Dmoz Editor and Meta Editor

What's the difference?

 

Editors are the core workers of the directory, Meta editors are kind of like middle management. heh.

Also, Editors are pretty much restricted to their given categories, and the Meta team can pretty much edit where they choose (as well as their listed categories).

There is more, but I'll let an actual editor give that info, if one decides to do so...

 

Metas get to use the black helicopter .

(official answer)

 

To add to the answers above, here are more detailed explanations from the public DMOZ documents:

There are other types of editor who have access to the whole directory, or a whole branch (such as Regional), and as I mentioned in italics above, there is another management level called Administrators, who have higher permissions than meta-editors, but updating the public documents is still on the staff To-Do list, and even that "Administrator" page is no longer accurate.

 

So is it like a rank, where an Category Editor gets to be a Meta Editor after awile.

 

Only if he or she is good enough. You would need to display a significant level of understanding for all aspects of the directory, including editing, "people managing" skills and the directory structure.

In reality, very few achieve the recognition of being awarded Meta status, as it is bestowed not on volumes of edits, nor length of involvement, but on the activities and capabilities of the editor concerned.

As a comparison, very few people become Generals in the army.......only a chosen few I'm still battling to be a Lance Corporal

 

No, it's not a rank, and it's not based on time.
There are different levels of permission, with different roles and responsibilities, and as you can read in the explanations linked from my post above, there are many factors taken into account when an editor is being considered for a higher level of permission.

You can also see that there are intermediate positions between Category Editor and Meta Editor, and Administrators have even more permissions and access than Meta Editors.

 

Here is one possible interpretation, albeit a tad tongue in cheek:

 

Just a tad, Rob, just a tad.

Snooks and Makrhod thanks for that information. the Dmoz seems like its made up of lots of people, so how many Meta Editors would you say there are, is it in the 100's, 1000's ect

 

Your irreverent (and perspicacious) spoofs are always well worth re-visiting, Rob, thanks for the reminder!

 

There are around 100 metas and 100 editalls, plus about 15 catmods and 50 cateditalls.

If you want more accurate figures, here's the roster. (Many of the folks with root privs are not editors).

 

Thanks Mak (I think... maybe I'll know after I look up "perspicacious").

 

It's the same as "sweaty", but posher. *nods*

 

But remember that because we are all volunteers, these figures give no indication of activity, so they are only a guide.

 

Yes, surely a lot lose interest. I've done a little editing on a third party directory to try to learn good practices to implement on my own site. I found it helpful but it's a time-consuming pastime. Now if they had a black helicopter I may have stuck it out

 

Yes, but there's a heck of a queue for a go in one of those helicopters, and somehow the same people always seem to be at the front.

 

That list is 30 people shorter since last time I've checked in may 2007, it would be interesting to see monthly statistics and how many of them are really active as well as how many editors are still left?

 

one you have to pay off to be included, the other you dont

 

Are you replying to my OP? If so can you elucidate please.

 

Meta editors are excellent A*s kissers who have been accepted to the band of thieves while normal editors are the poor guys who are wondering what the hell is happening and why nothing works.