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Possible Duplicate:
Should you downvote an answer that “works” because it is not strictly “correct”?

This is slightly related to a similar question I found on Meta, but is more specific in the following capacity:

  1. Question X is asked by Person A.

  2. A definitive answer is provided for X. It is based upon fact--no opinion is involved.

  3. Another Person (B) provides answer Y--it is a workaround, completely sidestepping the question, but accurately solves the person's problem.

  4. Person A likes the workaround, accepts the answer, and dismisses the fact-based answer, even when it addresses the original question.

For example:

Q: How do I write a function with optional parameters?

Answer X: void foo(...);

Answer Y: I prefer to use named arguments with default values instead! -> void foo(int a=0);

While answer Y may be a best practice, and perhaps recommended by a number of individuals...it does not answer the original question, which has a factual answer (that was supplied).

So, what is the best way to resolve this? Comments? Upvotes/Downvotes? More?

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It's a personal choice.

If it's a good answer that looks like it will help somebody, then I'll upvote it.

If it's just a rant on proper technique, then I won't.

I would never downvote a good answer.

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