It's hard to mark best response :(

I do just that - the best reponse to my question or comment. My problem is that I often get several that are really good, or extra informative or told me a different view - even if it was not same as mine, and I can only give the BR to one of them! THen I have to choose between them!

I know what you mean about not knowing what criteria to use. First of all, I don't think anyone should be able to choose a "best response" within 3 hours of posting a discussion. I've seen that and that doesn't even give people a chance to see the darned thing - this world revolves in 24 hours and people all over look at these discussions. Give them ALL a chance to respond. Secondly, when there are two equally good responses, even if they don't agree, I'm not sure what to do. Do I do nothing or do I choose one anyway and then tell the other person I had to flip a coin. Maybe they're not even worried about it. I don't even check to see who got what - I'm always surprised when I get one. Thirdly, I always wait. You never know how long it will take people to read and respond. Plus, how I feel in a week isn't always how I feel today. I'm better off deciding when the "passion" that caused me to start a discussion has subsided. Less risk of being biased, I think. Then, what do you do if there's only two responses? So far, I don't make a choice on those. I sit on them for a while. Unless someone posts something so outstanding (to me, obviously) that I can't imagine anyone else coming close, there just doesn't seem to be enough there to base a decision on. So, if there are any among who who has responded to one of my lesser responded discussions, please don't take offense. Anyway, that's where I am on it. It's an interesting option, but I don't always agree when someone chooses me - I see other responses I thought were better. I mean - I do like what I say, but sometimes I like someone else's more. Comprendez vous?

well, i hardly make a discussion here... and when i make a discussion, i will try to make sure to mark best response to appreciate those people who had responded to my discussions... take care and have a nice day...

I always worry that after I've chosen a "best response" someone else will respond to the discussion with an even better response! So I usually wait several weeks after I've posted the discussion to select a best response. I chose the best way based on a number of factors. Usually if a response really stands out to me for some reason or is memorable in any way, I'll select it as a best response. Often if the poster says something I strongly agree with, I may select it as a best response. And of course, the more helpful a response is, the more likely I am to select it as a best response!

yes, I do agree with you, it's really quite hard to choose and mark best response, especially if two or more responses are quite good. Sometimes, I kinda wished that I don't have to choose among the responses that I got. But knowing that it was kinda duty as a discussion starter to at least praised and recognized the myloter's response, I'll just choose the response that I think was best and really answer my discussion and like it as well.

oh.. what a mess of me. I just put the best response mark to who responded my discussion first and not minding thats very wrong..tsk.tsk.tsk. I thought its just nothing.. Now i know what is its purpose..

Hi there ifglan! I do agree with you. It is really difficult to choose the best response among several good responses. I hope we could award more than one best response. Anyway, when it comes to choosing the best response, one of the things I look into is the contents of the response posted. I would consider whether the contents are relevant to the discussion or not. I also give premium to those who could give additional information that we can all learn from.

Life is always full of difficulties and even when we are enjoying ourselves we always seem to be stymied and in your case it is "best response". I hope that you get over this problem once and for all. It may take some time or you might find the style that works for you after several tries but I am sure you will find the best way to do it. If you want to copy my style it is this, I decide to give best response which is usually after I see that there are no more responses forthcoming and that means maybe a month has passed and there are no new comments; I re-read everything again, noting some good candidates; then I re-read the candidates and chose the "best response". No emotions, no attachments. I just do it as best I can. Cheers!!

I agree it's not always easy. Often one response will just strike me as being the best, but the more responses a discussion has the more difficult it is to choose between them. I think everyone has a different method of selecting the best response out of all the good ones. I will choose one which gives detailed information, a good explanation or is most descriptive. It does not have to be in perfect English and it's not always the one I agree with most.

I rather not give any mark if there are lots of good responses in the discussion. That would really hard to decide. But to resolve the discussion, I give my best mark to the friend rather than not a friend yet...

I am also facing this type of problem, because most of the responses are elegible for the best responses.. Some times, i used to received the responses, more than One responses are very good.. At this situations, i suppose to select the BEST from the bests.. so, I kept those discussion still pending. Because i don't want to mark the best response for the other discussions.. I need to mark the best responses for the Good responses only.. So, I will attack the 5 or 6 responses discussion for a period of more than 3 to 4 weeks i will clear it stainght away, the more responses discussion, where i am not able to choose the best from the better.. i take some time for marking the best response.

There are so many times that I have jumped at a Best respond . You are right there are many best ones out there , and it is hard to pick . Wish there could be more than one . You never know mylot might do that one day . I now like to wait one month before I pick one now , but sometimes right off the bat something will just catch my eye.

I agree It is hard to mark best response when all or so good! I have found that it is best to wait as long as possible for the simple reason that replys come in even after a week. Manytimes after I have already selected. Then I dont feel I am being fair. Happy selection making and lotting your my lot stars! :)

Hi. I haven't started many discussions but I already see that it my be difficult to mark a best response. When rating I try to be impartial, not only marking positive those who agree, but a well thought answer that makes sense regarding the topic of the discussion.

yes, its raelly hard,. some has really mad it a habit to get Br so often. But I acn't make so often. i have just about 100 Br till date. i think the rate is poor for me.

Hi ifglan, you are right, it is really hard to mark as a best response, but i think we need to do that in order to make one of them feel really good and inspire. to the others i just rated all of them positive and I give all of them the chance to get best response, I dont give same person best response in all my discussions. thanks and have a nice day.

When people start commenting on a discussion I started I will always rate their response. Because I feel that's the most important thing to do. For a best response I just let my intuition work. Sometimes I have a response from someone that speaks out, and if I like what I'm reading it will be marked as a best response. Don't try to always choose a best response, rate their responses, that's what I believe is the most important thing to do. Have a nice day

I too am finding it very difficult to mark best responses especially for the discussios where I am getting 30 or more responses. I am still deciding on whom to mark as best response.

I mark a reply as the best response only in the case i am impressed by the words and the thoughts. i look for the quality of the content rather than the quantity of the text.So for me its also not easy to mark the best response as there are always a lot of people with the great writing abilities with the quality contents.So i just look up for the best quality response.

I would do it if I had responses! I have made one that was agree as best response, but not marked! And he even agreed this with a comment! I found that hilarious, but a little childish maybe.... I think the point of it is if someone else reads a question with pages and pages of replies it is easy for them to find the "best" one to see the answer... maybe... Or maybe it is just to feed little egos!