What's the point?

What's the point of traditional directories?

[a1call]

Hi,
Here is my take.
A web directory is a set of hyperlinks. It starts with one link and builds up to more. Categorization and subcategorization is done to present a manageable subset of the hyperlinks to a human browser.
Question: when was the last time you could find what you were looking for with directory browsing and not using a search box?
My point is: Take away the search box and traditional directory structures are unusable. If you have to use a search box, what is the point of having a directory.

[hutcheson]

For many people, no point at all. You're right, if a search doesn't bring it to them in a one-dimensional chain, they won't find it. You may be one of those people.

Other people would prefer to "surf" through a multi-dimensional net, confident that they can pick out valuable links faster than a search engine possibly could, because they apply some thought to choosing which links to follow.

But these are only two extreme points on a continuum of search strategies. Using a search tool to find the best directory to browse, or using a search tool to pick sites out of a directory, may be more effective: and I venture to say that the most effective searches -- whether in a physical library or on the net -- rely on constant switching between linear and proximity searching.

On the net a thousand flowers are blooming over Mao's dead body. You don't have to use the Official_People's_Democratic_Directory or the One_True_Search_Engine_Representing_All_Approved_Facts. You're free to choose, although that freedom comes at the horrific risk that someone else might choose someone else.

[skibum]

They also supply a framework and a reality check that helps an engine return relevant results. With all the link farms and massive spam networks out there, things like the Y! directory, ODP, and others identify a core set of sites that have passed human review and for the most part are listed there because they were at one point judged to be valuable sources of information.

[fathom]

While directories tend to be a "90's" thing for most people - and rarely used to find things (clicking through sub-categories)- bots loves them.

Bots love to crawl deeply and often - thus still a viable solution for searchers at search engines - with but "one click"! ;)