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Should there be a team of people that enforces whether or not a questioner is REALLY choosing the Best Answer?
On several occasions I have come across questioners who are obviously not choosing the best answer. This could be for several reasons.
A. They wish to assist a friend.
B. They hold grudges against another member.
What can be done about this?
A. They wish to assist a friend.
B. They hold grudges against another member.
What can be done about this?
The asker of this question selected no best answer.
answers (5)
No, I don't think a regular enforcement team is necessary.
Your biggest problem is that best answers are soooo subjective. The asker may have a very specific goal, purpose, need, or perspective in mind when deciding which helped them the best, or which really answered their question the best.
So what about gaming the system?
I'd like to crow for a minute about how wonderful this site is for regular policing and monitoring. I think blatantly gaming the system is pretty rare, and if a pattern did develop, I think the "authorities" would gladly look into the situation and act if appropriate. So if you really do see a clear pattern, I would absolutely go ahead and report it.
Listen, I completely, totally, 100% understand what it's like to feel like you got hosed on not getting the BA. It hurts. But sometimes that's just the way the cookie crumbles.
And although you may be right to be *suspicious* about friends who tend to vote for eachother, don't overlook the possibility that they just *know* eachothers' personality and style really well, so they might legitimately be able to write answers that specifically appeal to that user.
People who have a history of disagreement might honestly feel that the answer, voice, or perspective of the answerer is really tainted. Or maybe it has nothing to do with it. Maybe they really just had a good reason for believing another answer to be best.
I encourage you to be vigilant, but caution you not to be too paranoid. I think this is a pretty well-regulated site, and I think there's very limited danger that you'll be taken in by site gaming. If you see something irregular, definitely report it. And otherwise I wish you many best answers!
Your biggest problem is that best answers are soooo subjective. The asker may have a very specific goal, purpose, need, or perspective in mind when deciding which helped them the best, or which really answered their question the best.
So what about gaming the system?
I'd like to crow for a minute about how wonderful this site is for regular policing and monitoring. I think blatantly gaming the system is pretty rare, and if a pattern did develop, I think the "authorities" would gladly look into the situation and act if appropriate. So if you really do see a clear pattern, I would absolutely go ahead and report it.
Listen, I completely, totally, 100% understand what it's like to feel like you got hosed on not getting the BA. It hurts. But sometimes that's just the way the cookie crumbles.
And although you may be right to be *suspicious* about friends who tend to vote for eachother, don't overlook the possibility that they just *know* eachothers' personality and style really well, so they might legitimately be able to write answers that specifically appeal to that user.
People who have a history of disagreement might honestly feel that the answer, voice, or perspective of the answerer is really tainted. Or maybe it has nothing to do with it. Maybe they really just had a good reason for believing another answer to be best.
I encourage you to be vigilant, but caution you not to be too paranoid. I think this is a pretty well-regulated site, and I think there's very limited danger that you'll be taken in by site gaming. If you see something irregular, definitely report it. And otherwise I wish you many best answers!
voted helpful: dbiddie, brian san, lilyloretta, demanda, spoon, rising falls, chriswingate, hcp56, jeffhoard
Thanks, @matthewh. Yep, we may be sitting on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but I'm always pleased to see you on the boards. Sorry to hear you've hit some frustrations. I hope it all works out.
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Thanks @gno we do work really hard to ensure gamers don't ruin the site and personally I think it's only a very small percentage of Best Answers that get rewarded to the wrong person due to gaming, I would say we've caught 99% of our gamers before they reach green belt.
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I guess I see what you meant in your other comment now...
Whether you're right or wrong about it, I would never let that stop you from answering questions and it's not really fair to use someone else's response, someone who isn't even involved, to say what you want to say.
If you think there's a genuine problem and someone is breaking rules, then you should report it and go about it the right way rather than making comments here and there and getting stressed about it.
Whether you're right or wrong about it, I would never let that stop you from answering questions and it's not really fair to use someone else's response, someone who isn't even involved, to say what you want to say.
If you think there's a genuine problem and someone is breaking rules, then you should report it and go about it the right way rather than making comments here and there and getting stressed about it.
Who is to really say what the best answer is though? It's arbitrary, everyone will have a different opinion. If it's blatantly obvious that someone is choosing an answer that isn't the best, maybe there should be a penalty, deduct points from their balance, perhaps.
voted helpful: matthewh
The best answer is to be determined by the asker-- as only they know what they are looking for. There is a team (Mahalo staff) who investigates people who appear to be gaming the system. Those efforts are kept "under the water" so as not to disturb the community, but the work they do keeps everything running smoothly.
Life isn't fair, and you may think you a have a wonderful answer-- but the asker like another one better. It doesn't mean there's something suspicious going on. If you find that a certain person never selects your answer as best, you may just not be on the same wave length. Best to brush it off and move on.
Life isn't fair, and you may think you a have a wonderful answer-- but the asker like another one better. It doesn't mean there's something suspicious going on. If you find that a certain person never selects your answer as best, you may just not be on the same wave length. Best to brush it off and move on.
No it not a good idea...If you do that you are removing the power from the questioner. I enjoy that kind of responsibility....removing it will make me feel empty..
The best answer is really determine by the person who asked the question. The questioner knows if the answer fulfills his goal. A team does not know. They do not know why I ask the question. They don't know what I am going through and why I am seeking advice.
The best answer is really determine by the person who asked the question. The questioner knows if the answer fulfills his goal. A team does not know. They do not know why I ask the question. They don't know what I am going through and why I am seeking advice.
voted helpful: hcp56
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