How long should a discussion be left open??

Actually, it depends on the type of responses I've been getting, as well as on the influx of responses. In my experience, it takes me a day to decide on a "best response" because the later responses (like starting half of the day) are becoming repetitive. The common problem is that many respondents don't bother to read the entire discussion, or don't even skim through the responses (thus repeating the same thoughts). In this manner, the ones that are eligible for the "best response" are the ones that were given earlier on. As to the influx of discussions, if my posted discussion is a 'hot topic' and there are too many responses getting in within just a few hours, then I would wait until the responses have started to become repetitive then choose the "best response". It may take more than a day. It's actually YOUR choice based on your own experience. Nobody gets penalized for having to choose after a week or so. Happy myLotting!

Though I am comparitively new and junior here on mylot. But my experience here tells me that one day is not enough for selecting a 'best response'. You may allow atleast two weeks' time to select the 'best response'. Because some of your dear friends may not be in a position to read and reply to your discussions, due to one reason or another, in one day. So allow some time, and after gaining experience over here, you would have come to know by now that how soon your sincere friends post their responses. I mean to say if you wish to read someone special friends' reply, you wait for few days, before selecting a best response. Earlier, I used to select 'best response' very quickly, but later on through others and through my experience I came to the conclusion, some of my friends here need sufficient time to respond. So I allow them time and wait for their response, before going for the kill. Time limit or response limit has to be decided by yourself for arriving at a 'best response'. Because even after selecting a 'best response', you will find people do contribute their views, if your discussion was meaningful and interesting.

That is your call. Atleast 3 days if it is busy, or you will never figure out who to give it too. If is it slow, a week. Sometimes I wait two weeks. Not much longer though.

I just leave them all open. Let people answer them if they find them interesting. Do good discussions ever really need to end? I don't think they do.

I really try to wait at least 3 or 4 days before picking a best response if I'm still getting responses. If not, then I usually pick a best response and close the discussion because I can't bear to see them unresolved. I think it's all down to personal preference though - and really you should just do what you feel is best for you.

I usually wait a few days simply because I want the chance to read as many of the responses that come in before selecting a best response. I've noticed that if I hurry too much to select one someone always comes in with something new and should have been the best response.

It is totally a personal decision. If I have a discussion that is going gangbusters, I may wait a week or so to pick a best response. On the other hand, if there is a response that is so wonderful and perfect, I may not be able to help myself but mark it best response. I usually wait until there are 10 responses before I choose unless it has been a week or more. I find it very irritating when someone chooses a best response in less than 12 hours. I mean, come on. Give everyone a chance to earn best response. Not just your best friend.

I usually wait a week to pick best response on my discussions. I've only started a few discussions and most of them have generated less than 10 replies, so I like to leave them open a reasonably long time to get some good answers in there before I pick. If I have a discussion that gets many answers quickly, I would probably pick after getting 20 or so replies. So, 20 replies or 7 days is my cut-off, whichever comes first.

I usually go ahead a choose a best response after 5-6 days. I feel like this gives people enough time to respond to my discussion. I have noticed people that choose a best response after less that 24 hours and I wish they would give everyone the chance to respond first.

for me it depends on the discussions.. like wise ,if i am getting healthy response for say 3-4 days,i would wait for a day or so more to judge the best one...i guess with more increase in no. of responses, there is repitition of posts and in this case i try giving it to the one whos written 1st ...

I think a discussion should be lefto open for like a month. Just because someone gave you a great answer within the first week, it doesn't mean that someone else won't come around and have a better, more relavant answer. I've had that happen already where I've chosen the best answer and then someone has come back with a better answer.

I am fairly new and am unsure. But I think depending on ho wthe responses are going I would wait until they have stopped.But I don't think I would leave a discussion open longer than a week! A very interesting question!

i usually wait a week,or until it has a few responses. if it's only got a couple,i leave it open longer.

the fact is people will search for discussions that has been posted regardless how long it's been on. the purpose is people getting paid from responding and even those that have open discussions. so there shouldn't be a time period. even some of the old discussions can be found interesting to read.

It is totally up to you which way you do it. I wait until I get 10 responses and then I give the best response, I think it is also nice that people respond quickly and I don't think somebody who has given a very good answer as the number comment, which shows interest in my topic, should have to wait a week for somebody who gives another good answer and then I have to choose which one is better. The first one with a really good answer gets it for me.

It takes a bit of experience to figure out what works best. I now have decided on at least two weeks. People often respond well after the initial discussion was started, and I want to give everyone a fair chance to get Best Response.

I find that I leave each discussion open for different amounts of time. I have never chosen a best response in the first day. If I am getting 100 or so comments, I will choose one as it gets too hard to make a dicision. some i leave open a week some less and some more.

until I have at least 10 responses. Also, I tend to wait several days like you. and then there are times when I don't have the time to select the best response so I wait a little longer. in other words, it just depends...but I do definitely try to get quite a few responses.

I would wait at least a few days up to a week. I dont think doing it the NEXT day is best. I have been finding A LOT of discussions latelly with BEST picked and they were barely open not even 24 hrs. It upsets me people choose so quickly. But I cant go and scold them all. But I'd wait up to a week to get all that I can. And then pick the BEST one. Its not always easy for me, but since I figured out what BEST was I make sure to give one in ALL cases!

I will be repetitive and say that it depends on a variety of factors. :) For me, the criteria I'm currently using, not having started all that many discussions, is 10 responses or 4 weeks, whichever is later. In other words, if I get 10 responses in the first hour, I'll wait a bit longer (maybe not 4 weeks if it tapers off after a while). If 4 weeks comes and I have less than 10 responses, I'll try and pick a best response. However, I'm not inclined to pick a best response at all if they are all poorly written. Repetition is fine with me. If someone posts immediately with a poorly written response, and then later someone else writes a well written response with the same information, if the information justifies the best response, the better written response will get marked as the best response. Chat speak will NEVER get a best response from me. :) My $0.02 at the moment.