DMOZ Editors?

[digitalpoint]

Is anyone else a DMOZ editor? I edit a small category right now, but was thinking of requesting a new category to edit.

Has any existing editors had success in applying for an additional category to edit?

- Shawn

[hasitruparel]

Hello Shawn,

I would like to know which category are you editing at the moment?

Also, how do i become an editor, i have filled-up the reqest form about 2-3 times, but i have not received any responce in the same.

looking forward to your reply.
thanks, Hasit

[digitalpoint]

Just a small ISP related category...

http://dmoz.org/Computers/Internet/Access_Providers/Resources_for_ISPs/

As far as applying, you should always receive an email saying if you are approved or declined.

You can check the status on an application here:

http://www.resource-zone.com/

- Shawn

[sarahk]

Hi Shawn

I edit as sarahknz and have a very very small regional cat (damn those @links) and have just starting greenbusting Palm's. When I get more experience I'll try and get more in my region but they turned me down a couple of times so thought I'd try elsewhere.

Sarah

[digitalpoint]

Well, I got turned down to move up one level (not enough edits they say). So I have a pending application for a different (also small category) to try and get the edit numbers up. Hopefully it will get approved. :)

- Shawn

[rwhetsto]

Shawn,

I am up to 5 categories, but I had torubles at the begining just like everyone else. How to get edits without having a big category??? I received a good answer from a meta editor - Go into your bookmarks category from your editor dashboard and start adding websites. In particular add sites that you would add to the category you are requesting. You will impress them more if you add folders to show your understanding of the hierarchy. The meta editors want to see that you have an understanding of what a good site is and how to write a good description. Well, also that your category is cleaned up, and a few other things :-). Hope this helps.

Ryan

[ViciousSummer]

I was thinking about applying for an editor position with dmoz as well, but I was wondering if they care (or know) if you apply to edit a catagory that you want your site to be included in?

[rwhetsto]

My first category was in one that I had a site waiting for approval. As long as you let them know about your sites, they don't seem to mind. Actually if you have a website on a particular subject, it makes sense that you would know a lot about that subject. Making you a good candidate for the job. There are quite a few catches, though. Make sure the site you have waiting to be approved is directed to the correct category and that you have a good description of your site. ie... Not one that is filled with hype.

Good luck,
Ryan

[sarahk]

Shawn,

to get more sites I found a couple of web developers who I know don't submit their clients sites to dmoz. I used Xenu to strip the urls and then added them to my unreviewed bookmarks. I'll slowly work through adding them to whereever they need to go. Obviously they stay as unreviewed but you get credit for adding brand new sites and you have an editing history. I still have 450+ to work through, and by then someone else may have added them but if not, then I get the credit!

Sarah

[digitalpoint]

Good idea... forgot about adding to categories that aren't yours...

- Shawn

[digitalpoint]

Okay, I started doing that, then I looked, and I haven't been getting credit for them. The editor that ultimately approves them gets credit. Maybe I'm adding them incorrectly or something... how do you do it so I get credit when it's approved?

- Shawn

[sarahk]

Really, damn!

I've just checked with http://editors.dmoz.org/editors/logs.cgi?editor=sarahknz and it tells me 244 / 123 unique adds / 25 deletes / 71 unreviewed and I have only about 13 sites in my cat. Interesting looking at the breakdown. There are cats there I know I've directed sites to which don't show up.

[digitalpoint]

Yeah, that's what I was seeing too for me. And I even specifically looked at the detail for the editor that approved the one I put into his category, and *he* got the "unique add" credit for it. Humph... :) Guess I'll try greenbusting instead... :)

- Shawn

[hulkster]

Shawn,

If you are interested in editing another category, the Society/Holidays/Christmas/Decorations_and_Props/ (http://dmoz.org/Society/Holidays/Christmas/Decorations_and_Props/) appears to be looking for an editor ... and my Bazillions of Christmas Lights URL (http://www.komar.org/xmas/) would be a perfect candidate for it! ;-)

Obviousely a self-serving post, but I thought I'd pass it on in case you wanted a quick/easy one. I actually did submit this to dmoz, but semi-goofed on the category - see my posting on resource zone (http://resource-zone.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11898) - should be a slam dunk.

alek

P.S. I responded elsewhere about your api.google.com stuff - am running some tests with my own API/keytracker code and have some semi-puzzling/interesting results - will followup in that forum soon.

[digitalpoint]

I'm greenbusting one level up, so that should give me some edits (1,300 unreviewed when I started... about 1,150 still to go). :)

- Shawn

[Foxy]

My first category was in one that I had a site waiting for approval. As long as you let them know about your sites, they don't seem to mind. Actually if you have a website on a particular subject, it makes sense that you would know a lot about that subject. Making you a good candidate for the job. There are quite a few catches, though. Make sure the site you have waiting to be approved is directed to the correct category and that you have a good description of your site. ie... Not one that is filled with hype.

Good luck,
Ryan

Right on Ryan

I requested about 4 years ago and got rejected on France and English speaking sites, which, I got rejected saying that there was insufficient evidence thatwe knew about the subject, so I told them exactly what you have just written above - it stands to reason that if you have sites [it was then about 1000 pages] on the subject you should know quite a bit about it - but they didn't like that idea especially, I think, the bit I put in about how would people like them know when they were sitting in the middle of America where only 1 person in 100 holds a Passport and most have never gone outside their own state.

I think that site got an instant dismissal and - really its not made one iota of difference - except to my pride! :rolleyes:

[I, Brian]

I wouldn't mind doing some work at DMOZ - I've actually applied to edit some small category in the religions section. On the one hand, I have my business interests - my SEO link-building and design. On the other hand - I have my hobbies and I don;t mind helping out with those.

Been a few weeks now, but I would rather not seem so eager as to chase up an application. If they want me, they want me - if not then I shall not. Simple, really, I guess. :)

[theblade24]

My site has been waiting to get in since last Sept. of 2003. I keep getting responses like we're backed up, lots waiting, etc etc. But I have not seen the first site added to the category since then.

I've even applied to edit my category and got turned down. Interesting how someone who works for a Major League Baseball team would be turned down in the memorabilia category. They said they had enough editors and it was too complex for a rookie editor anyway. Go figure.

In any event, is there someone here that can look after this, and review and enter me even though I'm in your category?

PM me if you'd like to know the exact URL and category.

Thanks in advance!!!!

[digitalpoint]

If the category has no editor, it will be some time... one of the editors in it's parent categories will need to go in and do it. You normally will see the whole queue cleared at once for the category when it happens though... so you won't see old one trickling in first.

- Shawn

[theblade24]

I'm pretty sure there are editors, whether they are active or not is another story. They turned me down for some reason.

Is there any way you can check the status of the editors and whats going on in the category

Sports/shopping/memorabilia please?

[digitalpoint]

It has no editor... it looks like the last time someone went through the unreviewed stuff was May of 2003...

- Shawn

[Foxy]

I know I know I know!

The heirachy at DMOZ is just rubbish

Its not personal

Just think

You could become one of them - even want to be!

Goodness why did we try? ;)

[digitalpoint]

Just an update on my greenbusting mission. I kicked the Access Providers (http://dmoz.org/Computers/Internet/Access_Providers/) category (and all sub-categories) ASS!

Well over 1,000 sites I had to review... and down to the last 50 or so... :)

I even had one that sarahk suggested. :)

- Shawn

[theblade24]

I wish I could get you in my category so there would be an editor in there.

[Foxy]

Good grief - where do you find the time amongst everything else?

Oh i know its when I come on line at 6.30 am and your still there - which puts you just short of midnight ;)

[digitalpoint]

After I finished it today, I applied for a new category (Billing Software), was approved, and cleaned that one up. So now I have another new category pending. :)

I got nothing to edit right now. :(

- Shawn

[Foxy]

Now your just skiting!
:D

[hulkster]

If you happen to apply for the Christmas category, then pls be sure to drop a Hulkster a note! ;-)

[digitalpoint]

Why don't you apply for the category? A Christmas category just isn't interesting (to me). :)

- Shawn

[hulkster]

Boy, I kinda walked into that one didn't I! ;-)

Good response Shawn - you are exactly right - DMOZ is a volunteer efforts, so if people (myself included) are that interested in it, we should get off our butts and help out.

Having said that, I'm not THAT interested, but let me think about it.

alek

P.S. Very nice job greenbustin'

[Old Welsh Guy]

I applied 3 times to DMOZ, got blown out every time, I really took my time as well put a lot of effort into things, applied for cats with 30 sites in, local to me, I was already in there as well. I upfronted myself as having an interest in design and marketing as I know that it is OK so long as you dont hide it.

Blown out of the water, and I have to say that I am as fair as fair can be, I show absolutely no preference for my own sites, in fact if anything I am biased against them due to wanting to appear fair. I only gave my own site one tick in Skaffe when I submitted it. I am an editor for a couple of directories, and I know that I would have done the right thing with DMOZ, but hey, we can't have everything can we.

[digitalpoint]

DMOZ is super-strict on editor applications. It took me 4 applications (to the same category) before I was approved. Then I got rejected 4 or 5 times to expand into another category. But then about a week ago (thanks to some constructive feedback from a meta editor), I finally understood what they are looking for within the site descriptions. The best way to sum it up is very bland, generic descriptions. Words like "excellent" are not acceptable. So it took me 6 months of being an editor before I finally actually understood. So in the last 10 days or so, I've applied (and been accepted) for 3 additional categories, and put in a submission for another one this morning (which will bring my total to 5 if I'm approved).

If you want some help on getting into DMOZ, PM me with your suggested sites for your category, and I'll have a look at them for you...

- Shawn

[rustybrick]

I was approved a few weeks ago. I applied to the web promotions tools category and 2 days later i was approved. I have 150 sites to review now. Working through then slowly, trying to be as fair as possible.

[digitalpoint]

You're slow man... I'm up to 9 categories now (7 full edit privs) and 2 greenbuster... :)

- Shawn

[schlottke]

I hate dmoz. I think my catagory is edited by my competition, they will not accept me into: Shopping/Sports/Wrestling... How much more targeted can I get? Should I sell the word wrestling also, just so its exact? - heh.

[digitalpoint]

Did you check resource-zone.com on your submission? Maybe it wasn't actually rejected. And if it was, maybe someone can give you some reasons why.

I'm sure there probably are people who don't list competition, but that seems pointless in my opinion. I have a category that has lots of my competition in it. With many of the listings ones that were never suggested (I went through added my competition on my own).

- Shawn

[schlottke]

Im still pending review, after quite some time. I've checked at resource zone, yes.

Im not complaining, don't get me wrong, just confused why its taking so long.

[digitalpoint]

Because volunteers edit it. There is no specific time frame. Some categories with active editors take 24 hours, other categories with no editors can sit there for years.

- Shawn

[compar]

Shawn,

What motivates you to work that hard on DMOZ? I was an editor several years ago and it was a ton of work then with absolutley no return as far as I could see except the satisfaction of doing a good job.

But at that time there were no rewards, not even a forum or anywhere to hang out or communicate with the other editors. So again why do you bother?

If you're not careful your girl friend may start learning a third language :D

[digitalpoint]

I dunno... something to do I guess. :)

- Shawn

[rwhetsto]

It's for the fame!

Shawn, In case you did not know, you are up for an award! Check out the award nomination page:

http://research.dmoz.org/~samiam/editors/mozzies/

Most Enthusiastic Editor, Congratulations!

[digitalpoint]

Hmmm... also up for "Best New Computers Editor". :) Wonder how the hell that happened?

- Shawn

[rwhetsto]

Maybe it has something to do with your editing numbers - 4317 / 1012 unique adds / 624 deletes / 791 unreviewed. When this thread started you had one small category, apparently you have been spending a bit of time on the ODP.

[digitalpoint]

Hehehe... yeah, on Sunday I wrote a new editing interface for ODP too, so it makes everything much faster and more efficient. :)

- Shawn

[rwhetsto]

I'll try it out if you need a guinea pig to try out your interface. The interface they use is very slow and could definitely use some improvements.

[digitalpoint]

I'll let you know when it's ready for public consumption... But so far (for me anyway), it's making editing go a TON faster.

- Shawn

[sarahk]

Hi Shawn, count me in too.

[er2er]

I'm also eager to test this interface despite being only an editor of a very tiny category (dancing - in one Polish city) :)

[schlottke]

How would I go about either; becoming an editor or finding out who the editor of a catagory is? I honestly feel that either the person(if there is one) in charge of the /Shopping/Sports/Wrestling is doing a sub par job editing or deliberatly leaving competition off the list.(Most of the highest search placed websites aren't in the directory, and I've submitted a dozen of my competitors websites trying to get them in too.

Any tips on what I should do? Am I being overboard?

[digitalpoint]

There is no editor of that category... If I were you, I would apply:

http://dmoz.org/Shopping/Sports/Wrestling/

You can always see who the editor is at the bottom of any category.

- Shawn

[hulkster]

Why don't you apply for the category? A Christmas category just isn't interesting (to me). :)

- Shawn


Boy, I kinda walked into that one didn't I! ;-)

Good response Shawn - you are exactly right - DMOZ is a volunteer efforts, so if people (myself included) are that interested in it, we should get off our butts and help out.

Having said that, I'm not THAT interested, but let me think about it.


FYI FWIW: I applied a few days ago - spent a bit of time on the application (even did a spell check), but have yet to hear back, but we'll see what happens. I applied to http://dmoz.org/Society/Holidays/Christmas/Decorations_and_Props/ - big surprise, eh?!? ;-)

[schlottke]

I tried and got rejected, who knows why?

I think my knowledge of the sport and catagory are second to none.

[digitalpoint]

They should have told you why... Knowledge of a particular topic is secondary to the editing skills you show in the site title/descriptions in your samples.

- Shawn

[digitalpoint]

Also... for the ODP editors that wanted to take a look at my interface, I started a thread on it within the ODP forums (in Editor Tools).

- Shawn

[schlottke]

they left the reply blank.

here is a sample

JR Wrestling Products
Retailer sells wrestling shoes, headgear, singlets, apparel, and other wrestling equipment

Did I do something wrong?

[digitalpoint]

Mmmm... I think it would be okay (but I'm just a lowly editor, so who knows). Try reapplying...

- Shawn

[schlottke]

yeah, Ill have to try again. thanks.

[sarahk]

Just an update on my greenbusting mission. I kicked the Access Providers (http://dmoz.org/Computers/Internet/Access_Providers/) category (and all sub-categories) ASS!

Well over 1,000 sites I had to review... and down to the last 50 or so... :)

I even had one that sarahk suggested. :)

- ShawnI don't know how you get the time Shawn, but hey, I just edited one of yours!

[digitalpoint]

I'l getting close to 5,000 edits system wide... :) Check my request log... It's interesting. There are days where I had 1,000 more edits than the previous day. :)

- Shawn

[digitalpoint]

Shawn, In case you did not know, you are up for an award! Check out the award nomination page:

http://research.dmoz.org/~samiam/editors/mozzies/

Most Enthusiastic Editor, Congratulations!

Turns out I got nominated for six awards... :)


Best New Editor
Best New Computers Editor
Best New News Editor (this one I win by default since no one else was nominated)
Best New Games Editor
Best Greenbuster
Most Enthusiastic Editor

- Shawn

[hulkster]

FYI FWIW: I applied a few days ago - spent a bit of time on the application (even did a spell check), but have yet to hear back, but we'll see what happens. I applied to http://dmoz.org/Society/Holidays/Christmas/Decorations_and_Props/ - big surprise, eh?!? ;-)


Had a few hiccups (I mis-spelled hulkster in one - HULK not too smart!) but got accepted on my third try - HEY, didn't it take you four tries Shawn?!? ;-)

I'm not even in the same league as Shawn, so don't expect any awards for me, but it's interesting to see this stuff and I've cleared/cleaned up the category I have, so I might start looking around for others.

Thanx for the nudge/encouragement Shawn,
alek

P.S. Shawn: I posted in the DMOZ Editor forum asking for a pointer/access to your editing tool as your stuff ROCKS.

[digitalpoint]

I know, I saw (and already responded there).

Sweet, now that you are an editor, you can vote for me so maybe I'll win something! hehehe j/k

- Shawn

[hulkster]

Sweet, now that you are an editor, you can vote for me so maybe I'll win something! hehehe j/k

- Shawn

I did see the list of awards/etc., but it was pretty darn long and I'm an apathetic voter in the first place, but if you are interested in some, let me know which ones and I'll take a more serious look at it.

We need to remove that "not won" from your dmoz profile! ;-)

alek

alek

[digitalpoint]

Best New Editor, Best Greenbuster, Most Enthusiastic, Best New News Editor, Best New Computer Editor, Best New Games Editor :)

- Shawn

[hulkster]

Best New Editor, Best Greenbuster, Most Enthusiastic, Best New News Editor, Best New Computer Editor, Best New Games Editor :)

- Shawn

I placed some votes for 'ya - BTW, you weren't listed in the "Best New Computer Editor" (games either) ... I guess you must not know much about dem' computers?!? ;-)

alek

[digitalpoint]

Yes I am... I'm in Best New (not best overall) sections.

- Shawn

[hulkster]

Yes I am... I'm in Best New (not best overall) sections.

- Shawn

I cast my votes for who I thought was the best - looks like that person has a good shot at it for the Computer section, but he's lagging a bit in the Games section ...
alek

[digitalpoint]

Yeah... the best new computers editor I have a shot it. I'm 1 vote behind in the Best New News Editor, so that's within reach too.

- Shawn

[rwhetsto]

Turns out I got nominated for six awards... :)


Best New Editor
Best New Computers Editor
Best New News Editor (this one I win by default since no one else was nominated)
Best New Games Editor
Best Greenbuster
Most Enthusiastic Editor

- Shawn

Actually you have an opponent in the new news editor and you're tied right now. Looks like best new computer editor is yours and maybe new news editor. Your only 5 back for best greenbuster. Good job... You the man.

[digitalpoint]

Yeah... I think they added a news editor since I was the only one nominated...

- Shawn

[schlottke]

Shawn,

I got accepted to edit that catagory, thanks for telling me to reapply. I wonder if you could explain why the links I have tried adding haven't gone to the directory yet?

[digitalpoint]

Good... now you can vote for me in the Mozzies... :)

The public side of the directory is cached, so typically takes 24 hours for changes to be seen there.

- Shawn

[schlottke]

I did vote for you already :)

[digitalpoint]

yay! ;) I need more votes for Best New News Editor and Best Greenbuster. Wish I knew more editors.. hehe

- Shawn

[john_loch]

Hey Shawn,
What's Greenbuster ?
I've read you mention it a couple of times now.

[digitalpoint]

http://dmoz.org/greenbuster.html

- Shawn

[hulkster]

Just in case some other DMOZ'ers are looking to cast a few more votes, consider BlankBusters in the "Best Editing Team" Category. IT was good way for me to get up to speed on things.

First batch the Hulkster got was a buncha bug sites ... then a set of law library URL's (Hulk don't think too much of lawyers either) ... so not exactly the most exciting stuff, but for a good cause.

alek

[SENewbie]

I just got approved as an editor for a category related to another site of mine. I was honest with them...I told them I have a site that I'd like to add but nobody was an editor in that particular category.

Anybody know how long it takes for a site to appear in the public directory once its been reviewed?

[Foxy]

Oh I would wait a few years!!!

Just kidding

[schlottke]

Shawn said it takes 24 hours in another post I believe.

[hulkster]

Best New Editor, Best Greenbuster, Most Enthusiastic, Best New News Editor, Best New Computer Editor, Best New Games Editor :)

- Shawn

Not completely sure I can post the results publically, but Shawn did pretty well - winning a few categories and coming in second in most of the others.

Nice job Shawn - I guess the Hulk's votes weren't quite big enough! ;-)

alek

[jfontestad]

hrrm.... shawn ... maybe you can help me out and see what is up with a site that I submitted into the Playstation 2 Games category. If you can here's the site: http://ps2-world.us
Thanks.

[schlottke]

I'd like to say congrats to Shawn- I checked your catagories out- its well deserved.

[digitalpoint]

hrrm.... shawn ... maybe you can help me out and see what is up with a site that I submitted into the Playstation 2 Games category. If you can here's the site: http://ps2-world.us
Thanks.

Best thing to do is make a request in http://www.resource-zone.com/

- Shawn

[jfontestad]

yes, i did. they declined me... said not enough content.... because i had two sections incomplete... so what i did was take them down, until I complete them...
would I have to resubmit my site now that I've changed it ?

[digitalpoint]

Yes, you should resubmit once the content is there.

- Shawn

[paulhiles]

Anybody know how long it takes for a site to appear in the public directory once its been reviewed?
it can take quite a while before the site appears in the public directory, anything from a few days to a few weeks! Depends when they do a sweep for all the updates. I submitted a site that I'd help build, and was quite lucky, it appeared in under 2 weeks.. I don't think they're always that swift!

I've only been accepted fairly recently. I share editing responsibilities for ...Graphics/Vector/SVG/ and my editor name is palerider. I'm very interested in your new interface Shawn, and I take my hat off to you for all your efforts! :)

[T0PS3O]

Off Topic: paulhiles, how is Google picking up the on-page SEO on SVG pages? Any difficulties?

[paulhiles]

Off Topic: paulhiles, how is Google picking up the on-page SEO on SVG pages? Any difficulties?Because SVG works well with HTML, XHTML, etc there should be no difficulty there. As far as I'm aware, there's only been one attempt at a 'pure' SVG site, and that was SVGspider (now offline, but still archived at archive.org).
The structure is basically the same as any other XML document, and theoretically, because it's text-based, crawlers should be able to cope with SVG documents. Early days yet though, especially with the state of browser development at the moment! :o)

There's certainly lots of potential for SVG, not only on the web, but for a whole range of mediums.. and that's why I'm especially pleased to have been accepted as an editor for that category. There now... think I've got us back on topic! ;)

[younghistorians]

At Dmoz I edit:
http://www.dmoz.org/Science/Technology/Aerospace/Aeronautics/History/World_War_II/
and
http://www.dmoz.org/Business/Marketing_and_Advertising/Advertising/Design_Services/Logo_and_Stationery/

They both have PR5 and PR6, respectively.


I'm proud :D