For me, the main difference between "favorite" and "best" is that "best" implies some sort of common standard. So when someone claims something is the best, he has the obligation to give, in terms of that common standard, reasons why. But usually people disagree over what defines the standard and its criteria, so claiming that something is the best requires, in addition to reasons why, a defense of whatever standard was used. But I do believe that there are practically universal standards, particularly within the bounds of one idiom or practice. And this means that "best" isn't a matter of per
