The answer depends on what communications settings a person chooses. There are many possible ways Answers members can contact each other. If someone enables email communications, uses their Yahoo ID as their nickname, makes their messenger ID public, and shows their link to their Yahoo! Profile, they open all communication options available in Answers. If a person doesn't have their email communications enabled, you won't be able to send them an Answers email message.
Answers members control their communications settings and how much information others will see about them in their Yahoo! Answers profile.
To review or edit your communications settings:
- Sign in and click the My Profile tab located to the right of the search box.
- Click the Edit My Info link in your profile module.
From the Answers profile edit page:
- You can edit your Answers nickname.
- If you don’t want to reveal your Yahoo! ID choose Use another nickname. If your Yahoo! Messenger ID is the same as your Answers nickname, people will be able to associate the two together to send email or instant messages.
- You can choose to let others contact you by Answers email and Yahoo! Messenger. All email will be facilitated through Answers and email addresses will be confidential.* If you enable Yahoo! Messenger communications your Messenger ID and online status will be displayed publicly on your profile page.
- If you don’t want others to be able to contact you via Answers email, uncheck the Allow email communication box in Communications settings
- If you don’t want others to be able to contact you via Yahoo! Messenger, uncheck the Allow Yahoo! Messenger contact box in Communications settings.
- You can choose to display a link to your Yahoo! Profile.
* Answers Email: When you enable Answers email communications, Answers never shows your email address to the recipient (neither on the email nor on your profile page.) The only way to reply to Answers email is by clicking the reply link within the email and sending the message through Yahoo! Answers. If a person doesn't have their email communications enabled, you won't be able to send them an email message.