If a user has limited knowledge of a topic being dealt with in a Mahalo question, would they be better to abstain from a "Best Answer" vote?

I do not think a user should abstain from voting because they have a limited knowledge of the topic being asked about in the question. Most questions are being asked because a person has limited knowledge about the topic. That is why they are asking the question.

They select a best answer when that question is answered to their satisfaction. As a voter, I feel it is our job to do the same thing. Now, I do feel that as a voter we should be informed as to what constitutes a good/best answer.

You can read, How To Get A Best Answer On Mahalo, for an idea of what is expected here on Mahalo for a best answer. In my opinion a best answer to a question, answers the question in such a way that if I were to ask the question, I would be satisfied with the explanation. I do feel that reputable sources are also a help with best answer.

That way I do not have to take the persons word for the answer. I can check out the source of the information for myself. Voting is a very subjective experience.

We each need to develop our own voting styles. Some people expect perfection and others are very lenient. I tend to float in between these extremes, with some give and take.

When enough people vote on an answer, I believe, the best answer will be chosen (in an ideal world). In summary: I believe the answer should give one enough knowledge to vote. So do not let your knowledge of the question stop you from reading the answers and seeing if you want to vote on the question.P.S.If both the question and answers are out of my realm of understanding, I move on to the next question and leave that for the people that do understand the topic.(I hope this does not confuse my points above too much) :).

I do not think a user should abstain from voting because they have a limited knowledge of the topic being asked about in the question. Most questions are being asked because a person has limited knowledge about the topic. That is why they are asking the question.

They select a best answer when that question is answered to their satisfaction. As a voter, I feel it is our job to do the same thing. Now, I do feel that as a voter we should be informed as to what constitutes a good/best answer.

You can read, How To Get A Best Answer On Mahalo, for an idea of what is expected here on Mahalo for a best answer. In my opinion a best answer to a question, answers the question in such a way that if I were to ask the question, I would be satisfied with the explanation. I do feel that reputable sources are also a help with best answer.

That way I do not have to take the persons word for the answer. I can check out the source of the information for myself. Voting is a very subjective experience.

We each need to develop our own voting styles. Some people expect perfection and others are very lenient. I tend to float in between these extremes, with some give and take.

When enough people vote on an answer, I believe, the best answer will be chosen (in an ideal world). In summary: I believe the answer should give one enough knowledge to vote. So do not let your knowledge of the question stop you from reading the answers and seeing if you want to vote on the question.

P.S. If both the question and answers are out of my realm of understanding, I move on to the next question and leave that for the people that do understand the topic. (I hope this does not confuse my points above too much) :).

I would say no, and this is the reason. It seems that one of the primary purposes of a concept like Mahalo is education, on a large scale. Posters should actually be encouraged (and kinda are already) to research a broad variety of topics carefully so as to provide content suitable to be a helpful answer.

Yeah, being an expert on something is great, and by all means, rock that topic for all it's worth. But I think people should actively seek to broaden their horizons by researching many different topics. The monetary compensation for knowledge and wisdom is great, but even more valuable is the educational compensation.

I've been on Mahalo for something like four days, and even in just that small time, I've already learned a lot I didn't know. I answer a lot of topics, such as history and philosophy and political theory, that I know a lot about, but I also seek to research other topics I don't know so much about, and get my presentation together well enough to make a credible and relevant to the questions. Thus I don't think inexpertise in a subject should be a reason to abstain, but only with the condition that one do the requisite research to write a relevant answer.

I think each individual has to determine what they are comfortable voting on. There are subjects which I don't feel I can relate to the subject and I skip those. However some people may feel comfortable voting on all.

I am not sure there is a way to define who could vote on what because defining limited knowledge in a matter which defines who can vote on what would not seem possible.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.