@Caleb I think you took it the wrong way. It's not about promoting myself or trying to show users how wise I am. The point of answering a question is to help people who are grappling with a specific biblical text by offering a new approach and by showing them different angles of looking at it. If I post an answer and no one else sees them, then why did I waste time and effort writing it down?!

That's why I find answering old questions almost useless. You invest time and energy but you have very slim chance of anyone looking at it since there are already four upvoted answers on top. Indeed I usually refrain from answering old questions since I know no one will see it. But with this particular post I couldn't help myself but post, but what I feared would happen came true.

I personally think that new answers should always show up on top of old answers for the first two or three days of posting regardless of how many upvotes previous answers already have. This would ensure that new answers are reviewed and can be either upvoted or downvoted.

Maybe I should post in Meta and open discussion about this. I feel very strongly about this. New answers should get the attention they deserve! Its not about promoting oneself or being a showoff, just plain about reaching equilibrium and being fair.

@JackDouglas Thanks for your kind words. Appreciate your feedback.

@Bach in most cases that would be a bad thing — the average new answer is going to be inferior to a good upvoted old answer. I don't think there is an easy answer to this though. Perhaps for the purposes of ordering votes should 'age' and recent votes should count more — but adding that kind of complexity is never going to be accepted by SE

@JackDouglas you are right. It most probably would be inferior but why can't it be seen for the first 24 hours at least? People can cast their votes and it would take its rightful place on the page after 24 hours has passed. I think it is easier than you think.