willybfriendly - 5:03 pm on Jul 20, 2007 (gmt 0)

"A powerful global conversation has begun. Through the Internet, people are discovering and inventing new ways to share relevant knowledge with blinding speed. As a direct result, markets are getting smarter—and getting smarter faster than most companies." The Cluetrain Manifesto.

A point that it seems the DMOZ defenders/editors/metas have lost site of.

I find virtually all discussions about DMOZ to be extremely polarized. I suspect the truth lies in the middle ground - some editors are corrupt, some cats are dead or dying, etc.

It is hard to find that middle ground when faced with the party line defenders that tend to emerge in any discussion about DMOZ, just as it is difficult to find it in excessive criticism.

The two groups feed off of each other and entrench themselves in their beliefs.

If DMOZ wants to reinvigorate itself, I would suggest that its defenders re-engage the users (which are largely webmasters these days) by participating in open discussions and acknowledging legitimate concerns and criticisms. The pat answers and a rosy outlook lost its luster several years ago.