One or two submissions - Regional and/or activity? + Category Guidelines

Hello,

I wonder if anyone can help me out before I start submitting URLs to DMOZ.

My interest is in International Folk Dancing (UK). Whilst DMOZ has other folk styles listed (e.g. Morris, Scottish) under Dance it doesn't have any international. I can't find many sites in regional either. (of course I may be/probably am looking in the wrong place).

So I thought I could start submitting the sites of clubs I know but aren't listed. (note I did see that I should search the entire directory using the url to see if is listed somewhere other than where I expect it before submitting it).

They are local clubs usually offering classes so they obviously go in 'Region\....\locality' where locality = smallest logical geographical location and then leave it to the editor to move it locally.

The subcategories of Dance include Indian, Morris, English etc. Do I also submit them to a Dance\...\Folk category as well with the view of providing enough urls to create a new international sub-category at some future date? or should I leave it to the editor to realise that it could be in two places?

The sites vary so much in what they offer that it may be helpful if I get it right-ish first time. I see references to guidelines for what should be included in a category and have found the general ones (i.e. regional). How do I find the criteria for any particular subcategory?

Thank you

John

Locality is correct for Regional. If one exists, try for a Locality/Arts_and_Entertainment sub category.

Is http://dmoz.org/Arts/Performing_Arts/Dance/Folk_Dancing/International/ what you are looking for topically?

Yes, these type of sites may be suggested to both.

:tree:

>So I thought I could start submitting the sites of clubs I know but aren't listed.

Yes, do this, PLEASE! Use the same e-mail address on all of your submittals. This is the attitude we want in ODP editors, and a track record of good submittals can't hurt when you send in your editor application.

Thanks for the replies

Ok that is clear 1 in locality and 1 in the international section.

Some groups may also be listable under Kids and Teens (ie offer childrens classes) or an ethnicity category (ie polish community) as well.

Would it be better to submit them there as well or add a note to the submission and leave it to the editor?

thanks

Ethnicity, no. However if the site is (non-machine) translated into a second language, it may be suggested to the appropriate World category Polish --> World/Polska/best_category.

Disclaimer: I don't edit Kids and Teens
K&T is almost a seperate directory, and lists sites for Kids and Teens, not about them. If you feel the site(s) are age appropriate and meet that criteria, I'd think they could be suggested there. I'd read http://www.dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/desc.html and http://dmoz.org/guidelines/kguidelines/ to decide if the site(s) would be appropriate there.

Hopefully a K&T editor can give you a more precise answer, but probably would need a url or two to check. Each site is evaluated on it's own merits, so it's hard to give blanket answers.

:tree:

Think I'm getting the hang of it...(famous last words)

Thanks for the pointers.

Now that I'm looking more closely I can see its even more complex than I thought but not entirely illogical (!).

If I take a simplistic view (ie my expectations), I don't always get what I expected.

However a better understanding of the category structure has enabled me to (eventuality) find some related sites though not quite where I'd expect them. The logic for their home is quite clear though, when I think about it.

I shall start submitting...

Some days it's really worth posting here

I think this thread would provide good value if condensed and added to the FAQ.

well in that case you need Enlightenment

Another important issue is realising what the website contains.

Details of dance club meetings at an address gives us thel locality>sub-category submission.

Remove that and is what is left enugh for an activity category entry?

It is surprising how many club websites aren't exactly about the topic but about related things which are in different categories. One offers Bulgarian/roumanian classes but the bulk of the website is about Roumania and bulgaria rather than folk dancing. Another has a lot on costumes. Looking at a website objectively with a 'taxonomical' eye gives one a different perspective.( I've mastered the editorial technique of putting sites to one side whilst I hunt for the best category)

So the website may be moved to another category where the content may not really be unique enough and so be rejected. On the bright side it is possible that one page on the site may report in detail on an obscure aspect which turns out to be unique so that the dance club website ends up with an entry under something wildly different !

Of course the indefinable hurdle is that of 'unique content'. I have a wife and am building a club website and our opinions of useful content differ wildly. What is important to you is not necessarily anything other than a matter of indifference to anyone else.

Even if you find a category with 25 sites listed each covering an aspect a to y and your site covers the missing z in as much if not more detail, this doesn't guarentee an entry. Due to changing guidelines, directory structure, standards, etc. it may well be that none of those sites should have been there in the first place (or at least not now that you've pointed it out!)

One can console oneself with the regional entry almost guarenteed ... but the editor has several categories to cover, hasn't touched Arts>Sculpture>Earwax for 6 months, been promising to tidy up Recreation>Goats>Paragliding and has just recovered from various illness contracted though getting Health>Personal>Hypochondria up-to-date.

At the end of the day, the main value of submitting to DMOZ is achieved through objectively looking at the website to see if it meets criteria set by people who are indifferent to your opinions and comparing it to those sites that seem to have 'made it'.

In theory, there is one way to influence an editor to favour your website. If, when they pick up your site for review, it is clear, simple, totally easy to understand and reject or accept, they are more likely to do it then and there rather than groan, roll their eyes upwards and decide to mow the lawn instead.