Editor status expired

Apologies if this is not the appropriate place to post...I hope that a meta or someone at dmoz who knows what is going on will read this.

I was editor for science/employment for over a year, went travelling for a few months and had my editor status expire (if after 4 months you do not log in, the system suspends your editor status until reinstatement).

I have been back for a couple months. I requested reinstatement - twice, and have yet to hear back from the 'powers that be' at dmoz.

To my knowledge I had no major complaints about my editing of this category, so I assume that I have not been 'shown the door'. However, I'm beginning to wonder..

my dmoz username was (and is) dombort

Many thanks,

Your request to be reinstated has not been accepted (no, we can't go into details) but we wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Sorry, but the reinstate request was denied.

Do the courtesy of informing those who are not reinstated.

After putting in quite a few hours over the last couple years, creating a new sub category, re-organizing it fairly well, keeping on top of it fairly well, receiving no complaints - it pains me to be brushed off so easily and without an expressed reason.

However... I am a reasonable person, and I assume that many of you are also reasonable.

Perhaps you can't post reasons here, but would you do me the courtesy of sending me reasons for my dismissal?

I think if you expect volunteers to maintain such a large undertaking as the dmoz, you should treat them with a bit of dignity. If I am dismissed from a job or position, I expect to be given a reason.

Thanks,
dombort

I'm sorry but we're not able to do that.

No able to do what?

When you say

I'm sorry but we're not able to do that.

Click to expand...

what from my post are you not able to do?

Is it:

A. Treat volunteers at dmoz with dignity.
or
B. Have the courtesy of sending me reasons for my dismissal.

Perhaps you actually mean to say "I am not able to do that" (presumably because you didn't make the decision yourself) or perhaps you mean to say "We are not willing to do that."


For a metaeditor your vague use of language leaves something to be desired. Hopefully there's a good reason why I was dismissed. It's too bad that neither I nor anyone else can learn from this...(apart from learning that dmoz does not have a system which treats volunteers with much respect).

I look forward to any reason or answer.
Thanks,

Your request to be reinstated has not been accepted (no, we can't go into details) but we wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Click to expand...

Sorry, but that's all we can or will say.

Thanks for the grammar lesson. LOL

So, let's make this clearer. I (as in l'il old grammatically challenged me) am not willing, able, or permitted to give you any more information about your denial than I have already given you here. We (as in the ODP) are not willing, able, or permitted to give you any more information about your denial than I have already given you here.

I would have thought that my original "no, we can't go into details" would have said that clearly enough but, hey, that's just me.

You ARE permitted

Yeah, the original "no, we can't go into details" was certainly clear.

I was simply in disbelief that dmoz was set up in such a way that decisions are made, and no recourse or feedback given as to why...So I wanted a reply indicating either why I had been deined reinstatement, or how to find out.

When I looked around the dmoz editorial guidelines I found out how to find out:

Editors should contact either ODP staff or a meta editor if they have questions about account reinstatement.

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http://dmoz.org/guidelines/accounts.html#removal

I have done this, and never recieved a reply, which is why I came to this public forum to air my questions... only to have people more interested in following forum regulations that providing any real help.

You ARE permitted, and ARE able to provide feedback to me privately. Now there's nothing I can do about the 'Willing' bit. I simply ask you for empathy (how would you feel in my case).

I have been civil (perhaps a bit pushy) throughout this discourse. I also appreciate that you have also been polite (if somewhat unhelpful).

I wait with bated breath for your decision on my case.
Dombort

You ARE permitted, and ARE able to provide feedback to me privately

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That was my point here. We ARE NOT permitted or able to provide feedback to you about the reason for denial of reinstatement either publicly OR privately. It isn't because of forum guidelines but because of ODP policies which apply to public and private communications in this situation. We are able to answer general questions about reinstatement (e.g. how to apply for reinstatement) publicly and privately but we are not permitted to answer requests for the specifics about a case of denial of reinstatement, any more than we are permitted to discuss why someone was removed as an editor.

So, I'm afraid you've gotten the only answer you're going to get here.

Missing Guidelines?

So when it says (in the editors guidelines - which is not in the public forum):

Editors should contact either ODP staff or a meta editor if they have questions about account reinstatement.

Click to expand...

They are saying what?...That we can ask questions about our reinstatement, but the answer will always be "Sorry I can't tell you.."

That seems a bit odd. Why bother offering an avenue for questioning if there will never be an answer?

If you are indeed correct when you say

We are able to answer general questions about reinstatement (e.g. how to apply for reinstatement) publicly and privately but we are not permitted to answer requests for the specifics about a case of denial of reinstatement, any more than we are permitted to discuss why someone was removed as an editor.

Click to expand...

Why not make that evident on the relevant page: http://dmoz.org/guidelines/accounts.html#removal

When I read the editors guideline I do not see anywhere that it say that there will be no communications regarding a dismissal or rejection case...In fact it offers an avenue for the dismissed editor to contact ODP staff to ask why.

Is there another guideline that I have missed?


Thanks for responding,
Dombort

Well, you've asked about your reinstatement here and have gotten answers (i.e. that it was denied). Nowhere in those guidelines does it say we'll tell you *why* your reinstatement request was denied. Feel free to contact the staff link.

Thats what I did!

Motsa - I mentioned already that I did this (contact the staff link). In fact I did it twice but received no reply..which is exactly why I posted my issue here in the hope that some benevolent metaeditor would see it and choose to reply.

It seems to me that the dmoz is being buried under an avalanche of site submissions and the ever expanding WWW. I would think it makes more sense to try and improve the skills of existing editors who may have been doing something poorly (although I can only assume this is what my problem was..since nobody has told me), rather than cancel their editor status without stated reason, and continue to let the pile of unattended site submissions grow and grow, until dmoz becomes a second-rate directory.

Best of luck to all dmoz editors. If you have it in your heart to explain what I did wrong,I'd be grateful. If you'd have it in your heart to let me back in as an editor I'll be even more grateful. Up to you.

So long for now.
dombort