<p>Users failing to respond to good answers by accepting one is annoying, there's no doubt of that. I've seen some wonderful answers go unrecognized by the poster of the question and the lack of response (either accepting or explaining why there are outstanding issues that would stand in the way of it) often strikes me as selfishness in the face of an answerer's generosity. Some regular contributors seem to suffer from this non-response to their efforts shamefully often.</p>

<p>(In my own case, even when I felt that an answer <em>didn't</em> really answer my question after several attempts to convey the issue clearly to them, I have accepted an answer as clear recognition of the answerer's sterling efforts in responding to it.) </p>

<p>I think in the case where the OP explicitly acknowledges an answer as helpful it's more than reasonable to point out to them that accepting the answer is an option - even in respect of your own post - many new users miss that this feature exists (or forget it) and are often grateful for the chance to put their thanks to that poster in more concrete form.</p>

<p>Where there are several good answers that attract many upvotes, one might reasonably encourage the OP to consider choosing <em>an</em> answer. (I don't think it's reasonable to place the onus for encouraging others to understand the way stackexchange works only on the moderators. The responsibility falls to all of us.)</p>

<p>If you aren't <em>only</em> generating reminders on your own responses, but more generally encouraging people to 'follow the site culture', I think it's a very positive behavior. </p>
