Yahoo! Singapore Answers blog

Q: What do Cameron Diaz, Christian Bale, Joanne Peh and Van Fan all have in common?

A: They have all taken part in Answers over the last couple of years.

And, they have not been the only ones: there’s a long list of celebrities that have chosen to pose their question to the Answers community and eagerly review your responses.

However, many of you have expressed feelings of concern towards the authenticity of these public figures on Answers. Well, we think you deserve an answer to your questions on this regard: of course they are who they say they are (you’ll recognise them because you’ll see a green badge with the label “Official” under their avatar)!

It’s that simple. You know us, and we are always talking about our community guidelines, our terms of service, and respecting the law. Well, that applies to us too, and we would never allow someone impersonating a public figure (or a non-public figure, of course).

Now, let us explain the workflow to you: the celebrity asks the question (you can see many recorded on video), the community answers the question and the celebrity chooses the best Answer. For example, that’s the case of our latest celebrity: Seann William Scott (see the video here).

And that’s it: there’s no trick or behind-the-scenes movements, and of course they are who they say they are! And… they are amazed at the passion the Answers Community puts in their Answers. Way to go!

Now it’s your turn to Answer: which celebs would you like to see on Answers? We don’t promise anything, but we’d love to hear your suggestions and do our best to make your dreams come true!

Yahoo! Answers uses badges to designate the different types of community members participating in the Yahoo! Answers community. Here is an explanation of the different types and their meaning:

• – An Official badge indicates that the identity of a community member asking or answering questions on Yahoo! Answers has been verified by a member of the Yahoo! Answers Team. This helps us distinguish our celebrity, professional, and sponsor participants within the Yahoo! Answers community.
• – The Staff badge displays when members of the Yahoo! Answers Team or other Yahoo! staff members officially ask and answer questions on Yahoo! Answers.
• – The Top Contributor badge is used to recognize a member of the Answers community who has shown that they are knowledgeable in a particular category. The top contributor badge is dynamic, which means that you earn it or lose it depending on your recent participation in a particular category. To learn more about Top Contributors, please review Top Contributor help.

Now, let us show you a couple of examples:

Curtis Stone – Take Home Chef : “Which restaurant in Singapore serves the best chili crab?“

Y! Singapore Editors  : “How should public transport fares be subsidised (if at all)?“

…and we want to wish you good luck to become the next Top Contributor in your favorite category!

Many of us have watched sci-fi (science fiction) films and read novels and comics from the same genre. Have you ever thought to yourself how the world will be like in the far future? Technology has improved by leaps and bounds now, there are new tech gadgets being invented all the time, and who knows? Maybe one day we’ll be living like the Jetsons… or like the Will Smith movie “I, Robot”.

Now why do I talk about these? It’s because Animax Asia has produced the first ever original animation production (in high definition!) called “LaMB“. “LaMB”, based on an award-winning script by Filipino amateur writer Carmelo Juinio, is situated in the future on a harsh desert planet called Cerra. And on Cerra, they practice the idea of “recycling” so strongly that even hard-core criminals are “recycled” as slaves. These prisoners go through a process of “Lamination” where they become human ‘robots’. They can’t talk, they can’t make decisions on their own and they can only obey the commands by their masters or get electrocuted as punishment. And the worse thing? When the prisoners are ‘laminated’, they are preserved in a way for hundreds of years until released from their bodily prison.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re like a LaMB? Unable to speak nor express your feelings? LaMB is now asking you: “Have you ever felt you couldn’t speak up or express yourself like a LaMB?“.  Check out the contest page for more details!

First of all, Happy 2009! Even though the news this morning depressingly tells us that our nation’s GDP will be much lower this year, we should still be positive and look at the good things in our lives! We have a roof over our heads, we’re not starving, and we’ve got people who love us and whom we love.

Talking of which, Yahoo! Mail now allows you to keep your friends at your fingertips. You can now add friends (and love ones) to your Yahoo! Mail contact list from address books of other online email services.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Key in your existing email address and password

Step 2: Provide your brand new email address and password

Step 3: Select if you want to transfer information from email and address book

Step 4: Create a personal message and tell everyone of your new email address

Step 5: Grant permission for what’s going to happen

Step 6: Start Transfer!

Click here to try it today.

Once you’re set, enjoy your new inbox! As always, we’re committed to provide you with a better experience to connect with your friends and family.

If you’re not an existing Yahoo! Mail user, why wait? Do register yourself a free all-new Ymail or rocketmail to enjoy the benefits today! Register here now.