How to work the YA??? A few quick questions please...?

If you hit "add contact" then YA does all the introduction work for you.

For example you are one of my contacts, and I think I added you, because you answered a hard question really well, and gave me some really helpful answers/ideas. YA should have sent you an E-mail telling you that I added you, and gives you a link to my YA profile. In the E-mail it should say that you can add the person that adds you, but there is no need or pressure(emphasizing that you don't have to add anyone).

Adding someone will allow you to receive an E-mail via YA whenever that person asks a question, which is how I knew to answer your question. The e-mailing is really just a way to follow up(discuss) questions, from what I understand. YA says that e-mails are not for conversation, or something like that, and it's probably to prevent aggravation and, or stalking. I don't know how closely they really watch it, and "no conversation" sounds odd because YA is a place to converse with others.

Blogs are either another feature, or they are the Questions, and answers. I don't know much about blogs/blogging.

I was unaware that there were groups on YA, and don't know if there are for sure.

I don't think that chat rooms are a part of yahoo answers, but I believe that yahoo offers them, and they can be connected to your YA account in the same area as your e-mail.

I'm not sure about "add this question to my messenger", I remember that there is something that you can do to mark, and watch questions that you are interested in. It sounds like it might be that.

Don't worry about not knowing everything about YA, I still don't know everything about it. You can always either mess with something, or use context clues, if you don't know what it does. The most it can lose you is 10pts, and knowing whatever you realize you don't understand could save you at least that many pts over time. You can also ask questions about the things that you don't understand, like you did this time, but that does cost 10pts, so ask multiple questions like you did, if you need to do it again.

Please forgive the run-on sentences, and the sheer length of my answer. I hope I helped, otherwise I wasted a lot of question room.

Lots of questions here. I'll answer what is appropriate - for now.

*- Is it good to add contacts? - yes, but don't go adding just anyone. Get some experience here and spend sometimes in Y!A first to get the feel of the site and the culture as well as get to know people. Then, start adding people you feel you can trust or whom you like (for whatever reason)

*- do I also have to e-Mail that person and introduce myself ? NO - but it is a good idea that you email and ask if they will let you add them. Some people prefer it because of many reasons (which I won't go into it here). Some people might not allow anyone to add them at all and that is something you need to get used to and not get upset over.

*- How do chat rooms work? Chat rooms is another service of Yahoo! you need to go there and find out more. It is separate from Yahoo!Answers

That is enough for now. Get a feel of Y!A first. Get some experience and know the "culture" of this place. Slowly slowly you will get to know the other stuff. One word of advice - DO NOT take everything here personally. There will be time when things happen to you, your question, your answers - that will frustrate you or annoy you. DO NOT take it to heart. People of all ages and from all over the world come here and they might say or do things differently to what you expect or understand. Just be patient.

Life's too short to take Y!A too seriously. This is for fun - don't take it personally.

Cheers from Australia

You can become their contact if you like their questions/answers. Some people prefer that you email them before adding them, especially if their profile is on private. But some don't mind at all! -- if they have "allow fans" enabled that is! Some people don't allow fans.

You don't have to introduce yourself to them, that might be awkward! But if they email you and ask you then you can if you want!

A weblog is an internet journal where you post what you wish for people to see what you're thinking about! You can use the 360 site to make a blog:

http://360.yahoo.com/

And for others to see it on your Yahoo Answers profile go to Edit My Info:

http://answers.yahoo.com/my/my_edit

check the box where it says:

Show link to my Yahoo! 360 page

You can join a group if you want:

http://groups.yahoo.com/

You need Yahoo Messenger to chat. Under Messenger tab go to Yahoo Chat rooms, join room. You'll need to verify that you are not a spammer, press the link they give to you.

The question added to your messenger status means that on Yahoo Messenger your contacts can see the question you posted.