suggested modification in the Y/A system.?

This debate about choosing a best answer by the asker, has been raised several times on YA and in the Forum.

Barring those cases of family/social problems pointed out by a member here, an asker should normally be able to find time to vote on the best answer himself.

One way to do this is to keep a question open for a longer period of say 10 days (total), including any extension sought by the asker. Two days before this period gets over, YA could send an e mail to the asker reminding him that he has to choose the best answer within the next two days, failing which he would lose further 3 points. The asker could be given a chance to vote 'No best answer' too at this stage, for which he would lose 2 more points.

When an asker chooses NBA or does not respond to the notice, the question should be treated as unresolved and all those who had responded (that includes those who gave silly/inane answers too), should be awarded 2 more points each. The question could then be reposted by the same asker, subject to the normal rules for points lost. If the same asker gets to repost the same question, a reference to the earlier posting could be given for those interested in reading the previous answers to the question.

This is just one of the several alternatives that could be worked out. The idea should be to reduce the number of outstanding questions waiting for a vote to get resolved. Some of these questions date back to 2 years!

I agree on some points. I feel cheated and ignored when I have put thought, and time and research into an answer, the answer goes to voting, and the BA often goes to.. "I don't know, sorry" - Because of the voting system. Ten people voting for the first answer they see? One answer which was also mindless had 67 votes one time!

You have a good theory. A lot of questioners on here are sometimes only on asking one or two questions, and then they disappear. So penalizing would be a good idea, in some form.But that still leaves out a large % of people who come to this site looking for a good answer.

We just have to keep voting and answering as conscientiously as we can. It's tempting to give in, but as I stated in another question, If we don't keep a structure - then this site would be worth zip. zilch.

And noone would come for any decent answer anymore.

It really is up to us.

I now vote more than I used to because of this - takes 5 seconds and I read down the whole page.

This breaks ties, and takes away votes from point-gamers.

Anything and everything we can do, really.

I think putting it out to the Community to decide on a best answer is sometimes a fair and neccessary way of dealing with a popular question with plenty of good quality answers. However, I do agree with you that their are some questions that drift into voting for no good visible reason. So, how about giving each person a quota of say 10 questions per year that they can ask folks to vote on and the rest of the time they simply have to chose a best answer, or lose the right to ask questions for a month!

What do you think?

I am in favor of ANY modifications that would make people more responsible for resolving the Questions.

We will be passing 2 million unresolved questions shortly.

I have created a group where we coordinate the voting process in a "Focus Category". As a group we have broken tens of thousands of ties.

I hope you will consider joining us!

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Yah00AnswersTie...

Sometimes people who have posted questions are not on line, or able to get to a computer to vote for a best answer, or life gets in the way; as in Mom had a heart attack, wife just had a baby, son got killed in a car accident, father got killed in Iraq, yada, yada. Just how important is a game for points???? Boils down to priorities.