Who would you choose as the best answer: a top contributor or a random person?

random person, top contributors need to share the love.

Doesn't make any difference at all to me whether the answer is given by a Top Contributor ... the TC just means that a person answers a LOT of questions in a particular category.

When I choose a BA to any question that I ask, I choose the one that was most helpful and/or gave me the most detailed information. Most often, that person is NOT a TC, but was someone just trying to be helpful (rather than earn an easy 2 points!)

Obviously the best answer from the whole lot of answers received, irrespective of the TC badge or the points against each answerer. It is certainly not going to be a random answer that I would select.

When it comes to voting on a question put to the community for a vote, the TC badge is not displayed, nor the name/points earned by an answerer. This is quite fair.

As for someone's earlier comment about TC, let me say that I have only one YA account, I don't have a group of friends or relations who vote for my answers as the best, and have been in and out of the TC category. It certainly is possible to get a TC badge without resorting to this type of cheating. However, I have always maintained that the TC badge serves no useful purpose and ought to be withdrawn. I would be very happy if the TC scheme is discontinued.

Answering questions in this forum is difficult for me. I find it hard to tell what people are really after, a quick yes or no or a detailed answer. To many it seems like a game, a way to pass the time. To me it is not. I want to help and the only way to do that is length. Is the best answer to "should I commit murder?" "No" or one that asks "Why?" and covers the possible outcomes? The best answer is one that dissect the question not glazes it.

i would choose the best answer without regard to the persons status on the board. in the case of a tie, i would give it to the first one to answer the question correctly. i think it is wrong to punish someone for being a top contributor.....just my opinion.

The best answer is better, 'cause it helps people solve the problem they get.

The Top Contributor give many answers but it solve nothing :-?

may be both but it all depends on the quality of answer....

but decision is not affected by concerning that, he/she is a top contributor....

the one with the best answer......many top contributors are are people with multiple profiles..... statically getting top answerer is hardly possible without a possee voting up their pals

depends who has the best answer... but if I like them equally, I choose whoever answered first.

who ever u think gave u the best answer