Who Decides Best Answer?

[Phuket]

I just searched for an answer to an Epson printer problem and found a post marked as "Best Answer", when in fact it was total rubbish.

So who decides "Best Answr" and how can closed topics get the rubbish "Best Answer" changed.

This stuff stays on the site forever, so having a pathetic post marked as "Best Answer" is ridiculous, especially when someone else has provided the correct answer.

The thread in question is titled "Epson L210 red light blinking" and the rubbish answer was provided by "Pinnacle".

The correct answer was provided by "fedelk", although even that is not perfect.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Sometimes, it's chosen by the original poster.

Other times, it's chosen by a moderator, experienced member, or staff. In this case, it's the latter.

Merely because it worked for you does not mean that it's the 'best' answer - often, there can be multiple problems that appear the same, and need to be fixed differently.

Simply because it didn't work for you doesn't mean it's 'rubbish'.

 

[Phuket]

Thank you for your quick reply.

It's nothing to do with what worked for me. If you read the thread you will see that the answer "shake the tank" is wrong. The printer in question estimates when the ink will run out by the number of pages printed and you have to push a button a couple of times to indicate that you have filled the tanks. The printer cannot detect the amount of ink in the tank. The answer selected is simply wrong.

So how do we get these "Best Answers" changed? You do realise that many people will be trying this ridiculous "answer" and going away with the impression that your web site is not worth reading.

If you let these wrong answers stay as "Best Answer" you are not doing anyone any favours - you are in fact causing them a problem and wasting their time.

Maybe you should not close these threads. Let people add more posts to them.

 

[Rogue Leader]

While we try to be omniscient, we (the moderators) are a group of volunteers whom can't catch every thread that comes in not goes properly answered or unanswered.

There are two threads here in this forum for users to report bad BAs that the Moderators can go back and fix:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/34863-12-remove-answer
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2058366/remove-solution.html

As a community we rely on our users to assist us so should you find issues as you mentioned please use either thread to report them to us.

 

[Phuket]

Thanks for your reply.

Two points:

1. the two threads you gave links to appear to be for the original poster (i.e. the question asker) to change his mind about his selection of "Best Answer". Can a third party report that a "Best Answer" is clearly not the best answer in either of those threads?

2. Some threads are closed with a "Best Answer" selected. Is it possible to get these threads re-opened and the "Best Answer" changed?


Thanks for your help.

 

[Rogue Leader]

Thanks for your reply.

Two points:

1. the two threads you gave links to appear to be for the original poster (i.e. the question asker) to change his mind about his selection of "Best Answer". Can a third party report that a "Best Answer" is clearly not the best answer in either of those threads?

2. Some threads are closed with a "Best Answer" selected. Is it possible to get these threads re-opened and the "Best Answer" changed?


Thanks for your help.

You can report hose types of issues there too. You can also create a new thread in forum feedback, we always check that forum so if you feel more comfortable starting a new thread, that would be fine and we would appreciate it.

We have the ability to re-open threads as well, if the issue is that extensive we can do that as well to get the correct info out there.

 

[Phuket]

Thanks very much for your reply.