Application denied

but the reviewer comment tells me to apply...

[Raymond]

My application was denied today. However, at the bottom of the email the reviewer wrote "Please consider applying to smaller category". And then, I received 2 other emails from ODP telling me "you have chosen a category that is already well represented..." and "We would encourage you to re-apply for a category that has fewer editors..."

Do they really mean it telling me to reapply or they are just saying it to make me feel better? (you never know with these auto-reply scripts)

[rfgdxm1]

Sounds like they want you to reapply.

[totalXSive]

Meta editors can add comments to application forms, so this is probably what happened here. That was a human telling you that, should you apply for a smaller category, you are likely to be accepted.

As a rule, new editors are only accepted into categories with 100 sites or less (although it can depend on the circumstances).

[marisa1116]

>>Do they really mean it telling me to reapply or they are just saying it to make me feel better? (you never know with these auto-reply scripts)<<

Nah, we never tell anyone anything just to make them feel better. :)

Narrow your focus and re-apply. :)

[farnwomt]

I had a similar experience today recommending that I pick a smaller category.

My problem is that the category I applied for is an island with a population of 75,000 people which immediately splits into 18 other categories, leaving me with almost insignificant choices. In fact with the exception of one sub-category, which would be deemed to big, they average just 15 entries each and there can be little scope for expansion due to geographical constraints. Some sub-categories cover towns of no more than 500 people!

There doesn't appear to be anybody to contact if you want to appeal which isn't exactly encouraging. In fact much the reverse they tell you not to reply.

Just noticed that Marisa above was the source of one of the two rejection emails I got.

If they want you to reapply then it would help to send a copy of the original application as it would be a useful starting point and retyping everything seems a bit of a waste of time.

[edited by: farnwomt at 10:10 pm (utc) on Aug. 9, 2003]

[kctipton]

There's another forum out there (mentioned in my profile here, I think) which directly addresses editor application issues. WebmasterWorld is about webmaster issues IIRC.

[farnwomt]

I got the impression from some of their guidelines that they aren't keen on discussion about rejection, but a little searching and it looks like such discussions do take place.

[kctipton]

Well, arguing about being rejected isn't too good, but asking about being accepted and/or reapplying is another matter.

[farnwomt]

Just thought I would add that I have now had a reply from one of the editors I wrote back to (not Marisa) which I found encouraging.

Still a little bit irritating that they throw away the old applications though because certain parts are likely to be identical in a followup application. It surely wouldn't be too hard to attach the original application in the rejection letter?

[OntheEdge]

It surely wouldn't be too hard to attach the original application in the rejection letter?

Consider it practice. You do have the option of saving what you put on the form. Copy/paste....notepad.

[farnwomt]

What is notepad? I use vi, but simultaneously I appear to believe in being user friendly. Strange isn't it :-)

[OntheEdge]

Notepad if you run windows. Don't know what you mean by vi. Open a plain text file. Copy what you put in each box of the application for, then paste it in the file to save on your computer. I'm not talking about the old app, it's too late for that, but if you apply again you can save what you send.

[farnwomt]

Sorry I tend to forget there are so many Windows users around who will never have heard of vi. There was some humour in the comment about user friendly when mentioning vi but you probably missed it.

Vi is the original Unix 'VIsual' editor, and a very powerful tool if you learn to use it properly, but nobody has ever called it user friendly to my knowledge. Most people get utterly confused when they first experience it, and most can't even work out how to quit.

I understood entirely what you meant by cut and paste. I just don't view the process as being so user friendly as it could so easily be.

[OntheEdge]

All I'm trying to say is that dmoz has a very big job and if you want to keep a copy of what you submit, do it yourself. We run with what we have.
I was trying to offer you advice for future submissions. Your humopur was missed because my thought the post was about keeping a copy of your application, not OS rivalry.

[Raymond]

vi is quite user friendly compare to pico.

I am a unix user (most of the time), but I never find jokes laughing about windows user funny. Some users seem to feel "leet" for running a unix box.

All i can say is, my grandpa can install windows without needing much help. Try to tell him to install unix, you'll be glad windows is around.

[edited by: Raymond at 5:14 pm (utc) on Aug. 10, 2003]

[farnwomt]

I don't seem to recall anything resembling OS rivalry occuring here?

On the topic of using what you have, obviously the editors do their best, but the ODP system could so easily include the content of the application when sending rejections.

However given that it doesn't it might make great sense to put something in the 'Filling Out the Application Form', to say:

Please consider using cut and paste to copy your application before submitting it. We may reject your application and suggest you apply for another category. If we do so then your application will be automatically deleted and you will need to fill the whole form in again.

I doubt many people make the same mistake twice, but it must irritate a lot of first time applicants.

Sorry I don't know any jokes about windows users, I will have to stick to vi humour.

I don't think my Grandpa or even my Dad could install unix, windows, or any other operating system, but my dad does have a Linux box I set up for him and he seems quite able to use it. Anybody who thinks that having a linux box makes them elite is misguided (but I think we have strayed massively offtopic here ...)

[windharp]

This is not the first time this is mentioned (At least twice in the forum we are not allowed to even name in here - postings naming it tend to get deleted). There were lots of ideas, the best is to send the information right with the "confirm your E-Mail" letter since that is the first you receive.

Unfortunately - due to lack of staff time - this and many other usefullfeatures have not been implemented yet. At the moment, all power is put into upgrading the server (which is finished) and working on the bugs that appear after that upgrade. If that is fixed, I am sure "userfriendlyness" will be a topic again. Sorry to say, but at the moment "bugfree" is a far more important thing to have.

[smine]

farnwomt: My problem is that the category I applied for is an island with a population of 75,000 people which immediately splits into 18 other categories,

Why not just become an editor and worry about the size of the category later? Surely you can change things once accepted?

About whether or not DMOZ saves your text for you: hmmmmm. If it is too much work to apply or reapply, then surely it would be too much work to be an effective editor?

Just a thought.

[jimnoble]

Just to say that farnwomt is now an ODP editor.

Welcome :)