Contact DMOZ

Hello,

I have just received my first denied application.

However, the reviewer wrote me some comments which I would like to discuss. I would also like to discuss why he is mistaken in his judgment and doesn't understand the area he is reviewing, sadly.

What email address do I use to contact the reviewers to post my comments?

Thank you,

What email address do I use to contact the reviewers to post my comments?

Click to expand...

None.
We do not discuss applications.
You can be sure that the reasons given for the rehection are correct.
And the only way to show that you understand is by writing a new application with the issues solved.

and doesn't understand the area he is reviewing

Click to expand...

A Meta does not need to understand the area an editor is applying to (it doesn't harm if he does) but he must understand DMOZ guidelines as those are the ones we use to evaluate the application. Without a good understanding of the guidelines he would not have become a Meta.

pvgool said:

None.
We do not discuss applications.
You can be sure that the reasons given for the rehection are correct.
And the only way to show that you understand is by writing a new application with the issues solved.

Click to expand...

I can assure you the reasons are wrong. And common sense would prove that. The links point to complete and utter irrelevance, basically. How do I know this? I belong to the project the category is dedicated too. I help _code_ the project. Trust me - the links are _dead_. Dead and buried. Capoot. Worthless. That's a promise.

I offered to fix them up and maintain the category on behalf of the project. It is missing vital links. Infact, it's missing the second most popular URL belonging to the project while other links are pointing to articles and information almost a decade old.

I am right about this. Sorry -- but I am.

Whether or not you're right about your assertions, the fact remains that there is no way to contact the meta editor who reviewed your application unless that meta editor included their contact details. If you want to edit that category, you need to address the issues mentioned in your next application. Keep in mind, though, that in-depth knowledge of a category's topic does not mean that you understand how to edit that topic in DMOZ better than anyone else. So perhaps keep an open mind that you might not know everything.

motsa said:

Whether or not you're right about your assertions, the fact remains that there is no way to contact the meta editor who reviewed your application unless that meta editor included their contact details. If you want to edit that category, you need to address the issues mentioned in your next application. Keep in mind, though, that in-depth knowledge of a category's topic does not mean that you understand how to edit that topic in DMOZ better than anyone else. So perhaps keep an open mind that you might not know everything.

Click to expand...

I can't address the issues. He said the page was 'cool'. Yes, he said - 'cool'. It isn't 'cool'. It's unmaintained and references irrelevant information. The editor in his 'wise' judgment decided the category is just 'fine'. Well it's not. Why don't you listen to someone else for a change? You guys are wrong on this one.

Sadly, I have been around the internet for longer than most folks. There is nothing 'open' about this project and it's a real shame. The sad issue is your domain does have 'cloat' and many people are simply using DMOZ for monetary/SEO gains. Well, you're looking at someone who had no intention of doing anything other than maintain a category he is directly involved in.

Your project is a shame. You need to make real changes and allow the genuine folk on broad.

Trying to move away from AOL would be a technical start.

I can't address the issues. He said the page was 'cool'. Yes, he said - 'cool'. It isn't 'cool'. It's unmaintained and references irrelevant information. The editor in his 'wise' judgment decided the category is just 'fine'. Well it's not. Why don't you listen to someone else for a change? You guys are wrong on this one.

Click to expand...

Presumably, the reviewing meta editor was talking about a site that was flagged as "cool" and appeared at the top of the category, separate from the other sites that are listed alphabetically. "Cool" is a bit of a misnomer for the flag -- it is typically used to separate out the official site for a category's topic, regardless of whether or not that site is the best or most comprehensive site for the topic.

Sadly, I have been around the internet for longer than most folks. There is nothing 'open' about this project and it's a real shame.

Click to expand...

The "Open" in the project's name has to do with the use of our data, not the project itself, which is clearly not "open" in the same sense that open source software is.

Your project is a shame. You need to make real changes and allow the genuine folk on broad.

Click to expand...

We welcome genuine people on board all the time. But, as I mentioned earlier, it's critical that you change your mindset a little if you really want to help out -- coming in arrogantly sure that you know everything there is to know about how to edit the category leaves you with no room to learn the intricacies of editing at DMOZ. Being an expert on the topic doesn't mean you automatically know how to edit well there.

Trying to move away from AOL would be a technical start.

Click to expand...

Not likely to happen anytime soon. AOL isn't a sponsor of the project, they own it and will continue to own it until such time as they decide they no longer want to own it.

motsa said:

Presumably, the reviewing meta editor was talking about a site that was flagged as "cool" and appeared at the top of the category, separate from the other sites that are listed alphabetically. "Cool" is a bit of a misnomer for the flag -- it is typically used to separate out the official site for a category's topic, regardless of whether or not that site is the best or most comprehensive site for the topic.

Click to expand...

Ah -- I see.

The "Open" in the project's name has to do with the use of our data, not the project itself, which is clearly not "open" in the same sense that open source software is.

Click to expand...

Of course.

I understand you can't be open in the context of allowing everyone to edit the directory. However, I believe you can probably differentiate been genuine applications and people looking to gain from DMOZ -- mine being the former.

We welcome genuine people on board all the time. But, as I mentioned earlier, it's critical that you change your mindset a little if you really want to help out -- coming in arrogantly sure that you know everything there is to know about how to edit the category leaves you with no room to learn the intricacies of editing at DMOZ. Being an expert on the topic doesn't mean you automatically know how to edit well there.

Click to expand...

I don't claim to be an 'expert'. I claim to be authoritative on this category. If you allow genuine people to help 'all the time' I should have gained the privileges to modify and maintain the category. However, since that wasn't the case how can I believe anything else? How does a genuine person offering their authoritative services gain access to learn the intricacies of DMOZ without actually being allowed to learn them in the first place?

The application contained enough information to prove my position. I also offered to help maintain other related categories in the future.

I still have no clear idea why I was denied access.

The reviewer also claimed:

'We are not going to also list each and every page on the site.'

Some of the links didn't belong to the site. Actually, I'm happy to claim he didn't properly review the application.

Are you happy to say DMOZ would select how it defines a 'good' editor over someone who actually understands the category?

Not likely to happen anytime soon. AOL isn't a sponsor of the project, they own it and will continue to own it until such time as they decide they no longer want to own it.

Click to expand...

Have you monitored AOLs performance?... yeah things haven't been on the up for the last few years...

I don't claim to be an 'expert'. I claim to be authoritative on this category. If you allow genuine people to help 'all the time' I should have gained the privileges to modify and maintain the category. However, since that wasn't the case how can I believe anything else? How does a genuine person offering their authoritative services gain access to learn the intricacies of DMOZ without actually being allowed to learn them in the first place?

The application contained enough information to prove my position. I also offered to help maintain other related categories in the future.

I still have no clear idea why I was denied access.

Click to expand...

I don't doubt that your offer was genuine or that your motives were altruistic. But that isn't necessarily enough to be accepted as an editor. If you can't maintain an open enough mind to consider that the reviewing meta editor might actually have been right, how are we to expect that you'd maintain an open enough mind to actually follow our guidelines?

The reviewer also claimed:

'We are not going to also list each and every page on the site.'

Click to expand...

If you suggested multiple sections or pages of a site that is already listed, I would not be surprised to see your application rejected -- part of being an editor is being able to find and suggest sites that are appropriate for the category, not just in the sense of being on topic but in the sense of following our guidelines.

Are you happy to say DMOZ would select how it defines a 'good' editor over someone who actually understands the category?

Click to expand...

I'm not sure I quite understand what you're saying here, but I can say that understanding the category topic (which is different from understanding the category) isn't enough. We've had a number of well-intentioned editors over the years who were authoritative on their topics but just couldn't manage to edit according to our guidelines, to everyone's detriment. Instead of taking the stance that the reviewer was wrong and you are right and that's that, why not consider that maybe the very experienced reviewer knows a little bit more about being an editor and change your application accordingly?

Have you monitored AOLs performance?... yeah things haven't been on the up for the last few years...

Click to expand...

What's that got to do with anything? Their performance is irrelevant to their owning the directory.

bsdman said:

Are you happy to say DMOZ would select how it defines a 'good' editor over someone who actually understands the category?

Click to expand...

Yes. Having knowledge about the subject of the category can be of help but is not necessary to be a good editor.
A good editor application (I did not look at the application so these are general statements which might or might not apply to you)
- tells us honestly about yourself
- tells us honestly and completely about the website you are associated with
- provides (preferably) 3 websites that fit into the category and are not listed yet [no deeplinks of already listed websites also]
- provides titles and descriptions for these 3 websites that show that you have understood the DMOZ guidelines [we are not looking for perfection but a basic understanding is neccessary]

Yes. Having knowledge about the subject of the category can be of help but is not necessary to be a good editor.
A good editor application (I did not look at the application so these are general statements which might or might not apply to you)

Click to expand...

- tells us honestly about yourself

Click to expand...

I provided empirical evidence about myself and how I can be verified.

- tells us honestly and completely about the website you are associated with

Click to expand...

Again, this was clearly done. I even mentioned how this can be verified. I just wanted to edit a single category.

- provides (preferably) 3 websites that fit into the category and are not listed yet [no deeplinks of already listed websites also

Click to expand...

This could have a been the possible issue. Two could be classed as 'very' shallow links. If you gain an editor position can you also remove links?

- provides titles and descriptions for these 3 websites that show that you have understood the DMOZ guidelines [we are not looking for perfection but a basic understanding is neccessary

Click to expand...

If you gain an editor position can you also remove links?

Click to expand...

Yes, add, remove, move and change, as long as within the guidelines...