A few kind words about the ODP ...

for a change!

[Liane]

WebmasterWorld has (for several years) been rife with posts complaining about the ODP and heavy handed, self important or unfair editors. As a result, I have refrained from even attempting to submit my site to a another category where I have long felt it belonged.

However, today, I bit the bullet and posted a query in the resource zone in regards to submitting two urls from within my site which I believe warrant listings in separate categories.

I was given very helpful information ... (though I must admit one editor struck terror in my heart with his/her reply), but two other editors managed to help me conquer my fears and I am going to do as they suggested and submit to another category.

I just wanted to post something positive about DMOZ here so that some of you might find the courage to do the same thing. I was terrified to bring any attention to my listing for fear I would invoke the wrath of God, but I don't think that happened.

Of course, I have no idea what the outcome of my submission might be, if indeed a second listing might be added or how long it might take ... but I am keeping my fingers crossed and we shall see what we shall see.

Not all DMOZ editors are the ogres some people would have you believe! I encourage anyone considering submitting their site to the ODP to pose any questions you might have at the resource zone and see what happens! I'm certainly glad I screwed up the courage to do so! :)

[larryhatch]

Hello Liane:

Predictably, a lot of the negativity comes from people who couldn't
get their sites listed. If I remember right, one guy even accused
DMOZ of corruption because he couldn't BUY his way in. - Larry

[jimnoble]

In similar vein, a site owner on another forum recently spoke of the difficulty in finding a corrupt editor who he could trust :-).

[victor]

Good news about the ODP is seldom reported. And RZ makes it look like no sites get listed at all.

But look at it this way -- ODP grows by 1000 sites a day, nett.

In the one month that someone spends waiting to make their first enquiry at RZ, 30,000 sites have been added, and not one post made at RZ to comment on that. That's a very one-sided picture.

Good luck with your sites.

[Liane]

Well I can't say enough about how my quiry was treated. I was really chuffed that I not only got a reply in short order, but the information given was quite detailed. I now understand a lot more than I ever did about the ODP. I thought they were wonderful.

If I remember right, one guy even accused DMOZ of corruption because he couldn't BUY his way in. - Larry

Well the guy obviously didn't understand the ODP. Ya know, when I first submitted to the ODP I had no clue either. Heck, I barely knew how to make a web page! I was told by the folks here who mentored me that I had to submit my site to the ODP ... so I did. What they didn't tell me was how to do it! Back then, the resource zone didn't exist, so newbies like myself were forced to stumble around in the dark.

I guess it may be understandable that people might think they could buy their way in. However, accusing the ODP of corruption because he couldn't buy his way in is a little over the top!

In similar vein, a site owner on another forum recently spoke of the difficulty in finding a corrupt editor who he could trust :-).

Now that's just too funny! LOL

ODP grows by 1000 sites a day

That's really very impressive. I had no idea!

Considering this is one of the first threads I can remember on WebmasterWorld which was started by someone who was happy with the ODP ... the response so far would indicate that few if any really care that I had a good experience.

I do a fair amount of volunteer work in my community and very rarely if ever get thanked. But I suppose for those of us who do get involved in volunteer work, we have to be satisfied with the work itself and not the cudos or "atta boys".

However, if any of you reading this post are ODP editors, I'd like to say thanks for all the hard work you do and to those who take part in the forum ... wow, you rock! Even though mine is only one small voice, I do appreciate your efforts!

So here it is ...

Atta Boy/Girl ... You are terrific ...Thanks!

[petra]

I second that!

[g1smd]

By chance I saw your thread in the other place earlier today, and it struck me that you were one of the few public posters on that forum that having asked for advice actually bothered to listen to the answer that was given, mull it over and then ask other sensible questions based on that advice.

Many don't heed the advice, become argumentative, or only want to hear what they want to hear. So congrats to you for asking a sensible question in the first place!

[Liane]

So congrats to you for asking a sensible question in the first place!

Heehee ... That's just it though, I wasn't sure if it was a sensible question or not. I fully expected from all the negative posts here on WebmasterWorld about the ODP that I would be slammed for asking such a stupid question.

Due to the verbage on the submission page, it is pretty clear that you may not submit to more than one category ... so I assumed it was not possible to do so.

I have frequently gone to the resource zone, written the same question in different ways and then decided not to post afterall. Since the resource zone came to be, I have probably done that at least ten times. I don't know what gave me the courage to get over my fears yesterday and just do it.

Even if nothing comes of my submission, at least I have a better understanding of the ODP and my fear of ODP editors has pretty much gone away. :)