application status bhl

Just checking on the status of my editor's application submitted and verified on May 28. My proposed editor's name is bhl. I know you need the help and I am ready, so please advise. Thank you.

Your application is still waiting to be reviewed, but I would suggest you steel yourself to be rejected. The category you applied for is prone to incredible spam, and we generally don't accept new editors in such areas.

That sounds like a Catch-22. You need an editor for this category but they are generally not accepted. Well, I am willing to help with the work if needed. Let me know. Thanks for the reply.

It is a catch-22. We need someone who is disinterested but not uninterested. We need a volunteer who doesn't want to edit there. We need someone who can practice spitting out little bits of gristle in a hobby or regional category, until they can bite off and regurgitate whole gallons of spam -- all without getting sick.

There is no solution, short of a death penalty for all spammers. What we use is experienced, trusted editors: and it's not as if we don't have something better for them to do, either.

One would be tempted to try a "spam fee:" charge $1000 for reviewing your site, 100% refunded if it's listed, 70% refunded if it's arguably not too far from being listable. The ODP can't do this (social contract and all), but Yahoo! is welcome to the idea (or any derivatives thereof.)

I would be willing to tackle another, unrelated category and gain some editorial experience. Most of the topics in which I have knowledge are those, of course, in which I have interest. The posture you suggest - being at arm's length from a topic while not being absent of interest - is applicable to a number of things for me. But naturally, I have the most knowledge of the industry in which I work. I suspect that is true of many editors.

Feel free to contact me at the email on my application if you would like to discuss alternate editorial categories.

You're welcome to apply elsewhere, then, once you've proved your competence, you can then apply for additional categories. We'll let you take the spam magnets once we feel you're capable of taking it on.

Proposal: Think about editing a regional category inthe area you are living. That gives you the chance to list a lot of sites you know and - in my experience - makes a lot of fun.

Clarification: To say that "we need an editor" means the category has no named editor, period. It does not mean that if someone from the outside applies for it, they'll get it. In some cases we'd like an existing, proven editor to take it on rather than someone new. Sorry for the confusion.