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Try doing a search for news on the Open Directory - there is none....
Who appoints the sennior ediotrs? How are they chosen? Who are they?
How is it funded? It is a huge and expensive operation?
If it is there for the community why are reasons for rejection to submitters required?
What is the real editorial policy and how consistently is this enforced. The ODP is one of the most important directories on the web, but is, to say the least, mysterious in it's operation. Why?
[edited by: Marcia at 8:05 am (utc) on June 12, 2003]
I suspect that the distance between my assertion
>>And I don't think even ODP's most fervent supporters would subscribe to even 10% of the 57,000 editors being active.<<
and your reply
>>As of June 12th, there appear to be 9510 active editors.
is in the definition of "active editor".
I would call anyone who had done 5 plus edits in the last yeat active. And if you think that too harsh would reduce it to anyone who had done more than 1 edit in the last year.
I suspect that a fair number of your 9510 active editors are people that have done 1 edit only. (call me a cynic!)
Can you clarify the definition?
IIRC, the software drops any editor if they haven't done an edit for more than 4 months. Thus, of the 9510 active editors, the only ones that could have just 1 edit would be those who became an editor within the last 4 months.
There's no problem if editors have an interest in the categories they maintain, as long as they don't abuse. You can report abuse if you have good reasons to think that it's happening somewhere.
There are many reasons why sites don't get listed. You should ask for details about your site in RZ before assuming that you don't get listed because of abusive editing.
Whilst you are approving or trashing submissions, your own website is right at the back of your mind and you would not dream of using your position to give it that little tweak.
I admire those editors at dmoz!
Thanks for that, I can rest easier that there is someone to do the work at DMOZ :)
>>Dishonest ODP editors are rare largely due to the fact it isn't worth a crooked man's time to be a dishonest ODP editor <<
I don't think I agree with the whole sentence, but I certainly agree with the thought "it isn't worth a crooked man's time to be a dishonest ODP editor "
Whether dishonest editors are rare, or what the reasons are for dishonest editors offers scope for another debate altogether!
You have the facilities to submit a site and cut a little red tape ... doesn't the end justify the means?
Might be an interesting debate. Just because it doesn't make much logical sense for dishonest people to want to be ODP editors doesn't mean that there couldn't be a lot of illogical people who do try to become ODP editors.
my guess is 75%
Based on exactly what? Or are you just pulling numbers from thin air?
The clue was >> my guess is 75% :)
Could be more!
Firstly, you have the ability to list your own site fairly alongside the others.. in other words you can create a level playing field rather than being at a disadvantage. Trying to stiff your competition or giving yourself an unfair advantage in the directory will get you booted. You also learn a LOT about the category your editing.
Secondly, there's a fairly minor issue of the editor's profile page which tend to have a high-ish Google PR, and includes a link out to the editor's home page. This has been discussed before, but the net effect is that it gives you a little PageRank to play with (as long as you don't abuse it).
Thirdly, and most importantly, you get an understanding of how the Open Directory works, so if you submit sites from time to time, you'll know how to find the right category and write a good description. You'll also understand the other criteria for inclusion and have the ability to track your own submissions, so it's quite handy for people who run multiple sites.
I'd argue though that these are pretty small paybacks for the amount of work that has to go in to editing. Senior editors will have processed tens of thousands of submissions.. if you were using the ODP as a way to get rich then frankly you'd be barking up the wrong tree!
I'm working on the basis that the majority of editors will volunteer on a "what's in it for me basis". Hence my 75% guess.
I wonder what the drop out rate is when they find out that it aint that easy?
The turnaround must be quite high leaving a nucleus of editors in it for the right reasons. We're not all selfish ...ar we?
Sums it up IMO....
... but it still does not stop prospective editors trying to sign up every day for the wrong reasons!
It is true that by being an honest editor, this prevents to possibility of a dishonest competitor managing to come in and somehow disadvantage your site.
>Secondly, there's a fairly minor issue of the editor's profile page which tend to have a high-ish Google PR, and includes a link out to the editor's home page. This has been discussed before, but the net effect is that it gives you a little PageRank to play with (as long as you don't abuse it).
With the exception of some very active senior editors, editor profile pages just don't have all that high of PR. An ediror could typically do better asking friends, family etc. from links on their home page. And, from the point of view of ODP staff, if editors think that links on their profile page are important, this should be seen as a good thing. If someone get's booted as editor, there goes the profile page benefit. This actually creates an incentive for editors to be honest.
