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I am in the same boat having submitted to two categories where there is no editor. So far there has also been no activity. I am assuming that after a certain period of time an email would be appropriate to the editor of the next directory up the tree. If so, how long should one wait in this case?
Onya
Woz
Following advice I've read on the board here, I waited a month (+) after my first submission and then emailed the next editor up... and, following instructions posted on ODP, I didn't use the email to resubmit, but simply to advise the editor of the situation. Nicest letter you can possibly imagine :). It's been almost three weeks on that one. Wondering what to do next....
And... the next two sites I'm about to submit are both to categories with no editors as well.
That's not a good idea. You never want to submit to any category but the appropriate one.
What may help is emailing an editor from the category above yours, explaining how long it's been, etc.
Also, applying as an editor is not a bad idea. We can always use more help.
you're right Laisha, but usually when you try to contact an editor is difficult he answers you, that's way I suggested to submit the site in the upper category putting a note to the editor like : I've tried several times to submit my site in the proper cat but no response till now etc..
bye
Tried to fix right hand scroll, no joy
Edited by: NFFC
Thank you all!
It sounds like you're affiliated with dmoz, so maybe you can answer a couple questions or clear up some misconceptions of mine.
I was under the impression that it was an absolute no-no to become an editor primarily to get your own sites listed.
From what I've heard, the dmoz meta-editors are very picky about who they allow to become editors, but it seems that a LOT of the editors have abandoned their categories, or at least ignore incoming requests. Like a couple of other people here, I've submitted a couple of sites a few times, and they haven't been added over the course of months.
If I were an editor, I'd be checking on a daily basis. I'd get the updates done and answer my email promptly.
I'm sure that the answer to this is "some of the dmoz editors are very busy with many categories and sometimes have trouble catching up, in spite of the fact that they're working very hard". Well, the obvious answer to this would seem to be that maybe the meta-editors shouldn't be so picky when people are applying to be editors. Get more volunteers in there to share the load.
And if an occasional "bad" editor gets in there, would it be that much trouble to get rid of them?
If you are applying because you are an enthusiast about the topic and you can be fair with your sites and the competition's sites, then applying is encouraged.
A lot of us became editors in order to add our own sites - or at least came to the directory for that reason.
Usually, when someone develops a site, its subject is one that he or she has an interest in.
When I became an editor a couple of years ago, the first site that I added was .. no surprise, my own site. But I didn't designate it as a cool site, nor did I manipulate my title or description, or in any other way treat other sites in the category unfairly.
And more importantly, I quickly developed an interest in the directory itself and, although I can edit anywhere in the directory now, I've left my original category to those who came behind me, and haven't touched the listing on that first site (mine) that I added since January of 1999.
Now, rather than using the ODP to advance my personal interests, it has become one of my personal interests.
So, while it is true that we tend to look skeptically upon those who want into the ODP primarily to advance their own interests, there's nothing so terribly wrong with having personal interests to advance.
What kfander said. :)
There are many very good editors who joined just to list their sites, but stayed on to help the directory. There are many reasons to stay and be productive, and that is the hope.
What we do not want are editors who just don't "get it" or those are are interested in their own site to the point that they abuse the directory. Aside from those types, help is help, and we can use all we can get.
This is not necessarily the case. Some of us do this professionally, and we bring our best efforts and expertise, but not our personal lives too.
And some of us put our volunteer efforts in other directions....
The question remains unanswered... what do we do when a category has no editor, and emails to the editor at the next level up get no response?
Just keep moving up the chain, eventually you will strike lucky.
This is my situation exactly. I have websites for an industrial bakery equipment manufacterer, an organization assisting the mentally disabled, and a company that sells yarn - none of which I have any real interest in. I'd like to see these sites get added, but I'd also like to volunteer in one or more groups where I *do* have an interest.
As I understand it, the editor's job is two-tiered. You have to review sites that are submitted to that category, but you are also expected to do a bit of surfing on your own and *find* sites that are appropriate for that category. I actually wouldn't mind helping out in categories where I don't have much interest, if it was just a matter of reviewing and approving submitted sites, but I wouldn't want to have to go surfing for stuff that I don't care about.
BTW - Does anyone have an "in" with dmoz who could post an update when they get this "sendmail fork error" problem fixed? Every day I fill in all the data in the new editor application, and every day it fails.
It should be fixed now.
Unable to fork sendmail
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