Isn't it sad on the discontinuation of site status checks

sams · May 19, 2005

I feel sad and sorry to know the discontinuation of site status checks. Its always difficult to give up something good and useful.

None the less, peace and support to all the Moderators and Administrators who had to take this step. However, I'ed also like to know about everybodies views and support on this. Coz I am sure that there are loads of people out there who maybe feeling that same way and would like to share them and that'ed really be appreciated by all.

I dont know that if anybody could have helped to avoid the discontinuation, but I also understand that sometimes by taking a step backwards we maybe able to move forward.

Also I wish and hope that RZ could work things out and once again continue this valuable feature of "site status checks" in the future. Amen!

ddorton · May 19, 2005

I can certainly see their point of view, as if its not bad enough that folks like myself submit their site multiple times to the directory before actually reading the guidelines I am sure that the same folks continued the aggrevation by posting site status checks over and over.

I can say very little on the subject though being one of the bad seeds myself.

bashorney1 · May 19, 2005

I can certainly understand the status checks taking up a considerable amount of the editors' time. However, I hope that in place of the status checks that they will at least email a rejection notification when a site is not accepted so that submitters will not be in the dark indefinitely.

bashorney1

bobrat · May 19, 2005

Sorry, but that will not happen. Editors experience of email responses like that has been generally very negative, including threats of violence and legal action. Editing should be fun, not life threatening.

PrmScottF · May 19, 2005

Well on the other hand, I feel as if I have done everything they have asked and I feel I will never know if I have done something incorrectly to keep my site off. The catagory I have submitted to has had 33 web pages in it since the day I submitted. Not one has been added, nor do i know if anyone plans to add any. When you feel like you have done everything you have asked and are still completely in the dark it can be frustrating. I will continue to wait and check back every so often in hopes of some information or hopefully to see my site submitted.

midgetlov · May 19, 2005

I personally think that getting a status check every 6 months is a complete waste of time. I do hope that there is still going to be a way to make sure that a submission actually went through though as that is really all anyone "needs" to know.

Just my two cents

pvgool · May 19, 2005

When you suggest a site you will receive a confirmation page. This has always been the case. When you get that page the suggestion has been received.

Dalponis · May 19, 2005

I never knew... Drat. I was waiting until September to inquire about my site...

Edit: Oh, but I do agree with them too though.

MatrixViper · May 19, 2005

Actually, I heard a rather disheartening rumour that I am sure is false. I heard it from a fella that sends me scoop every now and again over at SearchEngineWatch.com. He indicated to me that some contact of his is a high ranking officer of Time Warner and that there was consideration into abandoning DMOZ alltogether or refurbishing DMOZ to a more comercially palatable version

While I would question either of these moves, I wouldn't put it past the greed mongers of Time Warner. I guess time will tell.

bobrat · May 19, 2005

DMOZ to a more comercially palatable version

Sounds like the ODP rumour of the hour. How would that be possible?

http://www.dmoz.org/socialcontract.html

The Open Directory Will Remain 100% Free

If someone tried to bypass that, then by the end of the month, 80% of the editors would have quit, and started to look for a new sponsor for equipment [bet Yahoo or someone like that would love to have us], set up a new "ODP" and populate it with the latest RDF files and start over.

MatrixViper · May 19, 2005

bobrat said:
Sounds like the ODP rumour of the hour. How would that be possible?

http://www.dmoz.org/socialcontract.html

The Open Directory Will Remain 100% Free

If someone tried to bypass that, then by the end of the month, 80% of the editors would have quit, and started to look for a new sponsor for equipment [bet Yahoo or someone like that would love to have us], set up a new "ODP" and populate it with the latest RDF files and start over.

bob,

anything is possible when money mongers become involved...I really don't lend to much to this rumour, but, don't think for a second that Time Warner doesn't have the resources to take over DMOZ's editorial process...I do doubt your assertion about Yahoo wanting to have you, they already have their own human editing team....maybe someone like Mamma or Ask Jeeves or the Go network---anyways its hardly worth going over the what ifs for something soo silly as this rumour probably is...

Eric

windharp · May 20, 2005

... especially if it's such an old rumour as this one. This was already said months ago.

Thinking about it, this was already said before AOL/Netscape published the social contract which dates "2001-06-05".

ziandra · May 20, 2005

Seems to me status checks could be automated. Go to a web site, type in the url and get back a status. It could be as simple as

a. url is in directory
b. url is pending review
c. url has been rejected
d. url is not in system

no place to argue. Just a place for a quick check.

Then again, lots of things are easy when you don't know how much legacy code you have to deal with

giz · May 20, 2005

A spammer submits 10 different types of spam to us, then uses the tool to see which got auto-whacked by the filter and which made it through....

Do you think that we might not want to make that information available to spammers?

Alucard · May 20, 2005

ziandra, it's not so much about legacy code as it is that it's not something we want to do.

I don't have time right now to go into the reason (cos I would have to dig them all up again) but if you look elsewhere on this forum (do a search) I am sure you will find someone much more eloquent than I giving the reasons.

sandman52 · May 20, 2005

I Wouldn't Want This "Job" For A Million Bucks

After reading many posts about site listings, I can totally understand why the forum is being discontinued! You guy's have got to be totally masochistic to take the abuse I have seen. GOOD LUCK TO ALL.

oneeye · May 20, 2005

There are a few of us that have enjoyed providing status checks for one reason or another, not always for reasons the submitter would appreciate. It is incumbent on submitters to follow the guidelines on submission and their submission will always be reviewed. Some time, some day. The status reports given for the past few years should make that abundantly clear! So discontinuance should encourage greater compliance - force people to read the guidelines if they want to be sure their site won't be rejected for not complying.

The problem with discontinuance is those sites that don't actually make it through to the unreviewed piles. But then if you don't get the confirmation screen then resubmit immediately.

So overall it is a good thing, and this forum will still be here to cover the other aspects, its original purpose.

You guy's have got to be totally masochistic to take the abuse I have seen

You might have something there...

oneeye · May 20, 2005

refurbishing DMOZ to a more comercially palatable version

I don't personally subscribe to the view that DMOZ the domain is forever sacrosanct. It is no doubt very valuable and has been bought and sold. The current owners could scrap the social charter. But...

If someone tried to bypass that, then by the end of the month, 80% of the editors would have quit, and started to look for a new sponsor for equipment

is spot on. And there have been some moments when I thought it might actually happen. DMOZ the concept is unlikely ever to die whilst there are a hardcore of editors who believe totally in that concept and would reject all others. That hardcore produces maybe 90% of the Directory. So a new owner seeking to change the operation would probably be left with absolutely nothing bar the name and the current data. When you get past the initial idea of commercialising it, DMOZ doesn't seem quite so attractive under the surface.

Dalponis · May 26, 2005

Hey, it saves them time to go and edit more. So we should all love this decision. I’m just hoping an editall will look at my category for my birthday!

pvgool · May 27, 2005

Dalponis said:
I’m just hoping an editall will look at my category for my birthday!

We will. But we won't tell you which birthday

Isn't it sad on the discontinuation of site status checks

sams

Member

ddorton

Member

bashorney1

bobrat

Member

PrmScottF

Member

midgetlov

Banned

pvgool

kEditall/kCatmv

Dalponis

Editor

MatrixViper

Banned

bobrat

Member

MatrixViper

Banned

windharp

Meta/kMeta

ziandra

Member

giz

Member

Alucard

Member

sandman52

Member

oneeye

Member

oneeye

Member

Dalponis

Editor

pvgool

kEditall/kCatmv