I applied to becoming an author for a bit larger category, and i was declined. Thus i presume that can handle the work - but they don't...
To be precise: "...you have chosen a category that is already well represented, or is broader than we typically assign to a new editor. We would encourage you to re-apply for a category that has fewer editors or is smaller in scope, in order to increase your chances of being accepted..." a. its not that broad (at all!) b. if its "well represented" how come myself and few other fellow webmasters/marketing tech are not listed (their sites i mean) and thats y i started this thread...
This is one of there standard copy/paste reply which basically means meta was lazy/didn't have time to write descent reply or ask you if you would be happy with smaller category for start, they might as well assign robozilla to handle editor approval it would probably do much faster if not better job. I once got reply not enough edits for category which had grand total of two websites listed and I've suggested three new ones and no none of them was my own!!! Editors are volunteers but why do people apply for meta work when they are too lazy or don't have time to do it??? Addiction to power? Inferiority complex?
I'd assume that at least a few are trying to compensate for something... at least that'll be my reason if I ever get around to applying... but then, before I can do that I'll need to apply for at least a second cat... *shrug* I'll get to it...
It is much easier to create completely new category in your test folder but only if you find enough websites which are missing from DMOZ that don't fit in any of the existing categories. That way you avoid process of applying since you are editor of that category from its creation and will remain after it is moved to proper DMOZ category not to mention you can get you edit count up much faster then standard way.
Ivan, are you feeling ok? Where's your cynicism buddy? Chris, Ivan has actually given you very good advice. If you have an interest in something that doesn't already have a category then create the category in your test cat, then ask for it to be moved. You will remain editor of the new category once it goes live. Another method that worked extremely well for me when I wanted permissions in existing categories is to make a category in your test cat but this time only add additional listings to the category. Make sure they belong; this way you can work on more than one cat at a time and you can do it at your leisure without having to worry about filling out the application. Once you have a bunch of sites listed, go ahead and apply to the category, but instead of giving your three example sites, point to your test category. Works like a charm and makes filling out the new category application go much quicker.
Last time i checked they were alive and kicking few editors out for no reasons lol. But anyways till aol dies i doubt dmoz will die however interest of aol in dmoz might be dieing.
Given the amount of resources that AOL put into resolving that recent big DMOZ crash, AOL are not loosing interest.
Maybe, eventually, there are actually a few other (slow/small) categories I'd rather get into first. One local, and one related to the one I'm at now...I just need to make the time. About as much proof as anyone has that it wasn't a crash. Hacked maybe? Possibly someone tripped over some power cord and they blew all types of fuses *shrug* the flood gates are open to speculation & conspiracy theory. In my opinion it makes more sense that it was a crash, look at the heart ache and head ache all of it has caused. No one in their right mind would have done that on purpose...not even them, and not even for publicity. Blah, but then that's my own speculation (as I can't give proof one way or another). Maybe all the editors voted and opted to take a 6 month vacation, and the crash story was just a ruse to make it look like they had a reason to not do anything
Plz than explain , why dmoz was not a blank white page, with no links if it was a crash ? Also do explain why only pending links got lost in the crash ? Why all the editors or new editors did not get lost in the crash ? Anyways i do not want to start another conspiracy theory there are plenty out there... I am not a dmoz racists or anything its just that few people behind dmoz and editing are just not suited for the job cause few have no life and needs to go out more often.. those who i talk about already know who i am talking about.. so wake up u.. So, bottom line is does aol care about dmoz as much as it should ?
Sorry, I called it a "crash" for a lack of a better word and its quicker to type. It was really major technical problems in the backend servers. Whatever you want to call it, AOL put a lot of resources into fixing it --> AOL are not loosing interest.
IIRC editor server is separate from website server so if one dies other one continues working. It took AOL only SIX months to get editor server back on-line and there is still recovery work in progress, I wonder if it would take them this long to fix it if this was some major part of AOL service? <cynical comment per annie's request> Considering how long it took for recovery process it sounds as if this was something technicians were doing in there spare time? I keep forgetting they had to pass approval process first and that took about four months to make sure they aren't spamming webmaster pretending to be AOL technicians. </cynical comment per annie's reques>