Don't you hate when wrong answers are chosen as best answer?

Question

Especially on scientific and fact based questions. An example:

What is the color of the sky if you don't see it?

Best answer: The sky doesn't have color if you don't see it.

The answer should state that the sky does have color even if you don't see it. The sky reflects certain wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. A red car is red because it reflects a certain wavelength. You don't have to be there to see it. Same as, "if a tree falls in the woods, and no one hears it, does it make a sound"? Yes it does make a sound, because sound waves are produced.

I have come across other wrong best answers.

Is there a way to contact the asker to change their best answer? Or does the wrong answer become archived as the right answer for all eternity?

Answer 1

<<Don't you hate when wrong answers are chosen as best answer?>>

I think you're taking things a bit too seriously although, to your credit, accuracy is an important matter.  What it effectively means is, that somebody who doesn't know much about what they're asking about judges upon which answer happens to appeal to them for whatever reason, and exercizes their inexpert judgement.  On such a basis mistakes are inevitable, and so are instances of rank stupidity.

<<Is there a way to contact the asker to change their best answer?>>

Assuming appeals to reason are worthwhile isn't necessarily a good idea.  It's also possible they can't change the answer.

Another of my bugbears is those copy-and-pastes from Wikipedia!

Answer 2

It is indeed irksome, but there is nothing to be done about it.

Answer 3

'Best' doesn't always mean 'correct'.  Just check out the 'alternative' section for proof of that.  It often means the answer that confirms the preconceptions of the asker.  That's usually what I use the 'thumbs up and down' buttons for - to try to give the asker a hint as to which answers are completely off the wall.  But it doesn't always work.

Answer 4

Some people ask questions and just don't really care if it's right or wrong. I think you're right, there should be a way to go back and change it but there isnt. Yes, the answer will stay, but the asker can always delete the question. Hope this helped.

Answer 5

Amen man.

Answer 6

I hate this and just faced such a case. I was extremely annoyed. I am giving the link to the question concerned. Please comment on the question if you think I am right or even if I am wrong then also tell that.

I think, there is no way to change the best answer once chosen. However, you may add comments to the resolved question where you can mention that the answer chosen as best is actually wrong and state the reason for which you think it is wrong. Though everyone of us hate it, a few asker doesn't take proper care while selecting the best answer. Nothing can be done in this regard except a message to the asker (provided he/she allows a message) citing about his/her wrong selection of best answer and stating the reason for your remark. Though by this process you cannot select a correct answer as the new best answer, from next time the asker will think twice before selection of the best answer to his/her questions.

Answer 7

Be sport. Don't get angry or mad if that thing happened. And, there is no way to change your picked answer as best answer.

Answer 8

I believe that when one feels that they have the correct answer to a question, but haven't actually confirmed it, they should state that in their response, this is what I believe (my opinion) to be correct. However, you may want to do a further search of the matter in order to verify the information. That should be the practice for all answers to questions.

In your comments, you gave some examples of answers to questions that you felt are wrong, for example, "if a tree falls in the woods, and no one hears it, does it make a sound"?  Yes it does make a sound, because sound waves are producted."

No, you would be wrong.  Sound waves are not produced. Pressure waves are generated by the event, not sound waves.  Only if someone one or some living thing is there to "detect" (hear) and convert pressure waves into sound waves that the brain can understand will sound be associated with the event---the tree falling.  If there was no one or nothing around the even when the tree falls, sound will not be created--- only pressure waves.

So, if you had the original answer changed to suit your hypothesis, you might have had a correct answer changed to an incorrect one.

Best advise for seeking serious answer to questions, verify, verify, and then verify again.

Answer 9

find the person who wrote it and ask them to change with yours the right one