Bad Breakup With DMOZ

Discussion in 'ODP / DMOZ' started by theprizeblog, Jul 15, 2007.

  1. #1
    After finding out that my application has been dropped by the white whale DMOZ, when do you think it is appropriate to reapply?
     
    theprizeblog, Jul 15, 2007 IP
  2. mywebsearches

    mywebsearches Peon

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    #2
    probably you need to move this post to the appropriate section
     
    mywebsearches, Jul 15, 2007 IP
  3. SasaVtec

    SasaVtec Notable Member

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    #3
    'seriously why do people even bother to post about these dmoz type things, I mean go visit the dmoz/ODP forum and you will find everything use the search feature its there for a reason.
     
    SasaVtec, Jul 16, 2007 IP
  4. WebThisWay

    WebThisWay Well-Known Member

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    #4
    If you really want it, reapply immediately. Just create a new gmail account, use a different name and similar category.
     
    WebThisWay, Jul 16, 2007 IP
  5. Obelia

    Obelia Notable Member

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    #5
    Maybe never.

    Do you know for certain that your submission has been dropped, and that it's not languishing in a queue with a million other websites? If so, your best course of action is still to forget about it for now.

    There are two possible reasons your site was rejected: it wasn't suitable for inclusion, or it was and the editor rejected your website wrongly. If it's the latter there's not much you can do about it. If it's the former (which is more likely), will you be able to improve your website so that it does fit in?

    A lot of websites just don't have enough content. Try doubling the amount of unique content you provide before you reapply.
     
    Obelia, Jul 16, 2007 IP
  6. Qryztufre

    Qryztufre Prominent Member

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    #6
    Application == editor right?

    What the reason for rejection? Without that we can't really say when to re-apply. Though I can say that if you are using the same Username as you are here at DP then that is the real reason you were not added to the team.

    As a member here YOU ARE A TROLL! at least in their eyes.

    *shrug*

    Give us the reason you got rejected, and we can likely tell ya how to fix it.
     
    Qryztufre, Jul 16, 2007 IP
  7. helleborine

    helleborine Well-Known Member

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    #7
    Why anyone would still bother with applying to be an editor for a fossilized, unvisited and just-dropped-by-google link farm is beyond my comprehension. What could be more boring and improductive?

    Constantly bitching about said fossilized, unvisited and just-dropped-by-google link farm comes to mind, haha.

    I am off to doing something more constructive. Toodles!
     
    helleborine, Jul 16, 2007 IP
  8. brizzie

    brizzie Peon

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    #8
    Like many things in life, if you read the instructions on the tin and follow them to the letter then you generally get a better result. All the reasons for not being accepted are in the guidelines - you missed something and got the reject. Thing is, they generally won't tell you what you missed so you have to work it out for yourself. If you were lucky enough to get specific pointers then treat that as encouragement to reapply.

    I disagree with helleborine about it being boring - it is somehow compulsive, and is sometimes very satisfying, but I will agree with the sentiment that if you want to "make a difference" there are far better volunteer projects out there.
     
    brizzie, Jul 16, 2007 IP
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  9. Anonymously

    Anonymously Notable Member

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    #9
    If editing was that compulsive, why did you leave? I never did find out, you just vanished.
     
    Anonymously, Jul 16, 2007 IP
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  10. Obelia

    Obelia Notable Member

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    #10
    D'oh! Here I was assuming this was another "why wasn't my website approved?" thread. I must read more carefully.

    There is no reason to apply to become a Dmoz editor. If you're interested in categorising links you could start your own directory, and enjoy total creative control. If you're interested in getting links for your own website, you should just pay for them in an established directory, and save yourself the hassle and heartache of trying to figure out what Dmoz really want from an editor.
     
    Obelia, Jul 17, 2007 IP
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  11. brizzie

    brizzie Peon

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    #11
    I did leave a goodbye message explaining my reasons. Basically I felt I had achieved all I was gonna achieve and there was nothing left to do except meta which I did not want even if they wanted me. Admins had their own agenda and if what you wanted to do did not fit with that then tough. No longer community driven, but Admin driven, and Admins were amateurs with no idea how to manage a project.

    I started a debate on discrepancies in the Adult branch shortly before leaving, which got rather nasty, along with points about underage editors. I got an official dashboard warning for that as I hit the resignation button - I noticed a meta editor doing edits that would have got them removed in any other branch of ODP and said so in a forum thread, without naming the meta and therefore remaining within guidelines.

    Admins had refused to take risk management seriously, tried to belittle me for suggesting they should, and several months later (after I had left) pedophile chat rooms were discovered listed. An editall took them down, an Admin put them back whilst they privately discussed whether they should be listed or not, and the editall was told off. Eventually they were removed. Admins still refused to take risk management seriously. And their attitude to the pedophile sites demonstrated not only incompetence but irresponsibility to an extreme extent. I was, and am, ashamed of being part of a project managed by those Admins.

    I was told I could be considered for reinstatement only if I effectively refrained from criticising the ODP externally for 6 months and undertook some project approved by the Admins to advance the project in the meantime, from outside. That was unacceptable to me. I would not, and will not, rejoin the project until risk and issue management was/is taken seriously and editors are free to voice concerns and have them taken seriously and acted upon, i.e. it becomes community driven once more. The Admin system was a serious error that was the beginning of the end for the project. The choice of Admins compounded that error 100 fold. The price for being an editor is to remain silent on issues of enormous concern. A price far too high.

    There you go, the whole story. But I didn't vanish. I promised the Admins I would stick around the external forums and do my part for the project from the outside, free from constraints. I believed then and still believe that the only way for the project to move forward and grow is to confront and deal with the issues it has upfront and publicly, no matter how nasty those issues are. Therefore I have kept my promise as best I can.
     
    brizzie, Jul 17, 2007 IP
  12. Ivan Bajlo

    Ivan Bajlo Peon

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    #12
    It seems it would have been better if DMOZ was reported to cops for pedophile links so few admins and metas would get removed from project for 10-20 years... :eek:
     
    Ivan Bajlo, Jul 17, 2007 IP
  13. Anonymously

    Anonymously Notable Member

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    #13
    Thanks Brizzie for that, some of us miss you.
     
    Anonymously, Jul 17, 2007 IP
  14. helleborine

    helleborine Well-Known Member

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    #14
    Wow. That is truly appalling. Not only do they try to control their little closed universe with a thick wall of paranoia, they also attempt to control the way they are viewed from outside by (1) creating multiple user accounts here at DP on more than one occasion, (2) gaining moderating privileges on other well-known webmaster forums to stiffle free discourse, (3) locking out new editors wholesale when info is leaking to the outside and (4) blackmailing ex-editors for them to earn the "privilege" of approving listings on a link farm unspoiled by visitors.

    These people are nuts. And it's all for nothing.

    Look at Wikipedia. They have real, rich, vibrant and ever changing content. Do they need to lower themselves to the kind of maoist propaganda and tactics that the ODP does, in order to look good? No, the success and public acclaim of Wikipedia speaks for itself. Wikipedia does not send "Anonymouslies" hiding under spoofed IPs, to troll webmaster forums. Are they paranoid? No. Would Wikipedia impose a 6-month moratorium on an ex-contributor before letting them return? I mean, just like DMOZ administrator bldarter was still spying on my activities a year after I stopped editing, to personally remove any website of mine that might have slipped in, DMOZ spies would have to check up on poor brizzie and discuss whether he was critical of the ODP???

    If only they were guarding something of value, like Wikipedia. But it's nothing but a big old decaying link farm.

    Insanity.
     
    helleborine, Jul 17, 2007 IP
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  15. brizzie

    brizzie Peon

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    #15
    Neither does the ODP! If I were still an editor in this day and age, and wanted to post here, I would be somewhat concerned about the ODP discovering my identity and might well hide my identity and hide my IP. Generally there is disapproval of editors participating in external forums even if their posts are supportive of the project.

    I wouldn't see myself as being blackmailed - the offer was clearly designed to be instantly rejected - they are not so daft that they would think I would accept! And since orlady did visit this forum, spies weren't really needed! There is a danger that you could get paranoid about ODP being paranoid!! ;) I'm a minor thorn best ignored but when you are long-winded you are quite content talking to yourself.
     
    brizzie, Jul 18, 2007 IP
  16. helleborine

    helleborine Well-Known Member

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    #16
    Who said "Anonymously" isn't spoofing his/her IP? Like, for instance, with the help of Firefox, maybe Anonymously has chosen to hide behind an IP in the range owned by none other than Google. But how would I know that.

    Maybe that person is truly concerned about the ODP High Inquisitor uncovering his/her identity. Ah, the fear of being shunned, ostracized amongst the infidel ex-editors. A fate worse than hell.

    When they tell you "if you want to come back you have to stop criticizing for 6 months" it's blackmail to me. Or maybe there is a better word?
     
    helleborine, Jul 18, 2007 IP
  17. brizzie

    brizzie Peon

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    #17
    There is - joke :D

    Who cares? I don't see that Anonymously has said anything offensive or even mildly rude, only expressed an opinion. You post under a name that isn't connected to your former editor name, so do I, everyone has a right to. I would rather hear what people have to say, even if I am sceptical or disagree, not drive them away.
     
    brizzie, Jul 18, 2007 IP
  18. gworld

    gworld Prominent Member

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    #18
    You don't need to worry about orlady. Since DMOZ is becoming worthless, I think she and her partners are too busy spamming wikipedia right now with sites that of course they don't own. ;) :D
     
    gworld, Jul 25, 2007 IP
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  19. Ivan Bajlo

    Ivan Bajlo Peon

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    #19
    Ivan Bajlo, Jul 25, 2007 IP
  20. gworld

    gworld Prominent Member

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    #20
    gworld, Jul 25, 2007 IP