RichTC - 2:41 am on Dec 18, 2006 (gmt 0)

Interesting blogs, they fully explain the route of this issue - fantastic find!

It just shows you that the editors that post here were either fully in the dark themseleves or just didnt want to say the full extent of the problem .

So it started effectively 12 mths ago when AOL didnt want to invest further into providing back up facilities - that was kept a bit hush, hush! but makes perfect commercial sence - i think AOL have been brave to keep funding this project anyway imo esp in view of them having to lay off staff elswhere currently.

Following the recent technical issues it looks like dmoz were left without any recovery plan then, to fall back on. Add to this the AOL staff layoffs and i would agree with the blogger that DMOZ isnt going to be a prority issue or a likely candidate for further staff resources or investment.

Im not sure i would agree that if AOL draw a line under the whole experience that DMOZ could survive on an independant basis, well certainly not in its current format. For one thing it requires someone or company that would take the financial liability on and in its current format that would be pure madness imo.

From this point onwards, IMO i think for it to survive it would need to go commercial like business.com or yahoo.com and charge listing fees or generate an income in some other way, sponsored adverts etc?. unless anyones got a better idea for it to be self funding.

I would be interested in the editors views that post here. If the directory went independant and started charging listing fees would you still wish to work with it or do you now feel that the directory has reached its natural end anyway and perhaps should now be consigned to history anyway?.

Also, do you editors feel a bit cheated that "if the DMOZ Rip" blogs information is correct that you have been kept so much in the dark over this issue? - do you think AOL could have kept you better informed? - do you disagree with the blogs and still hold out hope that matters will continue on as before?

What ever the outcome of this saga, imo it looks like dmoz is going to have to change its format one way or another and i would agree with the blogger that if it can't it will finish - would you agree?