Fired from ODP after requesting additional cat

Good people of the ODP forums,

I was an editor for two cats for several months. Thought I was doing a good job. In early March 2002, I requested an additional cat to edit (no editor listed for that particular cat), and was removed as an editor all together. I have written to DMOZ staff several times requesting an explanation for removing me. I still have not heard from anyone. If a meta reads this and is willing to look into this, please reply and I will provide my editor name and password. All I am looking for is an explanation.

I think it may have to do with the new editor of the cat I was editing threatening to report me for what she suspected as abuse because I also had my own site listed in the cat. According to guidelines, listing my own site is not illegal as long as I don't cool it, or manipulate it. To the best of my knowledge, I did neither.

The new editor listed two sites owned by a known spammer in our circle that had previously been rejected by myself and several other editors of higher level cats. We had discussions over these sites, and she insisted on adding them proclaiming them as the "best sites of the cat" according to her editor notes. I have a feeling that, somehow, I was railroaded out of the category so that the new editor could list the sites which are now proudly displayed in the cat in question. Additional details, URL's, etc can be provided if anyone has the energy to review/investigate.

If you provide only your editor-name, we'll be able to take a look.

My editor name has been e-mailed to you. Thank you for your interest.

http://dmoz.org/newsletter/2000Sep/removal.html explains why people get removed (in general). Your amazing story doesn't appear in this article. /images/icons/smile.gif

kctipton,

Thank you for the link. I do appreciate you taking the time to respond. I have reviewed the link, and as you stated, it does not touch on my circumstances. Even if I did do something that deserved being banned, I would like to know what and why.

These three websites [...] are owned by the same individual, and are basically mirror sites. I used to be editor of this category until I was removed, but based on this new information, I feel that I was railroaded so that [...] could abuse the directory. A simple whois look up will verify it. I have a strong feeling that [...] is abusing the category that I got kicked out of and is affiliated with the individual that owns the three sites.

[examples edited out. According to forum guidelines details of abuse accusations should be provided directly to metas participating in this forum and are not allowed in public threads. Reported case will be carefully investigated and general report will be published here.]

Indeed, you are right about those three sites. Thank you very much for valid abuse report. OTOH your suspitions about malicious intentions behind your removal are pure nonsense. The detailed history of the whole case is on the record and there is nothing to support your theory.

IMHO it should be obvious to you what you did wrong. If you want to say something about it to us - please write directly to one of metas. We still have one unresolved problem and your suggestions could help.

wladek,

Thank you and all of the other meta editors for taking the time to investigate the issue. I may have been a little paranoid, but things just didn't ad up for me.

You stated that my suggestions could help with one unresolved issue. I look forward to hearing from you and finding out how I can help with the issue at hand.

I have sent you a private message. If you get the opportunity to reply, let me know what it is that I can do to help.

Just A Quick Follow Up.

We (wladek, stevesliva, and I) had corresponded in detail several months ago about suspected abuse of a category editor. Please reference the following posting;
http://www.resource-zone.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=bemome&Number=2037&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

During our conversations, you had taken a close look at my site (Send E-Mail For URL)that was listed in [...]

We had extensive conversations (wladek, stevesliva, and I)and the meta editors determined the site suitable for the category. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Recently, it was removed from the directory, and I can't help but feel that if it did not warrant placement in the directory during our conversations, it would have been removed then. <img src="/images/icons/confused.gif" alt="" />

Who can I appeal the removal of my site to? Also, it looks like the category is being abused again by the new editor who has listed [...] and [...] that are owned by the same person. <img src="/images/icons/mad.gif" alt="" />

Thank you for taking the time to read this message, and I thank you in advance for your reply.

[examples edited out. According to forum guidelines details of abuse accusations should be provided directly to metas participating in this forum and are not allowed in public threads. Reported case will be carefully investigated and general report will be published here.]

oh, my, talk about spam sites, these are good examples. Perhaps this should be discussed in a different forum?

Hanson_Chop
"that are owned by the same person"

You seem to have missed {sent on to you priveately} from the same school <img src="/images/icons/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Deep waters, trucking categories

I've already been looking into this, but if you have any information I might have missed, please feel free to send it to me by private message. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

but if you have any information I might have missed

Click to expand...

Not being into mind reading, I cannot be sure that you have missed it, but I have sent you 5 sites run my the same operator just in case <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Just Browsing and The Seeker,

Thanks for looking into this.

Yes, this category is being abused. I have also seen the one that was forwarded to me by private message by "Just Browsing". I tried to respond to your private message, but I received an error when I tried.

I will try again, and include my site that was deleted that I mentioned earlier. I will also include additional information concerning the suspected spam of the cat. I own a business that competes in this category, and I have a pretty good grasp of who owns what in this category.

I see that some clean up has been done in the previously mentioned category.

Does anyone know if I will be able to get the site that was removed back into the category?

The Seeker,

I sent as much info to you as I had (private message) on all of this, and even gave you links to review my site that was removed. Have you had an opportunity to review, and do you have any further questions of me?

I see that some clean up has been done in the previously mentioned category.

Click to expand...

Hanson_Chop, you are a hard man to please, I note that the editor and 25% of the category have gone since you first posted - more than a minor clean up <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

Another editor has actually been handling most of cleaning up that category. I will contact that editor and then send you a private message about the results.

The Seeker, and Just Browsing.....

Once again, my hat is off to all of the volunteer editors and members of this message board for taking time to address concerns. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thank you all, and I will continue to monitor the category for additional abuse. If I can not be re-instated as editor of the category, maybe I can help this way. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

Once again, we have been targeted for removal by the new editor of the category.

Every person that applies as editor of this category http://dmoz.org/Business/Transportation_and_Logistics/Trucking/Employment/ is there to list his or her site. Our position on the internet, and our ability to compete at the top level makes us a target for each editor that signs up to this category.

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. I still see one of your sites listed. The other mirror site contains identical content, so there really isn't any reason to list it, is there?