Does choosing a best answer stress you out (please see details)?

Question

For instance:

I have a contact I love dearly. She is intelligent, expresses herself well, and consistently gives really awesome answers. However, I have found when choosing a best answer, hers is always the second or third best to me. I feel she deserves a best answer because of her consistency, and the over-all quality of her answers, but to do so would mean I would have to not give the answer to the person I believe actually has the best answer. Also, she answers practically every question I post, and I don't want her to stop doing that.

This is just one example of the kind of stress I feel when choosing a best answer. Am I making too much of this? I almost want to start putting all my questions to a vote.

Answer 1

The only time it's stressful to me is when there are so many equally good answers to pick from. But that's a good thing to stress over. Just pick the best answer; it helps the whole community when you do that.

Answer 2

Some great answers...especially liked what Vishal and Jimmy had to say! I know I enjoy receiving a best answer, but I'm not offended when one of my contacts likes another person's answer better...quite a few times, I even agree with the choice! I certainly don't think I have all the right answers *laugh*!

I don't like the idea of putting it to a vote...from what I've seen, many answers win with only one or two votes. I think the asker is in the best position to judge the best answer! You asked the question, you know what answer best provided the information (or whatever else) you were seeking when you asked it!

One idea I thought of was to post additional details or comments on your best answer noting the other answers you liked. The benefit of this strategy is that, in addition to giving your contact a public note of appreciation, you point future readers to other good answers!

Answer 3

No, and I fully understand. A great friend of mine on Y!A and I have this delema. Rather, I do, and wouldn't be suprised if she does. In the end, if I ask a question that no one really answered to my liking, I give her best answer. She also gives the best answer sometimes too. I always answer nearly all her questions too, and I don't always get best answer either. I also find that if she doesn't have an answer for me, she stars it, which helps, as often her other contacts bring in people who might well be more knowledgable in that area.
With my friend and I, I think there has been an unspoken understanding. I give her best answer when its best, and when there's no good answer. I think she does the same thing for me. If i haven't gotten best answer from her in a long time, i think it just means that I'm not taking my time answering her.
Try not to stress over this. discuss this with your friend. Tell her you don't want her to get offended. In reading this questions, she'll understand how important your friendship is to her, and your "stress" over this ought to properly explain itself. Good luck, and I hope and pray your friend is just as understanding, and keeps answering all your questions.

Answer 4

I think that letting your questions go to voting is like a slap in the face to the people who really tried hard to give you good answers. It's like all the hard work they put into answering your questions wasn't worth your time to pick a best answer.

I'm sure your contact has no hard feelings when you don't pick her. Just go with the ones you feel are truly the best and try not to stress over it too much. Remember Y!A is supposed to be fun!

Answer 5

If the question was very detailed, i will try my best to give the detailed answer. If the question is about deafness, or anything like that. I will definitely share my experience, (my experiences are always long! lol XD) And, if i am interested in that question but still don't know the answer, i would research and find out. If i am bothered, i would answer the question.

Answer 6

Deciding whether to choose a best answer yourself or letting it go to a vote depends on what the question is.

If you are asking a question that you know the answer too, or one of the answers you get is obviously the best (IE: most correct) then you should pick the one that is actually the best / most correct, regardless of who it comes from. If you don't know, or prefer not to choose, then let it go to a vote.

( I have done it both ways, and letting it go to a vote is not always going to get a correct answer either)

Answer 7

You are taking this entirely to far I mean is giving someone a best answer for a question really that big of a deal I don't think so I don't even bother with it if you don't do it popular choice will I tend to believe that is the best way to go just let the people decide go with democracy not monarchy.

Answer 8

I feel your pain on that one. I like a lot of my contacts and I want to give them points. It's even worse if they choose you for best answer a lot. I choose the answer I like best anyway. I hope my contacts understand. If I could give them ten of my points just for answering, I would, but the best answer is the best answer. I'm sure most people don't really care about the points. I know I don't.

Answer 9

I think you make too much of this. When I choose a best answer(when I have time to) I either look at the thought that was put into it, or the one I think helps me the most. The person never factors into it at all.

Answer 10

put them to the vote if you feel you cant do it ...
but when you put it to the vote , 9 times out of 10 people will pick the first answer for a quick 2 points anyway
which is a shame for both your friend and the real best answer

but your friend should know how this works
I have about 200 contacts on here and many of them answer each of my questions....
but I choose the one who answers the best or funniest or whatever I am looking for
sometimes that just so happens to be a contact ... which is nice
dont stress it ... just pick the best
it will be your friend sometimes