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I’ve read in numerous locations, primarily Resource Zone, that the ‘powers that be’ at DMOZ don't require editors to edit their categories. In fact, many times it’s been said bluntly by metas that they don’t care how long it’s been since a category has been edited and don’t place much/any importance on it.
I could understand listings not getting approved or editors not having enough time to make it through the large amount of submissions. However, when I go to high-level sections of DMOZ and see that they haven’t been edited in over two months, it really upsets me that they’ve been given so much power by Google and other search engines.
I have no doubt that I could be completely missing the point of editors. However, I know that even the volunteer moderators on my sites are required to check their message boards at least once a week or we find new moderators. I realize the editors aren’t paid but I don’t understand how that gives them immunity from being somewhat productive, especially when other potential editors are turned down.
For those who are part of DMOZ, please don’t take this post as a flame or slur of DMOZ. I admire the goals of DMOZ but with the power it’s been given by Google and other search engines comes a lot of responsibility. I just don’t understand why editing categories on a somewhat regular basis isn’t required of editors.
Do whatever you want: go ahead and apply and wait; or write up an application, save it for a couple of weeks, then polish it a bit before sending it in. But nobody's going to be doing much editing the last half of the month.
BTW, the category with the large backlog that hasn't been updated since May 6th states this for editor applications...
This category does not accept new editor applications at this time. It may be too large for a new editor, may be designed to hold only @-links, or may be reserved for more experienced editors for other reasons. Please try applying in a different category at dmoz.org.
I assume you refer to Recreation: Pet: Dogs. The explanation in this case is quite simple: with more than 15.000 listed sites this category is way too large for a new editor, without any track record. That's why it hasn't got a "become an editor" link at the top of the page.
The explanation in this case is quite simple: with more than 15.000 listed sites this category is way too large for a new editor, without any track record
I understand that and it's also exactly why I was upset in the first place that such a large category hadn’t been updated in months. The reason I hadn't applied to edit the category was I knew from past experience it was too big for new editors. However, steveb kept saying that I need to keep my mouth shut if I didn’t offer to help so I decided I’d give it a try.
The "last updated" only refers to changes on that category page itself, not at all to its subcategories. There has been a great deal of activity in the subcategories since then, as you can easily see by glancing at the varied dates on _them_.
That seemed too obvious to mention, but I suppose Yahoo does do it differently. But remember, Yahoo, bless their hearts, makes a great deal more PR-dust out of what sites they do add than the ODP does.
Well actually no I didn't say that...
The point again for the viewing audience... ODP is a volunteer organization. If you want to see something done, volunteer. Complaining that other people don't volunteer to do something you don't care to do yourself is non-sensible in the extreme.
The interesting thing is, the catagory is still not yet updated with his changes.
Fact is -- it's not his fault, he made the change. There seems to be something currently preventing changes from taking hold.
The last-updated that is displaying on the public pages of dmoz.org at the moment does not, in fact, reflect the current state of the database. Those pages are static, built from a backup, while the backend is slowly upgraded to new servers.
The last-updated that is displaying on the public pages of dmoz.org at the moment does not, in fact, reflect the current state of the database. Those pages are static, built from a backup, while the backend is slowly upgraded to new servers.
