Tag Archives: contributor

Meet Woodman66: Spirit of Adventure in the Canadian Wilderness

Woodman66 at Kamloops

Woodman66 at Kamloops

Woodman66 has been on Answers.com since 2008! He has helped plenty of visitors to our site for almost five years now. He gives his expert advice in the categories of Home Electricity and Electrical Wiring, quite valuable for those brave Do It Yourselfers who make their own repairs and installations! He has truly earned his 2493 trust points. But that’s not all. Woodman66 also participates regularly in our AnswerThons, and he has many badges that highlight his knowledge and contributions. Though he lives in a remote area of British Columbia, Canada, he remains connected to our community. There is much to say about Woodman66, so read on to learn more.

What is your first name? My first name is David but most people just call me Dave.

What is your occupation? 

I am a journeyman electrician and I have been an electrical A class contractor for 41 years.

What is your Answers.com username and how did it come about? 

My user name is Woodman66. The wood part came from my last name, then, I am a man and I started answering questions when I was 66 years of age.

Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?British Columbia                      

I live in Princeton, British Columbia, Canada. It’s a small town of 2500 people, with a surrounding area of 3500 people and not a traffic light in sight. I am one of the 3500 people living 5 kilometers from the town center.

What is special about living in your area?

There are no neighbors! My wife and I live on a 120 acre parcel that is located 5 kilometers from the town of Princeton, and what we have here is perfectly suited to our way of living.

Morning view from the deck of Woodman66's house.

Morning view from the deck of Woodman66′s house

Your location is remote, but you also seem to be connected to the world.

Yes, we have all of the amenities of the 21st century: wireless Internet and a TV signal by way of satellite.

What enticed you to join our community?

All my electrical life I have been asked questions regarding electrical installations or how electrical equipment operates. The Answers wiki format allows me to reach people that I don’t know and help them understand the often misunderstood world of electrical installations.

LEO SignIf you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

My zodiac sign is a Leo so there is no question as to what animal I would be. It was pre-ordained by the stars.

What is your favorite thing to do on Answers.com?

I distribute information to DIY electricians to try and keep them safe when doing their electrical installations. Most people will do it anyways, so I try to give them the best expert information that I can.

What life accomplishments are you proud of?

One of my accomplishments was to obtain my private pilot’s license when I turned 42. I have been flying ever since. 

That is a great accomplishment. Where do you fly?

I incorporate my flying into my work as an electrical contractor. In British Columbia, with all of the winding roads, it is easier to fly over the mountains than to drive between them. My wife and I have flown to Niagara Falls twice since 1984. I originally lived there and we go back to see relatives. I take small side trips to other local airports on weekends. Our trips to different airport restaurants are laughingly known as ‘going for a $100.00 hamburger and coffee.’

What is your favorite type of music?  

 I like the blues and the golden oldies.

What is your favorite song?

My favorite song is Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits.

Do you remember where you were when you first heard the song and what was going on around you?

Sultans of Swing came out in 1979. I first heard it on my drive home from work. I liked the lyrics because they told a story, and I especially like the guitar solo. At the same time, I remember the Canadian conversion from the imperial measurement system to the metric system was going on. To get used to the new temperature readings, we started out simply memorizing: 0 was freezing, 10 was cool, 20 was warm, 30 was hot and 40 was very hot. Funny how the Fahrenheit scale sounds so strange to us today. The other big thing that happened in 1979 was the Iranian hostage crisis. The Canadian Embassy was instrumental in saving the lives of six Americans that year. This is the story of the film, Argo. There is a lot more information about that historical event that the Canadian CBC has published. 

Do you view the glass ‘half full’ or ‘half empty’?  Why?

The glass is half full. Being an optimist, I like to think that things will always get better. Being negative will bring you and everyone around you down. That is not a good way of going through life.

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com Supervisor? 

I really want to help people get projects done correctly and safely when it comes to electricity. It takes effort to deliver that correctly, though I wouldn’t call it a challenge as much as I would call it my mission on the site.

Triumph TR6

What are your special interests?

In the summertime my wife and I tour Canada in our 1975 Triumph TR6.

Your summer trips sound interesting. What was your favorite road trip?

Each road trip is an adventure in itself. When we tour, the only rule is of course, the top must be down. Meeting new people from other small towns and locating eating establishments that the locals recommend is part of the adventure.

Where will you go this summer?

Thermal Hot Springs in Radium

Thermal Hot Springs in Radium

We are planning to go to the Kootenays, in eastern British Columbia. Small towns like Radium and Fairmont all have thermal hot springs and after a few hours of wind blown driving, these towns will be the places where we spend the night. 

What is your favorite quote and why?

Groucho Marx

Groucho Marx

It is by Groucho Marx when asked if he would become a member of a club, “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.”  As for why this quote, you would have to know me personally.

Check out some of Woodman66’s Q&A on the site:

Should solid copper or stranded copper be used with the pressure terminals of a duplex receptacle?

What are the procedures to synchronize generators in parallel?

How do you wire an air compressor?

Is your baseboard heater using power when a single pole thermostat is set to low?

Meet Jam499: Great Mom, Sister and NASCAR fan!

Jam499 and her son!

Jam499 and her son!

Jam499 has been on Answers.com for less than a year, yet she is already a Gold Contributor with over 77,000 contributions. She is active in the Community Outreach Program as a WikiGuide and on Vandal Patrol as a Senior Generalist. Her favorite categories range from Grammar and Parts of Speech to rock bands like Guns N’ Roses and Pink Floyd – quite a combo. She is proud to be from Rhode Island and loves NASCAR.  Her tastes and interests are diverse, but the center of her universe is her son!  Read more and get to know Jam499.

What is your first name?  My first name is Jody.

What is your occupation?  

My youngest sister has developmental delays, and I work with her providing direct care. I also manage the staff and coordinate her day program.

What is your Answers.com username and how did it come about?  

My username is Jam499. I needed something that I would remember, so I went with my initials and the month and year of my son’s birth.

Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?  

I live in Rhode Island and have for most of my life. I am proud to call “The Biggest Little State in the Union” home.

How did you discover Answers.com? 

I was researching a grammar topic, and I found the answer on Answers.com.

What enticed you to join our community? 

After finding the answer that I was looking for, I started poking my nose around some of the English Language categories. I was very impressed by the dedicated group of contributors and Supervisors, as well as the quality of the answers. I suppose it was the community itself that enticed me to join.

What is your favorite thing to do on Answers.com? 

I like doing all of it. I have a short attention span, so when I get bored, I move on to something else.

What life accomplishments are you proud of? 

My son.

What accomplishments on Answers.com are you proud of?  

The Mentoring Program was a wonderfully challenging experience for me. I had an amazing mentor in Wildrosebeef, and she stood by me through all the ups and downs. I am quite proud of being a Mentoring Program Graduate.

What is your favorite type of music?  

I love many genres of music, but rock really does it for me. My favorite bands are Tool and Pink Floyd.

You can only pick one:  banjo, butterfly, or babbling brook. Which would you choose and why? 

Definitely a butterfly. It’s my only tattoo, and I have a slight obsession with symmetry. If I were a butterfly, I could fly to the babbling brook and listen to the man playing his banjo.

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com Supervisor? 

The biggest challenge is to not lose my cool when dealing with someone insistent on arguing with me.

What are your special interests, hobbies, or collections? 

I am a die-hard NASCAR fan. I enjoy spending my Sunday afternoons on the edge of my couch screaming at the television. I’ve had the great pleasure of going to numerous races in New Hampshire, as well. There isn’t anything quite like being up against the fence and watching those cars come off Turn 2, on the brink of disaster!

What is your inspiration in life?  

Coffee, coffee, and more coffee!

You have two pets. Tell us about some of their antics!

Shadow

Shadow

There’s no shortage of personality in my pets. I wouldn’t have it any other way either.

My dog’s name is Shadow. She’s a bit rambunctious, and her previous owner couldn’t handle her. She was a little over a year old when I took her in, and she’s four now. Since becoming a dog owner, I’ve noticed a serious drop in the sock population. The funniest thing I have ever seen is my dog tiptoeing across the kitchen floor to sneak up on the cat.Jam's cat

My cat’s name is Pretty Kitty. A family member asked me to watch her for the weekend, and I decided against giving her back. That was eight years ago. In addition to my cat hiding in cupboards and walking on top of doors, she steals my make-up brushes and hair ties. She has this amusing version of hide-and-seek/peek-a-boo that she plays. I crawl around on the floor and ask, “Where’s the Pretty Kitty?” and she jumps out of wherever she’s hiding and swats at me a few times. She knocks ornaments off the Christmas tree and blames the dog, and she somehow manages to deposit cat litter in the dog’s water bowl several times a day.

Check out some of Jam499′s Q&A:

What comes after a direct object?

How do you know if a linking verb is a predicate adjective or noun?

 

Meet Prioktan918: Master StoryTeller and Seeker of Knowledge

Prioktan918 is a storyteller by nature and many will enjoy his interview for the sheer pleasure of reading a well-told story. He has broad knowledge, eclectic taste, and he specializes in the Middle East. Thanks to his attention, we now have organized categories for Middle Eastern History and related topics. He calls his sense of humor horrible, yet he is quite amusing. Though he is currently busy studying law, he still finds time to devote to Answers.com and we are lucky to have him! Since January of 2012, he has more than 120,000 contributions, making him a Platinum Contributor. He has already passed through the Special Project Assistant (SPA) Program and he is a Mentoring Program Graduate. Read more and get to know this intellectual and imaginative young man who will one day be a great lawyer and most likely, more than that!

What is your first name?  Richard.

What is your occupation?

I used to be a paralegal working in defense of liability insurers and reinsurers. Currently, I am at law school, studying to become a lawyer.

What is your Answers.com username and how did it come about?

It is Prioktan918. The “918” is a personal thing. “Prioktan” comes from an exchange between my brother and me when we were younger. My brother used to have this imaginary friend “Johnny” who lived on Pluto and I would sit down and ask him very critical questions of Johnny and his surroundings. After asking all these questions, I began to imagine a world on Pluto populated with numerous different people. They were all led by a singularly gifted woman named Prioktan who made a valiant last stand against the invading and colonizing forces of Earth in the 2600s. In the “Internet Age” when every useful username is used, Prioktan has just the set of characters to avoid causing problems in making a username or email address. It has proven relatively successful. Perhaps, eventually, more people will learn about Prioktan, if I ever finish writing her story.

Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?

I come from everywhere, really. I lived the majority of my life in New York City and its environs, but I have also lived in Washington DC, London, Seville, Fez, and Tel Aviv: four continents, six cities, bloody nightmare. Each of those cities is special in its own way, but the general effect was to make me a Post-American, as my friends like to say. I am American, but I do not let that define my personality or outlook.

How did you discover Answers.com?

I was eating lunch at work one day and I figured that I could contribute to the overall good of the world by clarifying a few issues or answering a few questions. So, I registered and answered. What was nice was that as opposed to Wikipedia, I did not have to cite my information, meaning that I could address issues without painstakingly writing a research essay. So, I just kept at it, especially when it came to categories that I knew well, such as the Middle East, and that had few major contributors.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?Ditto Pokemon

I was always enamored with the Pokémon “Ditto”, which is something like an animal. What I found interesting was that Ditto did not have a persona or identity, save when it stole one by copying another form. It was whatever it wished itself to be and had no remnant of itself when it copied. It creates this interesting question of whether a person’s will can truly exist outside of the manifest experience of living that life. I would find the experiment of being a Ditto to be a wonderful and exciting conundrum.

What is your favorite thing to do on Answers.com?

I enjoy answering a “why” question that seeks real analysis or exposes strongly held feelings. More often than not, people have serious questions that they cannot address with anyone in their life. This could be because communities are insular, or it could be because there is a stigma against asking certain questions of certain people. I feel that if I can clarify something that bothers or confuses someone, perhaps, that person might be able to pay it forward.

If you were inviting someone to join Answers.com, what reason(s) would you give that person to become a part of our community?

I am not a salesman. When I ask people to contribute, I ask them from the perspective that they have expertise in a subject and they should share it with those less knowledgeable. I have not been that successful as my friends are busier than I am.

What accomplishments on Answers.com are you proud of?

I am proud of having organized the Middle Eastern History Category, as well as submitting category requests for the Caliphate and Kurdistan categories that now exist. Prior to my arrival on Answers.com, the Middle East area was a mess; it is much tidier now.

What is the craziest thing that has ever happened to you?

A friend from the UK was visiting me in Morocco (while I lived in Fez), so I told him to meet me at the Casablanca train station. It was around midnight, and he had not slept for nearly 36 hours as a result of finishing finals. He arrived, barely lucid and completely exasperated. We boarded a 0:45 train to Tangier which takes about six hours. We packed into a train car (like in the Harry Potter movies) and because the hour was so late, we had the car to ourselves. I took watch and my friend went to sleep. At around 2:30, we were in the Sidi Qasem Junction where the train had to hold for about twenty minutes while the track was switched. A man then came  hobbling into our car and slurred out, “I…I…I…like…I don’t have a ticket. Is that OK?” I responded to him in French that I didn’t care and he should be fine. He proceeded to fall to the ground in a crumpled heap and clawed his way under the banquet. Just then a train conductor passed by the outside of the car and saw the drunken man’s legs peering out from under the banquet. He yanked the drunken man out from under the banquet, readjusted his grip so that he could haul the man upright, rotated the man 180 degrees and slammed him against the far side wall, before dragging the man out of the train altogether. The noise of the man colliding with the far side of the wall woke my good friend whose eyes widened immensely. I turned to him and said, “Welcome to Morocco, you should pay for your tickets here.”

What is your favorite type of music?  

I like music from the eastern Mediterranean, such as modern Greek (Paparizou and similar), modern Turkish (Tarkan and similar), Arab Pop (Ajram, Diab, and similar), and Israeli (Haza and similar).

Who is your favorite poet?  What is your favorite poem and why?

My favorite poem is Canción de Jinete (Song of the Rider) by Federico García Lorca. It’s the story of a patrolman who knows that he lacks the supplies to make it safely to Córdoba, which was his original destination. To me it represents the meaning of true heroism. In most films and literature, heroes die ceremonious deaths and are pined for, if they must die at all. In reality, many heroes give their lives without accolades, rotting namelessly in prison cells, dying without a hope that what little good they tried to achieve will progress to anything, and most importantly, they die without ceremony and without climactic cause. Lorca portrays this singular un-mourned loss in a way that makes us care about him, too. Additionally, it serves as a mirror to Lorca’s own life since he was killed by Fascist tyrants in 1936 for the crime of being gay. He was given no ceremony nor blessing in Spain for nearly forty years afterwards, dying as namelessly as the Rider.

What makes you unique?

I am absurdly honest and blunt.

If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?

Assuming that the wish-giver was not intentionally duplicitous and would grant the wishes as intended, as opposed to the common trope in literature where the wish granting agent grants the wish in a way that the wisher does not wish to receive the wish:

  • World Peace – A realistic peace that allows people to actually embrace each other and realize their rights and freedoms to self-determination. This does not require that people cease to argue, but it does demand a mental shift across the world that violence and hatred are not viable ways to do this.
  • Super-Teleport – I would like to be able to teleport myself, and anything I carry, to any point in the universe at any point in time. Additionally I would be able to teleport into works of both fiction and non-fiction with any “story” content in which I could acquire attributes of that world or even take over characters and play the story out differently. Any death caused by being outside of normal time would just revert me back to where I made the original jump from with the memories of everything that happened – like waking from a nightmare.
  • Investment in Space Colonization – I would like governments around the world to invest in building a space elevator and start building space colonies to reduce the strain on our planet as well as colonizing the moon and Mars. I wouldn’t wish that these things already existed but that there was the will the world-over to see these missions through.

Do you view the glass ‘half full’ or ‘half empty’?  Why?

I don’t waste my time with the glass. I evaluate the problem, pick the best viable solution and execute it by rationally evaluating all component parts and actors. Optimism and pessimism both distort a person’s ability to think critically.

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com Supervisor?

It is most challenging to deal with irrational or problematic contributors who I need to reprimand for their conduct.

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com contributor?

It can be a challenge to understand what the questions are that are being asked when people form their questions vaguely.

What is your favorite quote and why?

Tao PeopleContext: In 1890 in southern Tanganyika (current Tanzania), the German commander Hermann von Wissman was fighting against the Yao People, ruled by Chief Macemba. When Wissman demanded subordination by Macemba, the African ruler replied by way of a letter written in Kiswahili:

Translation of the Quote: I have listened to your words but can find no reason why I should obey you—I would rather die first… I look for some reason why I should obey you and find not the smallest. If it should be friendship that you desire, then I am ready for it, today and always; but not to be your slave, that I cannot be. If it should be war you desire, then I am ready, but never to be your slave. I do not fall at your feet, for you are God’s creature just as I am. I am sultan here in my land. You are sultan there in yours. Yet listen, I do not say to you that you should obey me; for I know that you are a free man. As for me, I will not come to you, and if you are strong enough, then come and fetch me. ~ Macemba

Reason: It’s my favorite quote because it shows Macemba’s willingness not to capitulate merely because defeat is inevitable. A person should be willing to defend everything they hold dear instead of forfeiting it for mere survival. A mind without a heart would make us no different than computers or animals.

Where is one place in the world you would love to visit and why?

I would like to visit Iran and Iraq to see where my family came from.

Do you have any special talents?

I can speak in a voice resembling Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks completely naturally. (It is not my natural voice, though; that would be a curse, not a talent.)

What is one quirky or interesting random fact about you that most people may not know?

I have a horrible sense of humor. Some people get it, but most do not.

Meet Soulcist: A Georgia Poet who Loves His Home and Family

 

Yusemi and Soulcist

Yusemi and Soulcist

Soulcist has been on the site for close to a year now, and he has certainly made his presence felt with over 54,000 contributions. He’s a Senior Mentor, a Vandal Patrol Generalist, a Community Outreach WikiGuide and a Category Supervisor in six categories! He is most active in Teen Dating and Xbox Live. In his free time he teaches himself to build software-based webites. He is devoted to a few very special people, including Yusemi and his grandmother, but get to know him and you will see he is sensitive and considerate of everyone in his life and on our site. To find out more about Soulcist, visit his profile where he shares some of his own beautiful poetry and more. We are lucky to have such a genuine person as a member of our community and we can only wish him the best. Continue reading →

Meet Luvhistory: Lover of Nature and History!

Luvhistory

Luvhistory

Luvhistory is a midwestern gal. She majored in history in college – perhaps the reason for her username. Luvhistory is also a lover of nature and you can find many of her contributions on the site in the Endangered, Vulnerable and Threatened Species and Animal Life categories. Her descriptions of nature are sensitive and beautiful, as you will discover in the interview. She is not only knowledgeable, but she is also an active member of our community with over 104,000 contributions. Read more and get to know Luvhistory. Continue reading →

Meet Mehtamatics: Wisdom and quality of life rolled into one!

MehtamaticsIt’s an honor to have Mehtamatics on our site. His total contributions exceed 113,00 and of those, 75,000 are original answers. Our community of members certainly appreciates and values Mehtamatics: he has over 4,000 Trust Points! His favorite category is Mathematics and he provides excellent answers to math-related questions. Originally from India, today he resides to the southwest of London, where he enjoys both nature and city life in this privileged location! He is a bit of a philosopher, in addition to being an excellent mathematician. Read more and get to know this thoughtful and interesting member of Answers.com. Continue reading →

Meet C.Hainsaw: He’s out of this world!

Meet C.Hainsaw. He’s one of the most cherished and longstanding members of our Community. In trust points alone he’s over the 2600 mark. Overall, C.Hainsaw has almost 248,000 contributions! His knowledge is broad which qualifies him to supervise many categories, especially those related to the US Military, Law and Legal Issues, and Jobs and Education. He participates enthusiastically in our contests and programs, and has won many awards. Among them, he was the top Mentor for the Most Outstanding Performance Overall in the 2011 WAmmy and he won the Best How-To in the 2010 WAmmy. Read more to learn about this wise and thoughtful member of Answers.com who is also, by the way, passionate about his family! Continue reading →

Meet Nicola: A purrfect role model from Scotland!

Xnicola is a star at Answers.com! Just one look at her bio page and it is clear: Senior Supervisor, Mentoring Program Mentor, Copy Editor for WikiReviewers, Imperial WikiGuide for Community Outreach, Senior Site Guardian for Vandal Patrol and TIP Supervisor. The long list of accomplishments makes her an expert on the site and a great role model. It’s not surprising that she is also a Category Supervisor for Literature and Language. She is currently finishing a Masters Degree in the English language. If you have ever received a greeting from Xnicola on the site, you know that she is a warm and welcoming person, too! Read more to learn more about this outstanding young lady from Scotland. Continue reading →

Meet Fixit895: Crossover from Scotland!

Born on the other side of the Atlantic in Scotland, he now makes his home in Canada. This very week Fixit895 (aka Charlie) reached 10,000 answers on the site! He supervises the Glue and Adhesives and Manufactured and Mobile Homes categories (a clue to his username) and he is also a WikiGuide for Community Outreach and a TIP member. He can figure out how to fix anything and loves to answer questions on the site. On a personal note, he has an admirable military background. We are proud to have him with us! Read on to learn more about this well-travelled and seasoned Supervisor. Continue reading →

Skullcandy88: Just our cup of tea!

There’s almost nothing that he hasn’t done on the site: Category Supervisor, Senior Vandal Patrol, Special Project Assistant, Community Outreach, Mentoring Program Graduate and more than 68,000 contributions. He prides himself on using proper grammar and he loves tea. This intelligent young man from England is one of our top Supervisors who oversees a wide range of categories. He is truly a source of inspiration and knowledge. Check out his bio to learn all about Skullcandy88 and maybe, if we ask, he will share the secret to a perfect cup of tea! Continue reading →

Competition is his middle name: ZachMeyer94

It makes sense that an avid gamer would love the contests on Answers.com. ZachMeyer94 has already participated in four AnswerThons and he has placed in each of them! He is a bronze contributor and his favorite categories are Roblox and Racing Video Games. Maybe those long cold winters in his native Wisconsin have helped him to improve his game! Read on to learn more.

What is your Answers.com username and how did it come about?

I’m ZachMeyer94. My username is a combination of my shortened first name, my last name, and my birth year.

Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?

I hail from the state of Wisconsin, land of cheese….and cows, lots of cows.

What enticed you to join our community?

Quite honestly, I was enticed by the contests. I originally joined to compete in one of the contests and now I usually only get on for the sake of competing in them. I also seem to treat the community as my competition, but in a friendly way.

What is your favorite thing to do on Answers.com?

CONTESTS!!! That and answering questions about things I really understand. It feels good to share my knowledge with others.

What accomplishments on Answers.com are you proud of?

Winning prizes in four Answers.com contests so far.

What is your favorite type of music?  What is your favorite band or artist?

I love to listen to rock, pop, and some electropop. Some of my favorite bands include: Owl City, Reliant K, Switchfoot, and Skillet.

What is your favorite song?

Hmm… Tough question. Depending on my mood and new music I am listening to, I find my favorite song often changes. Right now my favorite song is probably “Deer in the Headlights” by Owl City.

If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?

I would wish for:

1. Super powers. It would just be cool.

2. Nearly unlimited money. Thinking of all the good things I could do (and things I could buy) with nearly unlimited money just makes my head hurt.

3. I would also wish that every person in the world could feel the love and peace of my savior Jesus before dying. Whether the person chooses to follow Him after that would be a personal decision.

What are your special interests, hobbies, or collections?

I enjoy music, eating food (mostly pie), and playing and making video games. PS3 all the way! By the way, I usually go by the name EpikMcWin or Freshbakedpie on games I play.

What are you most passionate about in your life?

I am a Christian, a follower of Christ, so that definitely is first on my list of passions. After that I consider myself an avid gamer.

Who or what is your inspiration in life?

My God and king, Jesus, is my inspiration. I think that as humans we all really want to strive for perfection, and since nobody on earth is perfect why not choose the One who is perfect as  role model?

Where is one place in the world you would love to visit and why?

There are a lot of places I would love to visit. If I had to choose one place, it would probably be Hawaii. To those of you people living in Hawaii or some other tropical place, feel lucky. You haven’t felt cold until you’ve lived though a Wisconsin winter!

A Man of Few Words and Many Actions: Meet Mystery Mania

Mystery Mania is a man of few words. However, he is a man full of action. In a little over a year, he has made more than 10,000 contributions to Answers.com. But that’s not all! He is a WikiGuide in the Community Outreach Program, a Special Project Assistant, and a Floating Supervisor. Using his technical expertise, Justin designed his very own unofficial site known as Answers.fans where members are invited to socialize with each other. One more interesting fact about Justin: he knows Chinese and greets you with NiHao, Huan Ying (Hello, welcome!) on his profile!

What is your first name?

My name is Justin.

What is your occupation?

I am a student.

What is your Answers.com username and how did it come about?

My username is Mystery Mania because my friend said this about me: “Well Justin, I have to say, you’re always full of surprises.”

Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?

I live in Northern California, specifically the Bay Area.

How did you discover Answers.com?

Like most people, I found Answers.com through a Google search. I eventually got hooked and decided to create an account.

What enticed you to join our community?

I joined the Answers.com community because I like to answer questions and I thought this would be a great place to show off my answers.

What is your favorite thing to do on Answers.com?

My favorite thing to do on Answers.com is answer questions! I also like to help other contributors use the site.

If you were inviting someone to join Answers.com, what reason(s) would you give them to become a part of our community?

I would tell them that this site is not like any other Q&A site that exists. Here at Answers.com, everyone is treated as part of a family. I would tell them about the various things they can do on the site besides just asking questions. This is their chance to share their own knowledge.

What accomplishments on Answers.com are you proud of?

I am proud to have become a Floating Supervisor on Answers.com.

What was the last song you listened to?

Rolling In The Deep, by Adele.

What makes you unique?

I have my own fan site. It is called Answers Fans.

What do you find most challenging as an Answers.com Supervisor?

The most challenging thing on Answers.com is dealing with vandals and people who decide to write dumb answers that don’t answer the question.

What are your special interests, hobbies, or collections?

I created a fan site for Answers.com. It’s called Answers Fans.

AmercGirl4J1C – More Than Just a Girl.

She’s an American girl, she’s a wiki girl! She’s AmercGirl4J1C, and we’re happy to have her in the Answers.com community. With a love for music and Christianity, AmercGirl4J1C oversees Christian Music Q&A and Christian Bands and Artists Q&A. Stop by her awesome profile, and you’ll have the unique opportunity to determine your age according to “chocolate math”. Check it out! And read on to find out more about AmercGirl4J1C.

What is your Answers.com user name and the history behind it?

My user name is AmercGirl4J1C. It means American Girl for Jesus Christ 1. I came up with the name from one of my AIM Screen-names that I made about 7 years ago, that I really like and still use today.

What is your first name?

My first name is Katie.

What is your age?

I’m 22-years-old.

Do you have any pets?

Yes, a dog; a female German Shepherd.

Where do you live, how long have you lived there and why do you like the area?

I currently live in the Northern part of the USA (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania). I have lived here my whole life so far. At one point I’d love to move and live in either Tennessee or Georgia.

What are some of your past or present occupations?

Well, I just finished college in May 2010 with my degree in Business Administration with Accounting option. Well I don’t have a past occupation, just a part-time job in a doctor’s office.

What are your key areas of knowledge, interest or expertise?

I’m pretty knowledgeable in home-security, (Okay, I’m kinda’ a know-it-all with that…). Oh and I’m also pretty knowledgeable about Christian music, I know tons of bands in the many different genres. (I’m kinda a like a walking Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) database.) I’m interested in Criminal Justice type stuff, and how drugs affect the body. iPods, too.

Do you have any collections or hobbies?

Besides books and movies, ha. I collect the American Girls Collection. My hobbies are swimming, bowling and listening to music, mainly.

What do you like to do for recreation?

I love reading, swimming, bowling, playing my Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS and just chilling with friends or chilling by myself.

Do you have any special talents you’d like to share?

Yes, I am kind-of ambidextrous although I write just a little slower with my other hand.

What are a few random facts about yourself?

I have a great memory.

What accomplishments are you proud of?

Graduating college for one thing.

What are your special goals or dreams?

My one main dream is to hang-out with the CCM bands/singers.

How would you describe yourself or personality?

I would describe myself as kind of shy, but really nice. I’m also the type of person who tells people the-way-it-is when they ask me a question. My friends know when they ask me anything or a hard question that I will tell them the truth and not try to soften it up.

What brought you to Answers.com?

Well, nothing specifically. I just had Answers.com as one of my home pages, and I just was just looking something up to see that it said about it and some questions came up. I noticed the answers were not quite right so I joined to change them or edit them.

Are you a Floating or Category Supervisor (which categories)?

I’m a Category Supervisor for the Christian Music and Christian Bands and Artists categories, among others.

What keeps you coming back to Answers.com?

I guess the conversations and the checking out of questions to see what people actually said.

What is your favorite Answers.com activity?

Um, I guess just talking to other Christians or answering questions that I know the answer to.

Do you want to be interviewed for the Contributor corner? Just leave a comment below and we’ll get to work.

JoyceP’s contributions make headlines!

Newsflash! Answers.com’s very own JoyceP, a star Supervisor, Senior Mentor and WIT Advisor, had a write-up about her in The Franklin Sun, a Winnsboro, LA, newspaper. A bit of the feature about Joyce is below:

[Joyce] Parker joined the Wiki family in 2008 where she was quickly promoted through the ranks to become a supervisor and mentor to other contributors. Parker received two WAmmy Awards for Best Answer of the Year and Best Advice Answer of the Year during her first year.

In 2009, she won Answer of the Year to the question: “What are the signs of child abuse and how can you help the abused child to overcome the harm it has caused?” She also received a WAmmy Award for Best Advice Answer to the question: “How do you explain to young children that their parents are getting divorced to make the transition as easy on them as possible?”

Parker resides in Winnsboro with her husband and two pugs, Sadie Mei and Sophie Linh; and two boxers, Ben and Maddy. When she's not researching for WikiAnswers.com, Parker enjoys cake decorating, photography and going to the movies. (source)

The awards the article is alluding to are the WAmmys, and you can see the complete listing of 2009′s winners here.

JoyceP in The Franklin Sun.

Learn the geography of WikiAnswers with Chongyx.

Want a geography answer from someone who is truly passionate about both the subject and answering questions? Or maybe you just want some help navigating WikiAnswers? Chongyx is a student who discovered WikiAnswers through school and now uses it to help him excel at school… Now there’s a great use of the greatest Q&A community!

After joining about a year ago, Chongyx has managed to accrue quite a rainbow of badges and awards. He serves in the Supervisor community, Mentoring program, WIT program, Vandal Patrol, and Community Outreach. He manages to find time to swim and play soccer and enjoys (and plays) music. His greatest love, it seems, is geography.

Meet Chongyx:

How did you originally hear about WikiAnswers?

Basically, we have a Research Education subject in school. An expert came to give a talk on Research, and recommended that Answers.com was a good search engine. So, I went there and found the link to WikiAnswers. I thought it was also a search engine. But then, I realised that it was Q&A, so I started asking questions and got many good answers. I joined as it was quite useful and educational, and I got hooked later on.

Explain your username.

My username is just my surname (Chong) together with my initials (yx). (Boring I know…) Many people call me Chongy because they don’t really understand how my name works but it’s fine with me.

What motivates you to volunteer your time to the WikiAnswers community?

I think that I volunteer my time because I can learn many things from WikiAnswers. For example, as people ask questions that I do not know, I would research and gain lots of general knowledge. Since I am able to help others, why not? The friendly community volunteers also attract me back to WikiAnswers over and over again. I found that answering questions on a certain subject or categories also helped improved my examination grades, so I did this every time the exams were coming. My friends were shocked that I spent so much time on the computer instead of studying, but in fact, I was studying using the computer.

What are your areas of expertise?

That would most likely be Geography. I have been very interested in Geography since I was young, and have four or five atlases at home. I also love the subcategories such as Geophysics, Maps and Cartography, and most of all, Latitude and Longitude. I like gaining knowledge about these topics through research and not just reading the school textbooks, which do not provide enough information to satisfy me. Since I learn Chinese as a second language, I try to help out in the English to Chinese category too.

What is your favorite WikiAnswers feature?

Did you mean the orange button that says ‘A: Answer question’? Yes! The answer question feature is my favourite feature. Answering questions helps both the asker and the answerer and that’s what I joined WikiAnswers for!

What has been the funniest question you’ve seen or your funniest experience on WikiAnswers?

That has to be How does a grockle spend Christmas? Every Supervisor has a part in it.

Share a random fact (or two) about yourself.

I know every MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) station in order and every bus route in Singapore (that’s quite a lot).

Do you want to be interviewed for the Contributor corner? Just leave a comment below and we’ll get to work.

The inner workings of Devil Boy.

Devil BoyDespite the devilish-sounding name, Devil Boy is a star WikiAnswers contributor who has managed to rack up an impressive wiki-resume in his 6+ months with the community. My favorite part about him? The badge he hosts on his Bio Page for vandals to use so that he can identify them easier…

Aside from cheeky offerings to vandals, Devil Boy is a student and an avid gamer who also volunteers as a WikiGuide, WIT Member and Category Supervisor for basketball, gaming and Philippines-related categories.

How did you originally hear about WikiAnswers?

That’s a funny story. While searching I had the tendency to come across Yahoo! Answers… I was never fond of Yahoo, so I decided to look for another question & answer site. That’s when I found WikiAnswers.

Explain your username.

I knew you would ask that :)

When I was smaller, I loved to watch my dad play Day of Defeat, an awesome WW2 game. Back then, he went by the name Devil Boy. When I started to game, I went by the name Devil Boy to follow his steps. Ever since, I’ve used that name for all my usernames.

What motivates you to volunteer your time to the WikiAnswers community?

When I asked my first question on WikiAnswers, it wasn’t answered for a couple months… It was eventually answered with what I know now is vandalism. This made me think. I had to help WikiAnswers. I didn’t want anyone else to end up like I did.

What are your areas of expertise?

My brain is like a sponge… When I learn something, whether its important or not, I usually remember it for a long time. I learn most things from experience. If I had to choose one subject, it would be the game Counter-Strike Condition Zero. I have a clan for it, I play it, and I’ve been developing a server of it. Yes, you could call me an addict. I also excel in science. Besides that, I know facts for a wide range of subjects.

What is your favorite WikiAnswers feature?

I like the forum and message boards. They make WikiAnswers more enjoyable. I also press the “Most-recent questions” button a lot. You can never forget about those orange men!

What has been the funniest question you’ve seen or your funniest experience on WikiAnswers?

Someone asked How to perform a headshot in Counter-Strike? My friends and I got a great laugh out of that one.

I also had this daydream…  I was that category supervisor WikiMan (orange guy). Armed with my bow, I was shooting down vandals.

Share a random fact (or two) about yourself.

- I like to wakeboard.
- I am the leader of the Pinoy Gamers clan.

Do you want to be interviewed for the Contributor corner? Just leave a comment below and we’ll get to work.

Areablue222: more than just a username.

He’s blue… He’s got some twos… He’s Areablue222 and he is a downright solid contributor to WikiAnswers.com. And no ordinary contributor: a Platinum contributor. Well, he’s not just a Platinum  contributor either; he’s a Mentor, Wiki Greeter, Vandal Patrol Generalist and a Category Supervisor… Ok, you’re getting my point, right? This guy is awesome.

It’s his pure love of chemistry and his dedication to getting those questions answered that really make him wonderful. I mean, anyone who can host chemistry jokes on their Bio Page must be someone super special in my book!

Here’s a bit more from AreaBlue222:

How did you originally hear about WikiAnswers?

I believe I was searching for something online and stumbled upon WikiAnswers. It was almost definitely related to chemistry, but it has since receded to the back of my mind. I must have found a good answer or maybe I was intrigued that the chemical symbol for iron is “your mom”.

Explain your username.

I looked deeply inside and found a username that would directly correlate my thoughts and feelings into something tha…… just kidding, it’s just my favorite color. There are three 2′s because three is my favorite number, but two rhymes with blue. You might even say that my username is hardly revealing or particularly representative of me. You would probably be right.

What motivates you to volunteer your time to the WikiAnswers community?

WikiAnswers is really a great knowledge source and I hope everyone can learn from it. My goal is for everyone to learn something new every day and WikiAnswers aids that perfectly. I try and answer as many questions as I can (and know how to) so somebody somewhere gets all the info they need. And of course the Supervisors on WikiAnswers are some of the greatest people I know. I’ve enjoyed working with them and they are really a smart group of people. Everyday, I will take a look at my categories and then check up on my fellow Supervisors that work tirelessly to make WikiAnswers run smoothly.

What are your areas of expertise?

Chemistry. Always has been my favorite subject and always will be. Don’t ask me the current status of a celebrity, because I won’t know. But if it’s about chemistry, I’m your guy.

What is your favorite WikiAnswers feature?

My favorite feature… Well, it would have to be the plain ol’ “add answer” feature that makes WikiAnswers what it is.

What has been the funniest question you’ve seen or your funniest experience on WikiAnswers?

Hmm. Not sure. Too many great experiences!

Share a random fact (or two) about yourself.

I get seriously distraught when I lose my pen.

Do you want to be interviewed for the Contributor corner? Just leave a comment below and we’ll get to work.

Nothing like a bit of MRA.

MRA

MRA: No, that’s not a new rap artist or government office. MRA stands for something so much greater: Matthew Ryan Albert.

Since December 2007, MRA has been working hard on WikiAnswers.com and has set a role for himself as a WIT member, WikiGuide, and Silver contributor. Going further, he’s a Category Supervisor covering Computer Games,  American Idol, Guitar Hero, Wind Instruments, Saxophone, Counter Strike, Jagex, and Alto Saxophone.

MRA is also a student with all kinds of hobbies and experiences; exactly what the WikiAnswers community thrives on. Let’s take a look at what else MRA has to offer:

How did you originally hear about WikiAnswers?

Back in 2007, during the school year I was looking for a place to get some factual information for school. I used the site for about a year as a guest, then I decided that I would sign-up just for the heck of it. I signed up, and I asked questions for about half a year, not getting the full experience of WikiAnswers. One day I decided that I would try answering a few questions and doing a little bit of research.

Explain your username.

My username is actually not that unique, and I regret not spending a little longer making it up. My username is just initials of my full name, Matthew Ryan Albert.

What motivates you to volunteer your time to the WikiAnswers community?

I do not know exactly what motivates me to volunteer, but I know it is partially because I am addicted to this site. I love helping people out, and here I can help people out and make an abundant amount of friends. I just have too many experiences to leave, and not be more active here I guess.

What are your areas of expertise?

My areas of expertise are: Saxophones, American Idol, and Computer Games. I have been playing the Saxophone for 4 years, but I know quite a bit about the Saxophone. I have watched every single of episode of American Idol since season 1, and I am also a member of the forums on American Idol.

What is your favorite WikiAnswers feature?

My favorite feature on WikiAnswers would have to be the Feature option. I think it really gives certain questions a boost in the view, as it posts it on WikiAnswers in front of many other questions . I think that this separates the valid questions from the trashy questions awaiting their removal. Now I am not saying every question is bad if it isn’t featured, but almost all of the featured questions are excellent as they have been handpicked by Supervisors.

What has been the funniest question you’ve seen or your funniest experience on WikiAnswers?

I have had so many incredible experiences on WikiAnswers, and I do not believe I could chose one as my “favorite” in specific. One experience that I would like to share that I learned a lot from and actually learned how much I should appreciate a computer is when I had the Blue Screen of Death. I could not contribute normally, as I was forced to use my MP3 player (iTouch), and you cannot get the full benefit of internet features on it. I really had to work hard, and I had to put extra time, but during that time I really let out a few giggles and had a great time, and said some stupid things too.

Share a random fact (or two) about yourself.

I have been involved in a bunch of Online Communities since I was in Elementary School. I actually used to be a [HELP]er for GameSpy. In addition, I have owned a Counter-Strike Server, but I had to shut it down because of a lack of time due to school-work.

Do you want to be interviewed for the Contributor corner? Just leave a comment below and we’ll get to work.

A British Wikiholic with a taste for… Platinum.

Here’s something you don’t see everyday… A Mentor, Supervisor, WikiGuide and Platinum Contributor. With all the mentoring, supervising and wikiguiding, how does Peterc14 manage to have time to make all those contributions?

I guess the answer is, he’s a Wikiholic, like the rest of us.

A music lover based in Liverpool, UK, Peter is perfect for WikiAnswers since he has a wide range of interests and is really dedicated to giving solid answers.

How did you originally hear about WikiAnswers?

One day last summer I was in Ormskirk, Lancashire and noticed that there was a statue of Benjamin Disraeli, 19th Century Prime Minister of Great Britain. I wondered why the town had chosen to honour him in this way – what was the connection? Searching the internet was fruitless, lots of stuff about Disraeli and Ormskirk but no clue as to the connection.

I eventually came upon WikiAnaswers via a Google search which threw up a question about Runcorn, in Cheshire. At last! I thought, a website which isn’t just about American stuff!

I still didn’t find the answer to my query about Disraeli, but I saw, and answered, a question about William The Conqueror, and then another one about Queen Victoria, the rest, as they say, is history.

What motivates you to volunteer your time to the WikiAnswers community?

I love helping people, in real life as well as on the internet.

I could tell from the wording of many questions that there are some massive misconceptions about the United Kingdom, and British History, and not only in the US, and I particularly enjoy answering those and setting the record straight.

What are your areas of expertise?

British History is my favourite, followed by Literature – I like to think my expertise is in language and the ability to write a clear, concise answer.

What is your favorite WikiAnswers feature?

Split and Merge – I have developed a an obsession – sorry – passion for splitting incorrect alternates and placing them in their correct home. If someone asks what is Princess Diana’s shoe size, they should not get her waist measurement just because that has been incorrectly placed.

What is the funniest question/funniest experience as a Supervisor on WikiAnswers?

I can’t think of any especially funny questions – I try and take them all seriously, even the wacky ones. I have seen questions about Henry VIII’s wines – “N” isn’t far away from “V” on the keyboard.

Share a random fact about yourself.

I am the father of twins and until they were born we didn’t know it would be twins – we were all ready for ONE baby!

Do you want to be interviewed for the Contributor corner? Just leave a comment below and we’ll get to work.

Rharris: All-around awesome and a recat-ing queen.

When I think of long-time WikiAnswers member Rharris, I think of lots of things: Mentor, AnswerThon Runner Up, Category Supervisor (of over 20 topics!)… Robin does it all and she does it with a friendly smile.

A little background on Robin:

  • She lives in the Bluegrass State, or what she calls ‘Bird Paradise.’
  • Some of her time working on WikiAnswers is spent with her grandson on her lap, grabbing for the keyboard.
  • Gertie and Tiny are her two dogs, a Doberman and mini Doberman.

How did you originally hear about WikiAnswers?

My dad had asked me to find out where a certain part was located on a car, and somehow I landed on Faq Farm and asked the question.  I thought it was cool that you could ask anything you wanted to know on the site, so I bookmarked it.

Several months later, I came back to ask another question, and to my surprise, it was no longer FaqFarm, but WikiAnswers!  I wanted to contribute to an answer on a question about suicide, and emailed Crystal, asking her to unprotect the question so that I could.  She was very nice and immediately unprotected the question.  When I think about it, I realize that Crystal’s friendly attitude is the reason I immediately felt welcome and kept coming back.

What motivates you to volunteer your time to the WikiAnswers community?

It’s called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder!  (I prefer to say I have extensive organizational skills.) LOL!

When I realized I could edit questions and answers and categorize, I was ecstatic!  I jumped right in and started correcting spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and categorizing questions.

Seriously, I fell in love with WikiAnswers.  I love the community environment and am dedicated to doing all I can do to help people feel welcome, feel as if they are a part of the community, to want to keep coming back, to want to stay.

I’m a Senior Supervisor of the Literature and Language categories, which is absolutely perfect for me, because I have a huge passion for books and English and writing.  As a non-degree English major, WikiAnswers allows me the opportunity to make use of my writing skills and creative talents.

In assisting Deb with the Mentoring Program, I enjoy helping new supervisors in learning the correct ways to use all the tools we have available to improve and enhance WikiAnswers.   What it all boils down to is that I can help to make a difference in the WikiAnswers community and on the site by doing the very things I am passionate about.

What are your areas of expertise?

I’d have to say my area(s) of expertise are my organizational, English, writing, and people skills.  I love using all these in meeting people, making new friends, and helping bring about harmony and unity within the community, not to mention whipping those questions and answers into shape within the categories I supervise.

What is your favorite WikiAnswers feature?

Oh, my gosh!  This one is hard to answer!

It could be the ability to edit questions and edit answers. Or is it being able to work in the community and help to create some old-fashioned neighborly bonding? Perhaps it’s the fact that I meet so many wonderful people from all over the world. Or could it be the thrill I get from helping people learn new things? Then again, maybe it’s that I, myself, have learned so much  by being part of WikiAnswers and am learning new things each day.

As for the physical features of the site, I love to organize, so I’d have to say my favorite feature is recategorizing – and there are so many different ways to go about doing that!  I can split alternate wordings and recat, I can recat from the topics I supervise, I can recat recently asked questions, go to my watchlist and recat from there, or use the advanced search option and recat from there.

What is the funniest question/funniest experience as a Supervisor on WikiAnswers?

I’ve seen so many questions I thought were funny that it would be hard to choose just one.  But I really got a kick out of Where can you find wild camels? And the answer was, “There is an excellent video called “Camels gone wild!” that follows a herd of wild and woolly Camels to Fort Lauderdale for spring break. Stay away from Camels in a mosh pit as they can be very dangerous.”  And I loved the question,  What is lack toast and tolerant?

Share a random fact about yourself.

I have a snake phobia, and hate slugs because they remind me of short, fat snakes, and won’t eat mushrooms because they remind me of slimy slugs. I know… that’s crazy! LOL!

I’m a very friendly person who loves to laugh and I see humor in things other people don’t.  I love to meet people, help people, and work with people.

Do you want to be interviewed for the Contributor corner? Just leave a comment below and we’ll get to work.