February 16, 2005

11:26 AM

I noticed an AskMe thread with two "Best Answers". Is the ability to mark more than one answer as "best" intentional, or is this a bug? I'm sure there are going to be cases of ties, so perhaps this isn't a bad idea.
posted by tommasz to bugs at 11:26 AM (11 comments total)

Here's what folks posting a question see along the side:

What do "best answers" mean?

You might notice there's a small "mark as best answer" option next to every comment here. If you asked a specific question with a specific answer, or you solicited advice about a problem that someone solved, by all means mark off the helpful answers with the link. It is ok to mark more than one, if they helped answer the question for you and it's ok not to mark any at all.

What you shouldn't use the best answer option for is to mark off answers you liked, if your question was general or without a definite answer. It's also a good idea to wait a bit before marking one off, if you're asking for advice on a problem. Usually after a day or two, the best answers will have been placed.

posted by mathowie at 11:28 AM on February 16, 2005

Thanks, Matt. I haven't posted an question since you added that feature.
posted by tommasz at 11:32 AM on February 16, 2005

You can -- nay, should -- go back and mark best answers to your old questions. It helps searchers in the future.
posted by Plutor at 11:59 AM on February 16, 2005

I take it the tags aren't working in AskMeFi yet? I get the form field but it throws a CF error upon submission.
posted by sciurus at 12:04 PM on February 16, 2005

Ditto. I'm sure matt is working on it right now, and we'll have a MeTa announcement within an hour.
posted by Plutor at 12:23 PM on February 16, 2005

Two best answers, you say? Check out this thread. Everyone's A Winner!
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 12:28 PM on February 16, 2005

Everyone's A Winner!

God, that's lame. I'll fix it.
posted by mathowie at 1:24 PM on February 16, 2005

There is always a joker around to mess with the new ponies.
posted by caddis at 1:32 PM on February 16, 2005

That just sounds wrong and quite likely illegal, caddis. nsfw
posted by five fresh fish at 2:21 PM on February 16, 2005

You can -- nay, should -- go back and mark best answers to your old questions. It helps searchers in the future.

If there is no best answer, or you don't know what it is (which is entirely possible), then I would suggest you do not mark any.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:33 PM on February 16, 2005

fff, ROFL
posted by caddis at 5:42 PM on February 16, 2005