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Like, if you send ONE email to them to complain about where your site is listed, or perhaps to complain that your site is not listed... something otherwise mundane. Is it at all possible that someone would abuse their position and stick it to you?
I worry about this. I haven't experienced it, nor have I emailed any editors, but I worry that it's all too easy for this to happen.
What would be your recourse if a nightmare like that happened to you?
Id say an ODP editor abusing their position is the same as someone spamming. They may get away with it for a while but someone will put it right if you bring it up.
JOAT
It took 4 weeks of carful argument in the forum to get it reinstated. During this time I underwent abuse from editors who clearly were not to bright and hadnt checked their facts.
Having said that, I found the senior editors to be very fair and intelegent people who put themselves out to help me.
Tony perry
Widget 1 online UK Widget 2 Blue: Offers widgets in the uk online in blue red also offer widget 2 (and it goes on)
Now my problem is do i mention this or not - last time i mentioned this i got dumped from the index. Its all well and good going to a higher editor and he may reinstate you but say in three months time the orginal editor removes you.
IMO Google really need to look at DMOZ listings and not treat them so favourably in future. If is a breeding ground for spam.
There are some real good editors out their who spend a lot of time ensuring that their cats' are quality and my hat goes off to them, but I would hazard a guess and say about 30% are in it for their own gain.
Your submission had been changed *before* you enquired about status, and would probably been listed under the altered URL if you had not been advised of the fact when you asked.
Yes you managed to convince a particular group of editors that there was indeed a case for listing that site inder the submitted URL. For 1 borderline and listable example like yours (no matter what you say it *is* a division of the main company) there are hundreds of sites submitted on the other side of the argument. If we spent as much time on each to decide we would never get sites listed, so yes there are going to be some mistakes made. Hopefully they can be resolved when queried.
On the contrary I don't think you were abused and the FACTS are that the URL was changed to the parent companies URL. It wasn't deleted, wasn't not listed, and wasn't removed after being listed. There were some generalisations in that thread regarding industry submittal policy which specifically says it's not directed at you.
Back to the topic of the thread - *asking* by email will not be a problem, don't expect a reply though. If you get a reply, fine. If not wait three weeks and email a higher level editor. In the meantime don't expect your site to appear on DMOZ or Google searches - check the DMOZ directory category (not the Google directory}.
Is it at all possible that someone would abuse their position and stick it to you?
Yes, it is most definitely possible. However, it is an offense for which one would be removed, and quickly.
I would say the best course of action is to notify a meta with the details.
Everything is possible. If something like this happens to anybody, don't panic.
1) Sit calmly and try to understand what happened. Maybe your site has just been moved to another more relevant category. Look around in related categories (or the locality category under Regional corresponding to the address shown on your site) and see if you can find it. Maybe your host provider is not The Best One in the World and your site was down when an editor, or Robozilla (the automatic linkchecker) checked it. Contact editors and kindly ask for a re-review, pointing him to the fact that the site is up again.
2) Maybe your site was intentionally deleted by an editor. Again, sit calmly and try to understand what happened. Is the content of your site Guidelines-compliant (no excessive popups, affiliate links, more ads than actual content, inappropriate redirects...)? Is the content found on your site unique (that is, is your site made up with only or mainly syndicated/acopied/grabbed content, or is it an affiliate site sellinf products and services already found in another site? If so, you don't have unique content, or not enough unique content). A site can be listed by an inexperienced editor and then deleted by a more experienced editor who finds out that the site didn't deserve a listing in the first place. This happens. The fact that your site was listed by editor X doesn't mean that you have earned the right to stay there no matter what the site actually offers to the surfer. Take the time to read the ODP Guidelines, and try to be objective. If you fall under one of the above cases, you might want to add unique, relevant content to your site and/or remove inappropriate content, and then -- only then -- resubmit it and ask for a re-review contacting editor/s and pointing out that you changed/removed/improved content on the site.
3) Maybe you site was intentionally deleted by an editor, who is not abusing his position, but just erred thinking that the site didn't deserve a listing. Sure your site is not the Top Resource Site in the field covered, but it might still be listable. Take the time to read the ODP Guidelines. Contact editors and point them to the actual content on your site, or to anything you think will make the site a good candidate for the directory. Don't argue with editors. Tony_Perry's experience shows that if you can make a good point you will eventually be listed back in the category, or in a more relevant one.
4) Maybe your site was deleted, or the title/description was changed inappropriately, by an editor abusing his position. Sit calmly and try to understand what happened. Look at the category and write down an abuse report. Don't limit it to "my site was deleted -- the editor is abusive", but try to collect evidence of an ongoing abuse: hyped or keyword-stuffed descriptions on sites that might, or actually are, connected with an editor, multiple listings of the same site or subpages of the same site in subcategories, refusing to list competitors' sites, etc. Remember that *some* sites are allowed a listing both in a topical and in a Reguonal category, and a few are allowed deeplinks in several categories when they have exceptionally relevant content. When you have collected evidence of an ongoing abuse, email a meta-editor with a detailed report (the more detailed, the better). We do check all abuse reports. Whereas we cannot guarantee a reply or explanations, due to confidentiality reasons, nor we can guarantee how long it will take to investigate, nothing will be left unchecked. Don't ask about the "status of your abuse report" the next week. If an actual abuse will be found something will be done for sure, sooner or later.
As always, I suggest just to submit your site to the correct category, and forget about it.
One could add that technical glitches sometimes occur -- a site is listed (and perfectly visible to any editor who looks), but doesn't show on the public page.
And personal glitches may occur -- an editor in a hurry meant to delete all but one of six duplicate submittals, and accidentally deleted one too many: or meant to move to another category, and accidentally deleted. (No, _I_ would never do something like that, of course, but not all editors are as careful and methodical as I am:o)
With the ODP, as with all carbon-life-form-based projects, abuse is a possibility, but you are generally better off checking out some of the other possibilities before making rash accusations -- that cannot not endear you to the good folk who would be willing to investigate problems, and have to choose which complaints to investigate. The ones that appear to be in good faith, for some odd reason related to the carbon-based-lifeform-connection of the project, seem to get investigated more thoroughly and answered more comprehensively (which, of course, is still not necessarily the same thing as doing-what-your-heart-most-craves).
Its good to be intimately familiar with the guidelines before inquiring and to read through some of the previous threads where people have inquired about their sites.
Get a feel for the kind of answer that is likely to be received. If its not likely to be favorable, then don't ask.
In theory at least. The problem is that it can take weeks, months, or even years sometimes. For example the Scientology fiasco of late last year, where a meta was involved.
Is it at all possible that someone would abuse their position and stick it to you?
Yes, it is most definitely possible. However, it is an offense for which one would be removed, and quickly.
I would say the best course of action is to notify a meta with the details.
unless the offender is sneaky. it's apparently pretty easy to label something as having 'not enough content'.
I've had mixed results contacting higher-up editors. With a good explanation, and a good site, they will certainly reverse a rejection decision by a lower editor.
I've had metas say 'can't see any reason to exclude it' ... while the cat editor certainly saw reason.
Never seen it affect the 'incorrect' editor's position though.
I see that a non-English-category editor got booted today for multiple listing his own site. Other editors will be able to see the same chain of evidence if you know where to start looking. Non-editors will see nothing other than the fact that category needs a new editor.
[No other clues. I will not provide any further details to anyone whether PM, email, or in this thread].
