If there is no editor for a Dmoz category, does that effectively mean that no site will be added to it? How would that work? A caveat: I don't want to become an editor myself.
There are no categories without editors hmmm - so you expect a volunteer editor to do something for you, but do not want to volunteer to help
Don't think that becoming an ODP editor you will be absorbed during all your days for reviewing sites,you will only have to spend a decent time of your day,(some days one hour,some days less,some says more) accepting (or refusing) sites and passing them to other two collegues if they are not relevant.
You keep saying that, yet it's the categories without editors that generally are taking forever to get listed in. I think that "categories without editors" is referring to "categories without a [listed] editor" or maybe "Categories without an editor [specifically listed]" or some other phrase that indicates that a category specific editor is likely not watching. As, if every category DOES have an editor, then I'll start agreeing that 'most' editors are "lazy" as if each one has someone there and sites are taking a year ++ to get listed, then something is certainly wrong... So if you'd prefer some different phrasing, that'll be grand, but tell us how you want it said.
If a category does not have a "named" editor, then any editor listed in the categories at a higher level than that one can and do edit there. There are >200 editors that can and do edit in any category.....ie no category is without an editor.
Just because an editor is listed in a higher cat in no way means they check and edit everything below them. So while you are technically correct, that's FAR from how the system actually works.
Since editors are volunteers and they have no obligations to cover all subcategories they can then claiming that all categories have editors is really oxymoron. What is the point of keeping editors tied down to individual categories instead of adopting wikipedia model that anyone can edit anywhere (exception being does junky spammy categories which nobody sane wants to edit anyway ). While I was editor of Games category in Croatian I was also suppose to cover Gambling subcategories, first thing I did when I become editor for that category was deleted bunch of spamy websites which where listed with zero content and dead links, then cleaned up unreviewed, I think there was one or two worth listing. After that I forgot that category even exists since there was almost no outside submissions and last thing on my mind was to go searching for gambling websites...
Wow new word for me , does it mean that the person is actually a moron but does not want to post or let others know about it ?
I gotta agree with martty here. I just spent about 6 hours editing and never touched a category where I'm named as editor. Believe it or not, we do tend to get around.
So technically the categories do have an editor. But if they want then it can also be said that it doesn't have any editor. Humm..... Tough one don't know when someone will be assigned to the category my site is pending into.
No one is "assigned" to a category - editors edit when and where their own interests take them --- they are volunteers.
Now this is new and I am again confused. I have heard that editors are given section that they should take care of. Lets hear what others have to say on it.
Its not new - thats how its always been Where did you here that from? Editors apply for permission to edit in the areas that interest them. Editall/metas can edit wherever they want - they do not get "assigned" ... they just go where the mood takes them, or where they see an area that could do with a bit of work, or ....etc. Many will totally avoid some areas (eg the spam prone categories)
Yes you didn't mentioned the word "Editall/Metas" in the previous post that is why I got confused. Got it now. Thanks.
So if no editors has interests in some category we could openly say that category has no editor since it could take years for somebody to take a look at it.
Not really Ivan. No one has any way to know for sure that any given category won't attract the attention of an editor, so unless you can see into the future you can't say that at all. I can't even begin to count how many times I've edited in categories that I would have thought I'd never even look at. Still others, like myself, tend to be drawn to spam prone categories. We like the challenge. You have all these editors from around the world with interests as diverse as humanity itself. How can you predict the whims of all those editors when they log on and choose which category they're in the mood to edit?
that means only about 7000 editors manning 590,000 listings! even though it has some quality , the only problem with Dmoz is long time taken by its editors to review a site
Can't disagree with you on that, but at least you see the reason. We care and we try, but that's a lot of work for so few.
And somebody is constantly trying to cut this number down further... I believe this means you have a saboteur in your ranks. Oh well, I'm off to work on my little 2050+ pages website and get my edit count on wiki to at lest 5000 by summer.