Editor Disappointment

Ok so I'm disappointed that I spent two hours, reading the guidlines, completing the form, and really want to make a difference being an editor then..

I receive an email saying 'Although we would like you to join us as a volunteer editor, you have chosen a category that is already well represented, or is broader than
we typically assign to a new editor. We would encourage you to re-apply for a category that has fewer editors or is smaller in scope, in order to increase your chances of being accepted.

How do I know which is highly represented? http://www.dmoz.com/Recreation/Travel/Lodging/

Any ideas? <img src="/images/icons/confused.gif" alt="" />

Hi,

In your case it looks like you've chosen a category that's a bit too big for a new editor so the ".. is broader than
we typically assign to a new editor" part of the mail applies. You need to apply to edit a category that has around 100 listed sites, give or take, so you could re-apply to one of the sub-categories (making sure your chosen URLs fit that sub-category), or choose another category altogether.

Hope that helps. <img src="/images/icons/smirk.gif" alt="" />

My original application was for a category with just 4 sites listed, and in a non-commercial, non-spammy area of the directory. A Google search revealed that there were dozens of useful sites that could expand the category. If this had been in a spammy area of the directory, even that very small category might not have been suitable for a new editor.

What I am saying is that in some ways the smaller the category you apply for, the more chance there is of getting it. I have sometimes seen some people dish out advice to look for categories with under 30 or maybe 50 sites, and other figures in that vicinity. In the end just as site submissions are subject to human review, so are editor applications and different people will have slightly different ideas as to what is right.

First off, I almost never admit new editors to categories that have more than 80 sites. Secondly, you're probably never going to be accepted to a Lodging category (whether in Recreation or Regional), as a brand new editor, due to the sheer amount of abusive submissions these categories receive.

&gt;Secondly, you're probably never going to be accepted to a Lodging category (whether in Recreation or Regional), as a brand new editor, due to the sheer amount of abusive submissions these categories receive.

This is surely true. And it's also a shame, because there are many legitimate submittals -- every hotel, campground, etc., has its own site. Once again, affiliate spammers cause major difficulties for everyone on the web. <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" alt="" />