<p>In my opinion, you should always accept the best answer for you, not looking to the date at all. An exception when answers are equally good for you. Than it is maybe nice to take the first one.</p>

<p>The purpose of these site(s) is to have great questions and great answers. Therefore, edits, but also reformulated answers are very valuable in my opinion. They make the quality of the site better.</p>

<p>Off course it is not nice if somebody almost copies your answer. However, if they make it a little something, then the site and future readers are helped by it. It <em>is</em> the goal of these sites to have the best answer possible.</p>
