Different Category

[hutcheson]

What you call "quick favors for webmasters" we call "abuse of editing privileges, treachery to the editor community, and direct attacks on the integrity of the directory."

 

The Directory is for surfers. If a website is really in the wrong category, moving it is a favor for surfers--but there are many other favors that could be done for surfers.

 

Every suggestion will be considered...based on its value for surfers, and only on its value for surfers.

 

That's why favoritism to webmasters is taken so seriously, and treated so negatively.

[compreso]

Okay that's fine. Then the surfers should have the correct information. If our site is not in the right category and do not have the correct description then the surfers are being shorted. Sorry for being so blunt but this has been part of my job to get this accomplished and for every week that goes by and this is not accomplished, doesn't make me shine. Management can't understand why it's so hard to get this accomplished.

[motsa]

I understand, but pardon me for also being blunt -- it's really up to you to make your bosses understand that your listing in the ODP is not in your or their control. All you can do is submit the update request. Everything happens at an unknown and unknowable speed and timeline. And even then it's possible that the editors reviewing your request, whenever that is, may not agree with your suggestion.

[jimnoble]

..and for every week that goes by and this is not accomplished, doesn't make me shine. Management can't understand why it's so hard to get this accomplished.

 

We have no mechanism or desire for outsiders to 'get something accomplished' here - and certainly not in any defined time scale. I'd have thought you'd already have heard that message.

 

If your career is hanging on the actions or inactions of a bunch of largely anonymous volunteers, it might be time to seek a new one. Herding cats maybe ?

[compreso]

Ok, can you just answer me one more question? How does dmoz officially work in the internet world? Does google, yahoo or any other search engines take their information from dmoz? If so, how does being in a different with an inaccurate description affect us?

[hutcheson]

Blunt is always good, no need to apologize. Obtuse is always bad, no way to apologize.

 

DMOZ works however users want it to work. That's what the "Open" means: anyone is free to create new uses for it.

 

The search engines place whatever value/weight on the ODP they wish; and can change that weight whenever they wish (and apparently they have changed over the years!) Google Directory obviously comes directly (if not immediately) from the Open Directory.

 

The editors don't pay much attention to this: our attitude is the exact opposite of the SEO professional: "build character, and let reputation follow as it will." How, and how closely, reputation follows character, would not be major concerns even if they were knowable, which they usually aren't.

 

Most search engines that use ODP descriptions honor the NOODP meta-tag (Google for this!), so you're in control of that aspect of ODP use.

[motsa]

Google does use our data for various things. So do some other sites. If you want to know how your ODP listing affects you in those, you'd have to either ask them or ask at a webmaster or promotion forum as we don't deal with SEO issues or anything other than the ODP here.

[firestorm]

Ok, can you just answer me one more question? How does dmoz officially work in the internet world? Does google, yahoo or any other search engines take their information from dmoz? If so, how does being in a different with an inaccurate description affect us?

 

 

If any other search engines are using information provided by dmoz.org, those search engines are using the information as-is in most cases. They are most likely using our information because they feel our efforts are a great idea and they support the project. We are not a search engine though so if you have more specific questions to ask about how a search engine uses our data, you would be better off asking that specific search engine.

 

The main purpose of this directory is to provide useful information to it's viewers and to make surfing the web easier. The directory is run by volunteers so it cannot gaurantee that new submissions and update requests are taken care of in a certain time frame. You knew this when suggesting the site and you knew this when making an update request. The reviewing editor uses his or her own judgement when reviewing sites and tries to make the best decision at the time. Seeing that the directory is edited by humans and humans do make mistakes from time to time then yes, it could be possible your site is in the wrong area.

 

Since you were fortunate enough to notice this, you have kindly submitted an update request. Now it will be up to the reviewing editor to see if your update request makes sense or not. You have done all that you could. You have submitted your update request and that is all that can be done up to this point. The rest of the process is left in the hands of the reviewing editors and we thank you for taking the time to suggest the site to begin with.

[hutcheson]

They are most likely using our information because they feel our efforts are a great idea and they support the project.

 

That is well said, and worth repeating with emphasis.

 

It's just perverse to argue that the ODP should change precisely BECAUSE it is influential.