ODP editor is a competitor

advice ?

[4crests]

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but here goes.

The main ODP category that I submit to is edited by my main competitor. Is it normal that DMOZ allows people to edit the categories they are in?

I noticed that he registered for the category under his other business name. I'm not sure if he did it to deceive or not.

Is there a way to find out if this person disclosed that he had TWO sites in this category before signing up?

Anyone else have any experience with this?

[mack]

I think that the category being edited by an insider to the industry is generally a good thing, that way he/she will know the ins and outs of the specific industry and will be more able to make educated decisions regarding the category. In general the ODP editors take pride in their categories and if your site would be a useful addition and would enhance the category then it will probably be accepted. When you say you are a competitor would it not also be fare to assume that all other sites in that category are also competitors.

[4crests]

Mack, in a perfect world, I would agree.

However, is it possible for such an editor to abuse his powers and delete his main competitors?

I was recently removed from this very same category. I have since applied to a different category and have been accepted.

The person in question and myself are really the only two websites that would have a lot to gain at the moment by having an ODP listing. The other competitors in this category are far behind in promotion of their sites.

I don't know if this person was responsible for me being removed or not, but I do know he has MIRROR sites within his own category that he edits. It also makes me wonder why he has attempted to conceal his identity.

It would be great if every ODP editor was looking out for the greater good of their category. Unfortunately, human actions are sometimes motivated by monetary goals.

I am a big fan of ODP, but this is yet another example of how NONE of the search engines or directories are perfect. HUMAN edited or MACHINE edited, there are flaws either way.

[Beachboy]

Fair play is what the ODP wants. Bias and game playing with competitors is a big offense. If the editor treats others the same way he treats him- or herself, great. There won't be any problem. Sadly, however, that isn't always the way it is....

[jdMorgan]

4crests,
Perhaps you should contact [e-mail] and ask them to investigate why you were removed from
your previous category. There is information on the ODP site on the ODP editor's rules and on
reporting possible abuse. Editors in the categories above yours are also responsible for those
who edit below them. You could contact one of those if you're not ready to take your question
all the way up to the top.

Jim

[4crests]

jdMorgan...

Thanks for the advise. I will keep that email on file. At the moment, I am back in ODP and I am happy with the situation. If I get deleted again, I will start raising hell. This kind of gives me some ammunition in case something happens in the future. I am pretty certain that he has lied his way into being an editor, and I am POSITIVE he shouldn't have mirror sites in the category he is editing.

But, ultimately, it would be very damaging to us both to get into a war. So, I am going to just sit on the information I have, and won't use it unless another shot is fired.

thanks again!

[nvision]

4crests - just make sure your site is clean and has nothing an editor might consider as spam or dubious promotional methods. That way if you ever need to report him (or anyone else) at any point for malpractice and he claims your site was not worthy for such reasons, then you'll have a clean record and more chances of proving that he's a biased editor. Obviously opinions differ on what is "legal" and what is "not", but still... hope that helps.

[ettore]

4crests:

>> Is there a way to find out if this person disclosed that he had TWO sites in this category before signing up?

This kind of information cannot be given out to non-editors, and part of this information isn't available even to regular editors. BTW, having one or more sites in a category where someone's il listed editor is not deceptive *in itself*. Stuffing own sites' titles and descriptions to give them unfair advantage, or bashing competitors' listings, is the deceptive behaviour which is not accepted.

>> However, is it possible for such an editor to abuse his powers and delete his main competitors?

It is "possible", it is not *allowed* as per ODP Guidelines. When an editor is caught doing that, he/she may see his editing privs removed.

>> I was recently removed from this very same category. I have since applied to a different category and have been accepted.
>> I don't know if this person was responsible for me being removed or not, but I do know he has MIRROR sites within his own category

Your site might have just been moved to a more appropriate category (which could explain its disappearing temporarily from the cat and reappearing in another one -- but not knowing both the category and the site, I am just guessing). OTOH, mirror sites are not accepted as per the ODP Guidelines, and an editor adding mirrors/doorways of his/her own site in the categories h/she edits is the kind of abuse that may get him/her removed.

>> At the moment, I am back in ODP and I am happy with the situation. If I get deleted again, I will start raising hell.

Please, should you have any evidence that an editor is adding mirrors of his/her own sites, email a meta editor with a detailed report. We care about the quality of the directory, and we strive hard to stop any kind of abuses.

>> I am POSITIVE he shouldn't have mirror sites in the category he is editing.

You are right, he shouldn't.

>> it would be very damaging to us both to get into a war. So, I am going to just sit on the information I have, and won't use it unless another shot is fired.

Your choice. But if the reason for your holding off is that you fear repercussions, be assured that any information related to an abuse investigation is considered highly confidential by meta editors who will take care of it, and will not be disclosed to the editor/s involved, or to any other editor which is not meta or staff. If you therefore want to help us improve the quality of the ODP, while being sure that any of your legitimate sites won't be harmed, email any meta editor found in this list [dmoz.org], or by all means email/stickymail me: I will be pleased to look into this issue.

[4crests]

Thanks for all the advice. By the way, my site wasn't moved. I had to re-apply, and was accepted to a new category. I really was just curious to hear other opinions on this matter. I have no proof it was him since I just noticed yesterday that he was the editor and my site was removed a while back. I'm not sure if he was the editor then. I will wait a while and see what happens. Maybe he will remove his duplicate site and I am worrying for nothing.

[EliteWeb]

If you ever become an ODP editor you can use the editor function to view editors logs for catagories then see the reasoning behind the non-addedness if any. Of course some catagory editors are not the best and cant handle competition :)

[rafalk]

Just for the record, becoming an editor only to view the Editor Notes on sites you are affiliated with, is not something that is kindly looked upon. Editors found engaging in such conduct will be removed. Additionally, any sites they were affiliated with would be subject to the same penalities as spammers [dmoz.org].

[Rugles]

I have a similar problem.
The editor in my main catagory is a competitor. In fact I know them.
They have never done anything malicious to my sites listings but they have inserted mirror sites in the ODP directory. This is unfortunate because they get the mirror sites to show up in Google, Y, AOL........ and the rest.

I e-mailed the DMOZ and Google about this over a year ago but nothing was done. Not even a response. As of today they still have 3 identical sites included in the directory and the SE's. It is very frustrating when you see how they can dominate some keywords.

[choster]

Whom did you e-mail? Try sending feedback to one of the editors on ettore's list marked as "meta" but not "root" ("kmeta" if the problem is in the Kids and Teens section). The links currently point to the editor-side profiles, but you can use the public profile by changing [dmoz.org...] to [dmoz.org...] .

You can also report abuse on the appropriate board at [resource-zone.com...] .

[webman]

4crests,

I've had the same problem and have not found any solution. The same ODP editor that I submitted my site to controls over 20 categories, has not reviewed my site submissions (according to my logs), and was also the meta-editor that rejected my ODP editor application!

It is ridiculous!