If a DMOZ category lacks an editor, what happens?

[stevenha]

I've been browsing through Open Directory (dmoz.org) and noticed lots of categories which don't have an editor.

What happens if you submit a URL to such a category? Does it sit in a long queue, waiting for an editor to volunteer? Does an editor from a higher level get notified that unreviewed sites are backlogged? Do higher level editors ever review submissions from sub-categories?

[martinibuster]

Higher level editors do it, and there are some editors with privileges to edit within any category. It's quite possible to sit in a que for months.

[stevenha]

Thanks, for a concise helpful answer.

Is there a shortage of editors?

[Quadrille]

All things are relative; in some areas, there are too few 'local' editors, in others there appear to be, but higher level editors might have created, populated and cared for sub-cats, without putting their name on them*. And in some areas, editors are falling over themselves!

*A lot of us deliberately don't 'claim' new or lower-level categories, as we feel that the vacancy might secure an application; listing a tenant might put people off (others think the opposite: needs a psychologist to determine!)

[fathom]

HAND CLAP FOR DMOZ EDITORS!

I have refrained from submitting to DMOZ categories that do not have editors. I have often considered that the backlog of submission would make it imposible to get listed in the short term.

Amazingly enough, over the last few weeks most of my submissions have been to no editor categories and 90% of these have been listed.

On average - about a week to list.

GREAT JOB DMOZ!!!

[mack]

I submitted a site to a category with no editor and it got listed within three weeks. So big cheer for the dmoz editor from a category up.

[victor]

as quadrille says, if I create a lower-level category, I am its editor. Yet DMOZ guidlelines suggest I do not put my name to it.

This is clearly misleading as it is a cat with an active editor but claims to have none.

DMOZ needs to rethink that guideline.

[quiet_man]

Just to re-confirm what Victor and quadrille said: just because a category (or sub-category) says 'This category needs an editor', doesn't mean that there is no editor! When an editor gets a category they are automatically responsible for all sub-categories below it. They are encouraged to leave the 'This category needs an editor' message for all cats below them because DMOZ thinks this will attract more people to apply to become editors.
Many people think this is a confusing signal, and I tend to agree. But don't let it put you off submitting your site to the most appropriate category.

[caine]

thats correct, as the ODP cats is a hierarchy to the base url [domz.org,...] the editors are in a similar situation. Hence if a cat you are interested is 10 links deep, and their is no editor listed back track via the links at the top of the page, till you get to a cat that has an editor listed as they will be responsible for the sub cat in question, even if it is up to 5 or 6 links deep.