Rejected, but reasons are bizarre

Decided to do my part any apply to be an editor in a category without an editor that is poorly maintained. Choose a category with about 30 listings, plus two sub-categories with 20 listings between them. I certainly know as much about this category as anyone alive. My three example sites were completely unique to the category.

But I recieved this rejection:

"Thank you for your interest in becoming an Open Directory Project editor! Although we would like you to join us as a volunteer editor, you have chosen a category that is already well represented, or is broader than we typically assign to a new editor. We would encourage you to re-apply for a category that has fewer editors or is smaller in scope, in order to increase your chances of being accepted.
Feel free to reapply by submitting an application in another area. If you wish to re-apply, you must fill out another application."

Now clearly that reply makes no sense, since there are no editors at all in the entire subject area, and it is a pretty small category. I understand editors higher up can edit, but there are three listed for a huge, larger category with thousands of sites, so the reasons still make zero sense.

The editor name is: poker
The category: http://dmoz.org/Games/Gambling/Poker/

Now this is one of my two interests areas. The other area IS well-represented by editors, so this category is it for me. People here continually ask for volunteers, so I decide to do it where it plainly obviously needs a volunteer and then get back this bizarre email. I thought I might get rejected because I do know the category too intimitely which might seem like a conflict, but to be rejected in smallish categories that haven't been touched in months that need an editor, it's pretty weird. If I were to reapply I'd just send the exact same application, but this is pretty disheartening, to see a category intentionally ignored and not be able to do anything about it.

That category (including subcategories) has around 48 sites (the "recommended" maximum for new editors is around 30 sites - but that isn't a "fixed" rule), but it does a high level of unreviewed sites.

I am also aware that the Games/Gambling categories attract a lot of spam, does have stricter guidelines than the rest of the ODP (see the gambling guidelines) and attracts editors that may not be applying for the "correct reasons". Hence it is unlikely that a new "unproven" editor is likely to be accepted for that category.

Sorry. (oh, I take no part in the "approve new editors" scheme so all that isn't "advice", just my opinion/viewpoint)

I find it hard to believe that an "unproven" editor knowlegable in the field is less preferable than a large backlog and a neglected category. I'm perfectly willing to prove myself. The guidelines also say to apply where there are less than 100 sites, not 30. It doesn't seem though that even if I applied for the smallest subcategory with only fourteen sites (two of which are merely affiliate doorways for the cooled site) that I would be accepted despite the category being neglected. if there was no backlog and the categories were maintained then I could understand but given the opposite is true, again, it's just bizarre.

@steveb:

1) 100 sites is a recommendation, too. I dont think the guidelines do cover this one - maybe its in a linked newsletter. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

2) This normally includes the unreviewed sites, that are the ones submitted and waiting for review. Since you cant see this number as a non-editor you better start for a smaller category, assuming about 100% unreviewed ;-)

I find it hard to believe that an "unproven" editor knowlegable in the field is less preferable than a large backlog and a neglected category.

At first glance it does prove bizarre, yes. However when you factor in the amount of time it takes to clean up any mistakes a new editor makes it makes sense to restrict them to the smallest category in the beginning. Even if a newbie runs wild in a 30 site category, the damage is limited. The same principle applies to areas that are heavily abused in (i.e. Games/Gambling). It takes far too long to investigate and clean up after abusive editors, and unfortunately that area of the directory has seen it's share of them.

Well there is a 14 (listed) site subcategory which will take me maybe a day to catch up on, if I can get accepted for that one, and then I can devote myself to applying to the higher category... <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Even a 14-entry subcategory needs some time to work on it. Consider the following (only talking about my own experiences) :

1) Editing guideline-compliant isn't that easy, most editors (including myself) tend to make some basic mistakes at the beginning. I needed to rework every single entry when I first asked the community for a review of my works.

2) You say there are 14 links in the category - now. But I'm sure there are several other not yet listed links that would perfectly fit in. For myself I once reached a point when I thought there weren't any more for my category. It was very little work for some experienced editors to show me that I was totally wrong. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

The most important phrase in the rejection is "Although we would like you to join us as a volunteer editor.."

It means you are thought generally capable of doing the job but, as others have said, it's preferred not to start you off in a sensitive category. Please don't take it as criticism of your application, writing style or integrity.

I suggest that you begin in a small Regional category - your hometown maybe or one of its subcategories. There you can learn your craft and prove yourself. If you succeed in this, gaining further permissions can be rapid.

Jim <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

In the case of gambling categories, it's usually the number of unreviewed sites that can changes the decision of the meta reviewing the application. Even in a relatively small category like Poker, the number of unreviewed sites is quite large for a new editor. I suggest that you follow the advices given in the posts above and apply for a very small category and you should be fine. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

Looks like you've been accepted this time! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" /> Thanks for your perseverance and welcome to the ODP! <img src="/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" />

... which proves that what jimnoble said perfectly applies: the most important phrase in the rejection was "Although we would like you to join us as a volunteer editor..".

Following the advice given, trying to be objective, and taking similar rejection reasons like "half full" glasses instead of "half empty" ones, always helps.

Thanks for the suggestion.

One less 14 site category and 14 site queue beaten into submission. (It took me a half hour to figure out that it was a COINCIDENCE that there were 14 sites in the category AND 14 sites unreviewed. Duh.)