do top contributors on here all kiss each others butts, it seems that way..?

i notice no matter how good of an answer you give people tend to pick top contributors as best answer

Hi there,

Well as far as I know, no one chooses my answers because I have a tc badge, and when I vote I go for the answer that answers the question asked the best or the one that makes the most sense. These are not necessarily the top contributors either. I have experienced the very same as you in the past both with tc holders and with none tc holders, the ones that get me the most though are the ones where you know that they have just picked a friend's answer as best - no matter how random that answer is in relation to the question.

Hope this helps, wishing you a bright and happy future :-)

Some of them certainly do help each other out.