# OPs changing mind about accepting solutions

I have noticed a couple of times that some time after an OP accepts a solution, he changes his mind and accepts another. I am interested in what people think of this. I don't feel it's cricket to do that.

Users should wait a while to see several answers, then make a decision.

• "Users should wait a while ..." How long do you prescribe that one should wait? – Karl Kronenfeld May 8 '13 at 0:53
• My opinion: I don't think it is a problem. Sometimes we might realize that what we thought was good answer, actually wasn't. This happened to an answer that I provided recently. It turned out that while was roughly right, the answer actually didn't work. I edited the question, and now I am waiting for the OP to uncheck my answer. I think that is fair enough. In general, I would try not to worry too much about the reputation points, if that is what is bothering you. – Thomas May 8 '13 at 1:11
• I agree. A little down time makes sense. I say they wait until the first light of the fifth day, at dawn. – Mark McClure May 8 '13 at 1:13
• I still think an OP should allow the answers to come in and to accept judiciously after a few days. Do not accept unless you think you have seen a very satisfactory answer. – ncmathsadist May 8 '13 at 1:54
• I don't understand the downvotes. I think this is a worthwhile discussion. – ncmathsadist May 8 '13 at 1:55
• Downvotes mean people disagree with the statement in the question (since there is no question). – Tobias Kildetoft May 8 '13 at 1:56
• User A answer a question. Two years later, user B posts another answer that spectacularly generalizes the result originally asked, provides references to ongoing work, and links to similar problems. It is a fantastic answer, has nice accompanying graphs, and everybody loves it. Why shouldn't this be rewarded with acceptance? It seems fruitless to try to draw a line on when it is prudent/reasonable/logical/desirable/... to accept an answer, or to try to prescribe a series of conditions that ought to be met before accepting. – Andrés E. Caicedo May 8 '13 at 2:04
• Possible Duplicates, or at least relevant: meta.math.stackexchange.com/questions/2782/… or meta.math.stackexchange.com/questions/8787/… or meta.math.stackexchange.com/questions/6374/… – apnorton May 8 '13 at 2:07
• So let me get this straight: you want (potentially new) users to adhere to some abstract policy on accepted answers? We can't even get new users to wrap their equations in dollar signs and show work! – The Chaz 2.0 May 8 '13 at 5:13

First of all, I sympathize with the OP: seeing -15 unaccept stings a little. Umpire signals a home run, you circle the bases, and then they rule it a ground-rule double after review. Would feel much better to have a double to begin with.