Is it rewarding to be a dmoz editor

I read on a thread, an explanation of the ranks of dmoz volunteers.

the are,

In my opinion, I don't think people have that much spare time in today's age to be workin

In my opinion, I don't think people have that much spare time in today's age to be working their buns off to try to move up that rank ladder without any compensation.

I mean, u go to a social gathering and mingle with people and tell them, 'actually I'm a Meta at DMoz', and all of a sudden you've got that center of attraction, people gather around you, pushing and shoving just to get your autograph, hey he's a META at dmoz.

Don't think its like that.

Most gathering I go to, it would be like, 'Whats dmoz?'

If possible, please give your views here too

http://www.directoryjunction.com/forums/showthread.php?t=426


thx

 

Why are the mods trimming my posts?

 

I have LOADS of spare time...that's why I applied to be an editor.

I get a lot of gratification by helping others, but I honestly felt ashamed to be listed as an Editor on DMOZ after I saw how they worked internally.

DMOZ Scandal of the YEAR <-- and interesting read if you've not done so, then check it out. Keep in mind, that is not the only story like it, and Annie is not the only Editor to be ousted because a meta disliked them.

If you are a member here on Digital Point, then you are automatically flagged as enemy of the [ODP] state.

 

I also technically have a lot of spare time since one thing I often do is search for new websites in my odd niches with which I can join forces so listing them at DMOZ come perfectly natural.

Apparently that is conflict of interests in paranoid minds of certain individuals probably because they felt their egos threatened since there are no Meta which understands Croatian so it was far simpler to remove editor which would be impossible to bully and change/delete his edits because of language barrier.

Shooting first and don't bothering to ask questions ever seems to have become standard practice of doing business on the internet from hosting to ISP so DMOZ isn't really exception they are just following everyone else, the fact that in the real world such practice would usually get you tons of law suits doesn't seems to worry anyone.

 

I guess not. However, being a junior boys' soccer coach (and so on) won't get you much attention either.

People do it for many reason - most start because they have some interest/hobby which isn't covered (well enough) on dmoz.org. Then they discover that the like to categorizes sites (being a hobby librarian?), and maybe even get a nice online life at ODP (like other people have at other online social networks).

Maybe you should just read the profiles of the editors (listed at the bottom of all categories with assigned editors) - you'll find plenty of personal stories about what got them started (and going).

PS! I no longer have a lot of spare time, even if replying to this post may indicate the opposite

 

Does it mean even DMOZ is biased!!!

 

Hells ya it's rewarding... I got my site listed!

 

There is quite a sense of achievement to see a category that you have created or updated with good sites.

You may not believe this (especially frustrated web masters whose sites have not yet been listed) , but, there is a sense of achievement to get the sites offered to the directory listed and visible to the public. Unfortunately there is, often, not enough spare time to do them all, so why not join us and help get the queues of unreviewed sites down and listed sites up.

 

What reward did you get? its just another directory and you dont get visitors from there.

 

Join DMOZ, surf around the World, list interesting websites, get accused under charges your not allowed to know and be removed!

It is really interesting to read notes about joining secretive paranoid organization in which everyone is considered possible spammer and can be removed anytime and it is forbidden to reveal the reason, examine the evidence, give your defense.

So why is Wikipedia so thriving that many articles have more links listed then related DMOZ categories?

 

It's like that saying See Naples and Die!, only now it is Get listed at DMOZ at Die!.

 

I agree with Anonymously 100% but I'd like to add that your editing doesn't have to be in ODP. You can edit in any directory and get the same sense of achievement, even by building your own independent directory.

To my surprise, I actually enjoy working on an independent directory much more than dmoz... at least the way dmoz has been the past couple of years. There is no community below meta level, just paranoia and it's very sad and stressful.

 

Like many organizations ODP is far from perfect and has some real problems with its secrecy, and whilst there are many editors who have been booted under strange and unexplained circumstances, compostannie being a classic and most recent example which gave me great regret, there are many, many more who do not have such problems or come near to having such problems and find a great deal of satisfaction in their editing.

Whilst Wikipedia may have many more links on some pages, ODP has many more that have more listings, but hey surely they are different animals. And at least one writer on here thinks that Wiki has been taken over by the so called ODP mafia anyway.

Compostannie said that there is also satisfaction working or creating a private independent directory. I agree with her 100% too, but I would say the satisfaction is different, so try both

 

I don't think it is much rewarding to be a DMOZ editor, not today, It might be rewarding to be a editor of a small subcategory that doesn't get much sites submitted, but why spend your free time on that, when you can find much else do?

Meti

 

This brings up a question from me.

How many dmoz editors have their own directories as well?

I mean I'm not a dmoz editor, but if I was, I guess it would be just logical to have my own directory as well, since there is so man cheap and free scripts available on the market.


Just wondering what the numbers are.

 

You would not make a good editor

There is satisfaction in searching out sites to put in your niche category, and there is satisfaction in knowing that you've approved a site that someone submitted. Though, I'm sure that many editors that would agree with me do not find all of the things you find worthy of your time all that enjoyable.

I really enjoyed my short stay at DMOZ and would happily enjoy being the part of another Directory...what I had no enjoyment in was middle management with no upper management to maintain the checks and balances.

 

Few editors have the time to upkeep a private directory and believe me to set up the software the way you want it is a nightmare.

So yes there is some experience, but it is not entirely logical and certainly there are time constraints. At times I have spent 8/9 hours a day editing on DMOZ. Yes I can hear you all saying "Get a life" but can also hear you all complaining when good sites don't get listed because of the queues.

 

O come on, u go to the directories forum here and kids have set up the software. I don't know what the going ones are (esindicat, nicecoder, indexu, etc, etc)

I've heard it takes only 5 minutes, just as easy to set up a wordpress blog.

Ok, if u can spend 8 or 9 hours on dmoz, u can definately spend a couple of hours for yourself as well.

I mean who comes first? U or dmoz?

 

I used to volunteer at a hospital for 8 hours a week...that in no way means I had any desire to open up my own clinic.

Your logic is clouded by greed... have you considered becoming an editor yourself?

 

Maybe because u knew that the process of opening a clinic is quite complex and it is a full time job maintaining that clinic.

Now the process of opening a directory is only a 5 minute process, so your sort of comparing apples & oranges there.

I mean it's nice to volunteer & become an editor at dmoz, but along the way editors can open up their own directories as well.

Very similar to how alot of journalists have their own personal blogs.

I was wondering how many editors have their own directories.