No reason for denial

Hi - I hope this isn't against the posting rules - I'm not complaining about the way DMOZ is run; I'd just like some clarification, if possible.

I've applied to be the editor of several "unmanned" categories in the last year, and have always been turned down with no specific reason given. I run a website affiliated with the category and made that clear on my application. My request was denied so quickly that I wonder if my name is somehow flagged, or if the websites I am associated with are flagged. Any comments?

Thanks!

It's impossible for us to comment on specific applications. But...

Obviously you have received a denial e-mail if you know that your application was denied. What did it say? Here are the reasons from the standard rejection letter. I think that they are pretty clear. Can you honestly check off all of those items and say that you did none of those?

• Incomplete application. Insufficient information has been provided in some fields including reason, affiliation and/or Sample URLs.
• Improper spelling and grammar.
• Sample URLs are inappropriate for the category which one has applied to edit. They may be too broad, too narrow, completely out of scope, poor quality, or in a language inappropriate for the category. All non-English sites are listed in the World category. Applications for World categories that include sites only in English will be denied. Likewise, applications for World categories that include sample URLs in languages other than the one appropriate for the applied category will be denied.
• Not properly disclosing affiliations with websites that are, or have the potential of being, listed in the category.
• Titles and descriptions of sample URLs (and other information provided) were subjective and promotional rather than unbiased and objective. ODP editors do not rank or write website reviews. ODP editors provide objective and unbiased descriptions of websites and their content.
• Self-Promotion. Application which leads us to believe that the candidate is interested primarily in promoting his/her own sites or those with which the applicant is affiliated. The ODP is not a marketing tool, and should not be used to circumvent the site submission process. If this is an applicant's motivation for joining, then we ask him/her not to apply. Editors found to be inappropriately promoting their own site will be promptly removed.
  [/list:u]Have you read all of the information in the FAQ and Advice thread in this forum? It is very helpful.

Hi Donald,

Thanks for responding. My denial letter included all of those; it said something like "We cannot give you a specific reason - here are some common ones" followed by the list you provided.

Yes, I truly believe that I followed the ODP guidelines correctly. While I do have an affiliation with a website in the topics I applied for, I harbor no illusions about promoting my site all over the place, or deleting all of my competitors. It's simply that I would like to work on a topic that I'm interested in, and as it happens, I'm most interested in the topics that I have a site for - that's why I have a site for them!

As I said, after my first application, my later ones were denied seemingly automatically - I thought it would take at least a day or two but I was denied within a couple of hours. That's why I wonder if my name is on some sort of automatic denial list. If so, I'd like to know so that I don't waste my time reapplying.

Thanks again for responding -

LKL

That's why I wonder if my name is on some sort of automatic denial list.

Click to expand...

There is no automatic rejection. Every application is viewed by an experienced volunteer.
If it was that quick, I would assume something very obvious. For example a category that was way to large for a beginner, since this is something that is very easy to spot. If you did not have already - have a look at the FAQ about becoming an editor.

Applications are often reviewed quickly - it just depends on whether a meta editor happens to be looking through the list when your application goes in. If you've made an obvious mistake - say for example you haven't provided any sample URLs or you've made looads of reely ovious speeling errers, it'll probably take the meta no more than fifteen seconds to see that and reject the application. I think the fastest acceptance/rejection I've ever received for an application for a new category within dmoz was about two minutes! Re-read the guidelines carefully, particularly the bits about title, description, types of sites we don't list and declaring affiliations, then try reapplying. Lots of editors don't get in on their first attempt but you're equally not expected to be perfect before you have a chance to gain experience.

Editors will tell you that it's the same with reviewing sites - some take a significant amount of time to review but others can be listed, rejected or moved somewhere more appropriate within about a minute.

What category did you apply for?

French language (twice), Spanish language, and vegetarianism.

LKL

What specific categories?

The reason for application denial that I see most often is the following:

• Sample URLs are inappropriate for the category which one has applied to edit. They may be too broad, too narrow, completely out of scope, poor quality, or in a language inappropriate for the category. All non-English sites are listed in the World category. Applications for World categories that include sites only in English will be denied. Likewise, applications for World categories that include sample URLs in languages other than the one appropriate for the applied category will be denied. [/list:u]
  People seem to have a really hard time fitting the web sites to the category. You have to make sure that the samples that you are submitting are appropriate for the category that you wish to edit. I know that may sound obvious, but it's not. We've seen countless applications where the sample URLs have absolutely nothing to do with the category that the person is asking to edit. It's an important part of the application

Hi Donald -

Those are the categories - I guess you'd called them "parent" categories. I'm quite sure that the sample sites I submitted were appropriate.

Oh well, I guess it's just one of those things - I've pretty much lost interest in DMOZ. Apparently my expertise does not fit, so I'm not going to beat my head against the wall about it.

Thanks to everyone who responded - much appreciated!

Ah... well, for the record, those categories are much too large for a new editor, which is presumably why you keep getting rejected so quickly. If you still wanted to edit, you should have a look at the application guidelines and choose a nice small corner of the directory to start with. But it seems like you're not interested anymore, which is your right too. (-: