? Think about it the next time that you are asked to choose.

Answer 1

There are two methods of choosing a best answer depending on whether the question deals with the Objective world or the Subjective realm.

A question like "What is the largest Mammal on planet Earth?" is objective, it has a definite answer and is not subject to whim, opinion or a matter of faith. In this case the best answer would go to whoever first replied with the correct answer "The Blue Whale". But if the question had been "What is the largest LAND mammal on planet Earth?" the answer "Blue Whale" would have been false.

But if I asked "Who is the most beautiful actress in Hollywood?" I'm dealing with matters subjective and where the subjective realm is entered, it really is a matter of opinion and there's no definite right or wrong in the subjective realm, so one tends to award someone who thinks as they do. I might have said "Angelina Jolie" and another person "Nicole Kidman". Neither of us are right OR wrong here!

Then there are questions that technically would be objective, as they most certainly do have a definite answer, yet are of a controversial nature because not all the facts or evidence exists to support them, or not all the data is in. A question like "Does God exist?" or "Is String Theory the most accurate description of the laws of Physics and the Universe?" most definitely has an answer, but since hard evidence is lacking, or not all the evidence is in, the answers tend to be a bit controversial.

The best stance here is the Agnostic stance which is nothing more or less than "I don't know".

Quantum Mechanics and Einstein's theory of General Relativity are in considerable conflict. Obviously one or both has flaws. Which one is the best Theory? Which one more accurately describes our Universe? My answer is a humble "I don't know."

Here the best answer is the one tempered by reason but honest enough to admit the possibility of error. Unlike Religion which pretends to deal with certainties, Science deals with the Probable and Philosophy the Possible. The best Science can do more often than not is create an approximation of the Truth, a closer approach to a goal that may never be reached.

Wisely did an anonymous sage write "Philosophy has questions that may never be answered. Religion has answers that may never be questioned."

I believe that is not just a human right of all people in the world to question authority whether political, religious or even scientific, but it is a DUTY to question authority! It is often a moral or ethical crime NOT to question.

Answer 2

I pick the one that makes the most sense, whether I want to hear it or not! Sometimes I look at the profiles of all the answers but I always look at the one I pick. I like the ones that put the most thought into the answer. I don't know why some people just answer "yes" or "no" or even "I don't know"! Why even bother if that's all you're going to say?! I think a person should put some energy into how they spend their time. Other wise it's just time wasted and we all don't really have as much time as we think.
Thanks! This was fun!

Answer 3

Most of my questions are related to things that I am pretty convinced about. Usually I am looking for answers to prove me wrong, or to show a different view that would make sense, something that I would have to think about. If I don't find such an answer, I choose any other answer that I think has something particulary interesting (even just the sense of humor, I like a lot people with a sense of humor). If even that is missing, I just pick the opinion wich is closest to mine or I set it for voting.

Other times I just ask questions to prove something - not to prove personally something, but to prove something with the answerer's reactions. Nothing can be more relevant. In those cases I pick the most relevant answer of them all - of course, the one that is relevant in my opinion.


You can't completely avoid subjectivism. Some people can't avoid it at all

Answer 4

On the subject of motorcycling, I often ask a question to stimulate discussion of a particular aspect of safety. In fact, I have the answer in mind when I write the question.

On spirituality, it's quite different. Jews believe we were each given our own Torah.This is because the singular form of "you" was used when the Torah was given instead of the expected plural form. Our understanding of that Torah is based on the mind we were given and our experiences so far in life.

Therefore, there can be no best or worst answer. However, if a person is disrespectful, I give them a thumbs down. Maybe I should reconsider that as they are where they are.

Answer 5

I rarely ask questions but when I do I also rarely pick a best answer. Why? Because what I ask is often a matter of a person's personal opinion and I don't feel it right to judge that so I leave it to the Y/A "community" to decide.

When I do choose, it's often an answer that I totally disagree with but where the point of view is expressed intelligently and respectfully.

Answer 6

I choose the answer that I think fits the Question asked to the best of my ability! If you're ''insinuating'' that I'm being bias when I answer the Questions Posted, then the next time you try answering a Question, Don't.

Answer 7

I actually screen them all. First I look at my question and see if the person is from the "group' I asked the question to. ( If I ask for Christians to answer a question and a Muslim answers it, I may agree with their answer but I did not ask for it... so they can not get "best answer'.) And I often specify which group I am looking for to answer a question.

Second, I look for if they actually answered my question or are they just ranting or treating me like an idiot for asking it. If they didn't answer the question, that knocks them off the "best answer list.

Third, I try to see if an answer has been cut and pasted. I do not normally give "best answer' to someone who has cut and pasted from someplace else because if I wanted that type of information, I would have surfed the web myself for it.

After eliminating the three types of answers above, I take the rest and look for who, it seems, has put the most effort into their answer and has used logical reasoning. Sometimes it is really hard because there are many that I would choose if I could but I do my best to pick one that "hits home" with me. Even if it doesn't agree with what I believe. (religion questions)

Answer 8

I choose the ones that feel right to me. It may not work for other people, but then again, they're not the ones asking the question. Just because they chose one answer over another doesn't make any of them any less valid, it is what works best for them. That's what makes opinions so great, you can take them or you can leave them.

Answer 9

I picked the one that helped me out the most and if i ask a question that some people might find stupid and i get a whole bunch of rude answers, i pick the one that isnt the rudest, but most likely, that's goin to be the one that helped me out.

Answer 10

Wow, I never really thought about it like that. It's almost like the best answer points mean something. It sounds like I have a lot of thinking to do. I will have to take some personal time to ponder these questions you set forth.

Oh wait, actually, the points don't mean anything and this is just a web site. Nevermind.