My word, look at this

[Foamcow]

http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/misc/BidRequests/ShowBidRequest.asp?lngBidRequestId=328031

I wonder if DMOZ would be interested in that one?

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Target Marketing Communications - Advertising, Direct Marketing and Public Relations
I wonder what possesses people to make those animated gifs. Do you just get up in the morning and think, "You know what web design r

 

[ChrisHunt]

I'm sure they will be - I'll post it on their message board.

-- Chris Hunt
Webmaster & Tragedian
Extra Connections Ltd

 

[Foamcow]

I was hoping you would

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Target Marketing Communications - Advertising, Direct Marketing and Public Relations
I wonder what possesses people to make those animated gifs. Do you just get up in the morning and think, "You know what web design r

 

[xtendscott]

This is just an example of the frustration people are having with DMOZ.org. I have submitted to many topics for different clients and there has been some that get in and many that don't without a couple submitions(6 months apart usually). But there are a couple topics that it seems that someone that competes in the area with their own sites or "friends" sits do not let other sites in that may compete with them.

I would think that a $10.00 submition fee, with a 50/50 split between dmoz and the editor would help the system. If the submition is terribly written, reply and tell them it sucks. If it is close then make a couple small edits and get it in.

DMOZ is not that important to get a link from but it doesn't hurt to have it.

I hope the best for the entrapenuer that wanting to contract with an editor.

xtendscott
Web Site Design | Cryosurgery | Walla Walla Portal

 

[johnwm]

Looks like a stupid attempt at corruption to me! I would really like to think that DMOZ was on to this, not only weeding out any corruption in its editorial ranks, but also blacklisting all the sites belonging to the 'entrepreneur', and advertising the fact to reduce the temptation to cheat.

DMOZ can be slow, but so can any voluntary operation, but I've never had any problem getting sites registered, as long as I follow the strict rules.

________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first.
'If we're supposed to work in Hex, why have we only got A fingers?'
Drive a Steam Roller

 

[ChrisHunt]

Dmoz is a volunteer operation - its editors are not paid, so they vary in work rate depending on their commitment to the project and the amount of time they have to spend on it. I'm not going to pretend that there aren't a few people who become an editor, add their own site and a few of their mates' and disappear again - it happens, but it's not the norm.

Submissions are rarely written in accordance with the ODP guidelines, but that's not a problem - it's only a suggested description for the site and editors can (and will) change it easily enough.

Submitting to the wrong category is a more serious problem. If it doesn't look like you've taken the time to find an appropriate cat for your site, the editor's likely to decide that his/her time is no less valuable than yours and drop the submission.

The best advice I can give is to make it as easy as possible for the editor to add your site - submit to the right category, write a good, concise description, and the editor will be able to add it with a couple of clicks. That's not to say it'll get added instantly, but at least there won't be any obstacles of your own making getting in the way.

I also recommend getting involved in dmoz as an editor yourself, if only to get some insight into what goes on there. Most active Tek-Tippers would make very good editors, I think.

-- Chris Hunt
Webmaster & Tragedian
Extra Connections Ltd

 

[Foamcow]

lol.

Yes, DMOZ.
I've given up trying to get one site I ran into it.

Never have a problem getting sites in, but one in particular has been in the queue for well over a year. I've had other sites listed in other categories with no long delay and no problems.

There also don't seem to be any sites being added to my problem category either.

Now, becoming an editor. Sure I'll apply.
However there is no shortage of editors in the fields I feel competent to edit. The category I'm having a problem with is not in my area of knowledge. I just built the site.

Yes DMOZ is voluntary so I'm not complaining and I'm not going to lose sleep over it either. But the DMOZ system is horribly flawed and from what I've seen any suggestions for improvement are met with disdain.

Just my opinion looking in from the outside.

I don't manage that particular site anymore anyway, so it's not my problem.

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Target Marketing Communications - Advertising, Direct Marketing and Public Relations
I wonder what possesses people to make those animated gifs. Do you just get up in the morning and think, "You know what web design r

 

[Foamcow]

Look another one!

http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/misc/BidRequests/ShowBidRequest.asp?lngBidRequestId=336816

Chris, can you notify them of this one too?

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Buy Languedoc wines in the UK

 

[xtendscott]

Chris, I know some ppl willing to pay to get in to DMOZ.

-- THere now turn in this thread too.

xtendscott
Web Site Design | Cryosurgery | Walla Walla Portal

 

[ChrisHunt]

I'm sure there are lots of people willing to pay to get in. I don't blame them, it's very frustrating having your site languish in the queue to get into dmoz and not to be able to do anything about it.

Nonetheless, dmoz's reputation rests (in part) upon its editors being impartial, so they need to clamp down on this sort of thing wherever possible. Quite frankly it largely isn't possible - if you were to contact me, tell me you had a site waiting for inclusion in a category that I edit, and offer me $$$ to list it, there's no way that dmoz could know about it. They rely on the honesty of editors - usually with reason. Such an offer of a bribe would just as likely result in the site being discarded from the index in disgust.

I can't see the content of that request, Foamcow, maybe I need to get an account. I'll certainly pass the word though.

-- Chris Hunt
Webmaster & Tragedian
Extra Connections Ltd

 

[Foamcow]

I agree.
I only posted it because it pisses me off that these editors abuse the trust put in them.

Also, obviously the only way anyone can fulfil these requests from site owners is via various "black hat" methods.

Chris, it appears that the bidding is closed on that job. This Romanian chap has taken on the job.

http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/SoftwareCoders/showBioInfo.asp?lngAuthorId=1188475

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Buy Languedoc wines in the UK

 

[xtendscott]

My point is mainly that I don't think posting in these threads is the proper way to submit concerns about the honesty of DMOZ editors or those who are frustrated with getting into the directory.

If DMOZ is concerned about their editors then there should be a place to submit reports like this on their site. I don't feel that "outing" someone in an open forum is the place to do it. The only thing it might do is give a few more people a similar idea.

My understanding is that the DMOZ editors are limited to entries within their area of responsibilities. Is that not the case?


xtendscott
Web Site Design | Cryosurgery | Walla Walla Portal

 

[Foamcow]

fair enough

My point is that there is a DMOZ editor in our midst.
As such he as the inside track and possibly the ability to alert the higher echelons as to this type of requests.

Because of the open and public nature of DMOZ I see it as my responsibility, as a user of DMOZ, to help them where I can.

I too know people willing to pay to get into DMOZ and I tell them that they can't.
I don't take $1000 from them and promise these kinds of results.
That's one angle.
The other is that IF they are actually successful then it says something about DMOZ and it's something that I am sure both DMOZ editors and DMOZ users would be interested in.
Ergo, I think it's OK to post it here since we use DMOZ.

Fair point that perhaps I should post it on the DMOZ forums though.

I'm giving you anyone's address. There is a degree of anonymity anyway. The links I posted were to a site called Rentacoder. There is no personal contact info for either buyer or seller available there.

So as far as I can tell, the only harm done is that I've tipped the wink to someone who may have contacts inside DMOZ and/or can see what's happening in their URL pool.

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Buy Languedoc wines in the UK