Important Category Receives No Attention

Considering the state of the economy, providing modern day resources for saving money should be considered greater than the zero priority ODP has given it by ignoring it completely for years.

http://www.dmoz.org/Home/Homemaking/Frugality/Coupons/

The top link in this directory hasn't even updated it's home page in more than 2 years. The rest scream out "this is so 1990's".

I applied years ago to be an editor for this category since I know the space well (wouldn't need to filter through thousands of site requests in order to improve it), but it's clearly off the radar, or (putting on the tin foil hat) being intentionally locked down perhaps for the benefit of one or more sites on there.

Anyway, would be a pleasant suprise to see an update to what many deal seeking consumers might agree is a category that shouldn't receive bottom of the barrel treatment. Thx much.

If you look at the bottom of its page, you'll see:

Last update: 15:04 PT, Monday, March 23, 2009

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You might have misunderstood our objectives and how we operate here. ODP is a volunteer organisation building a directory as a hobby. Editors edit where they wish, when they wish and as much as they wish within the constraints of their permissions. We have no schedules or systems to force people to do work that they don't volunteer to do. ODP is not primarily a free listing service for website owners and it does not attempt to process their listing suggestions within the time scales desired by them.

That particular category is a spam magnet - some of it quite clever spam; it's no surprise to me that few editors want to do any work there. The same characteristic makes it unsuitable for a newbie which is why editor applications there have been disabled.

Thanks for the response, Jim. However, despite enduring said "update" in March, the section will remain an irrelevant resource merely because it misses out on nearly all of the leading (and reputable) coupon and deal sites available online today.

FYI, should an editor like to take on the task, I would happily send a list of 10 leading sites which I believe would pass any scrutiny applied to them, thereby improving this area of the directory as a useful resource in relatively short order.

edgemyster said:

FYI, should an editor like to take on the task, I would happily send a list of 10 leading sites which I believe would pass any scrutiny applied to them, thereby improving this area of the directory as a useful resource in relatively short order.

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Two questions:
1) Why do you not suggest those "leading" (whatever that might mean) sites now.
2) Why do you not apply to become an editor yourself.

Which leads me to the 3th question. Why do you demand something from a volunteer, who does some work in DMOZ as a hobby, to do things you seem not willing to do yourself.

1) If I knew it would amount to making progress and there is nothing within the forum policies that restrict a member from listing sites, will do.

2) I have - years ago. No response (that I can recall).

3) Strange assumption. If I were able to do this myself, I would. The only remaining option seems to be to ask the assistance of someone who is in a position to enact change, where as I cannot.

I've already offered to create the list. I've attempted to volunteer for the category. So I'm not really sure why you claim I'm unwilling to do the work when I've just stated that I am.

That aside, I came here offering to help improve the site. Getting into a debate about who is going to do the work is perhaps one reason why it's never gotten done.

I've attempted to volunteer for the category.

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If your application was unsuccessful, you received individual, detailed feedback pointing out how to submit a more successful application.

Many current editors were accepted only after paying attention to such feedback and submitting a more careful or complete application.

If you chose not to re-apply, that is your prerogative, of course, but it is also the prerogative of volunteer editors to choose how to spend their time in the directory.

nothing within the forum policies that restrict a member from listing sites

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It's got nothing to do with this forum. Anyone is welcome to suggest sites to the directory, which is why most categories have a suggestion button.

edgemyster said:

1) If I knew it would amount to making progress and there is nothing within the forum policies that restrict a member from listing sites, will do.

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There is only one way you can tell us about usefull sites. Suggest them in the right category of DMOZ. You may not list them here at Resource Zone.

2) I have - years ago. No response (that I can recall).

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All editor applications get a response. If you do not get one within a few weeks you can ask in the correct section of Resource Zone.

3) Strange assumption. If I were able to do this myself, I would. The only remaining option seems to be to ask the assistance of someone who is in a position to enact change, where as I cannot.

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You can either suggest the sites or you can become an editor. It is up to you to do either of them.

Getting into a debate about who is going to do the work is perhaps one reason why it's never gotten done.

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If there is no editor interested in the subject noone is going to do the "work". All editors are volunteers and will only do things they like to do. Telling us to do something is never going to work.