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Take this question for example. There is no accepted answer because I was looking for other ways to script HTTP more efficiently than using Java/apache commmon's HTTP Client. How come I have to choose one answer, yet there isn't even a right answer to that question?

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No one's forcing you to accept an answer and no one's forcing you to have 100% acceptance rate. Just leave it the way it is, most of us understand that some CW questions simply can't have a best answer.

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    On top of that. If you are asking a question where there is no answer that could be posted that would be accepted it should be a CW. Commented Feb 2, 2010 at 15:46
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    @MrS I agree. Sometimes they shouldn't be posted at all, but that's a different matter. Commented Feb 2, 2010 at 15:49
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    @zombies Just ignore it. It is a flaw, but I doubt it will get fixed. Commented Feb 2, 2010 at 17:03
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How come I have to choose one answer, yet there isn't even a right answer to that question?

You don't have to do anything. If you don't want to, don't accept an answer.

Recognize, however, that you had a very broad and open ended question to start off with. You wrote a question which, by definition, does not have a single universal answer. So you already chose the path that leads to no answer.

However, you should at least vote up everyone that contributed something that is useful - in this way you not only highlight their contribution as a reasonable contribution, but it's also a 'tip' of sorts to give them reputation for reading and answering your question.

You might also consider objectively reviewing all the answers, and selecting the one where the contribution was above and beyond what you originally asked. It may not be the answer for your question, but you are simply recognizing that they provided the best information given your limited input. Post a comment on their answer indicating that while this isn't the answer, you appreciate their time and selected their answer because they obviously put significant effort in it and you want to give them the additional 15 rep tip for their help.

While the site has suggestions for what you should upvote and select as your answer, at the end of the day they mean whatever they want to you. They highlight the answers in a certain way, change the ordering, and give reputation to the contributor. If you feel an answer is deserving of those features, then you can provide them even if they don't meet the site's definition of 'answer' or 'upvote'.

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  • "You might also consider objectively reviewing all the answers, and selecting the one where the contribution was above and beyond what you originally asked." No, because it would imply that there is a best way, when there isn't. Commented Feb 2, 2010 at 16:06
  • @zombies - if that's your definition of "answer" and how you decide to use the tools the site gives you, then fine. Why are you asking us what to do when you've already decided what the 'accepted' answer is for, and when you will or won't use it? Use it, or don't use it. It really doesn't matter - it's merely a tool. Commented Feb 2, 2010 at 16:54
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    @zombies - however, I urge you to accept the suggestion in the FAQ when posting future questions: "Avoid asking questions that are subjective, argumentative, or require extended discussion. This is not a discussion board, this is a place for questions that can be answered! " (emphasis added) - your question CANNOT be "answered" with a final, objective, measurably "ideal" solution. Commented Feb 2, 2010 at 16:58
  • I thought this was a place for meta discussion. Commented Feb 3, 2010 at 14:18
  • @zom - Sorry, you presented your question as though you had a problem, and I gave you a solution. I'm an engineer and it's hard for me to discuss problems without also attempting to introduce solutions. Once you indicated that you had additional constraints that actually resolved the problem, I simply showed you that you already know the solution. I suppose I could re-approach the question with the intent to change your mind, but I don't think your current usage is wrong at all - it only differs from mine very slightly... Commented Feb 3, 2010 at 15:30

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