How come you can only rate 3 answers per question?

I was wondering that because I have tried to rate more than 3 answers on 1 question and it won't let you and I was wondering why? What if you ask a question and you have more than 3 answers you can not rate all of them but what if they are all helpful? I think we should be able to rate as many as we want on any question.

I guess its a way to force you to choose the BEST helpful answers

To me that still don't make sence. But thanks for your answer

What jax said is right.
It makes you use your "ratings" more wisely.

Instead of raiting everything... which would be pointless for the rating system.

When I rate... I only give ratings to really really good answers or very poor or abusive answers. Mediocre ones get nothing. It shows other users which answers the majority agrees with(or finds acceptable) and vice versa.

xox
Sika

...eventually, we're going to change this to *one* answer per question, so that the best / most helpful advice ends up right after the question...similar to some other sites

The main reason for that is because sometimes, the best answer is 5-10 places down, and the first 1-4 might not be very helpful, so it makes the site easier to use over time.

Ok , I understand a little better now thank you. So about the answer thing is that why some answers that are... lets say the last answer and it ends up being at the very top? I have noticed that has been happening but didn't understand why it was doing that.

Yup, thats why...

Thanks everyone for your help