Webber's application to become an editor

[jimnoble]

There's good advice about becoming an editor and answers to most of your questions at FAQ and General Advice About Becoming an Editor.

Can you put in a good word?

I don't know you. Your application will speak for you.

[Webber]

There's good advice about becoming an editor and answers to most of your questions at FAQ and General Advice About Becoming an Editor.

 

Thanks for the heads up.

[hutcheson]

I hate to say yes to something when I can't deliver or also have to let submissions wait that long.

 

What are you expecting to deliver? Finding a couple good sites a week, over the next year -- assuming there are no sites at all suggested? If you're willing to do that, you'll have delivered for the only people who matter (the other volunteer editors, and our users, the surfers).

 

And ... you don't have anything at all to do with letting suggestions wait. You can do nothing at all, and the suggestions may wait, or they may not. You can do all that any mortal could do, and some suggestions will still wait, and some still will be processed.

 

(And, frankly, whatever we all do, most site suggestions will wait FOREVER. And that is as it OUGHT to be. Because most site suggestions are worthless and harmful.)

 

An editor's activity has nothing to do with how long suggestions wait. An editor's activity has everything to do with finding, categorizing, and describing websites with unique content. All else is technique--possibly useful, but never necessary.

[Webber]

Allright then, I will apply in a few minutes, what is there to lose?

[Webber]

Application is in the mail, confirmation mail has been returned

 

Now let's wait and see ...

 

p.s. also submitted an application status post in the forum.

[Webber]

Application status

 

USER: phdj

 

DMOZ CATEGORY: http://www.dmoz.org/World/Nederlands/Webwinkelen/Vervoermiddelen/Vaartuigen/

 

DATE APPLIED: 4/13/2009

 

Thanks in advance!

[photofox]

As per the forum guidelines we ask that you wait at least 14 days before requesting a status check on your application.

 

Thanks.

[Webber]

Roger that, I posted due to being a bit overexcited, sorry 'bout that

[Webber]

An update

 

A sad day ... my application has been rejected

 

Is there any editor/admin/moderator who can comment on my rejection in more detail or find out? I got a standard rejection mail with multiple possibilities. Or should I just leave it at that ...

[Webber]

Please close the thread my helping hands got rejected

[gloria]

We don't comment on individual applications. And many current editors were not accepted on their first attempt.

 

If you reapply, you do need to go through the list of reasons, look at each reason individually, and figure out which of the common reasons apply to your application.

 

You might want to look at the Guidelines and see if your site selections, title and descriptions attempt to follow the Guidelines. We don't expect perfection from an application, but it should show a good attempt to describe the site without marketing hype.

 

Were all of the suggested sites appropriate for the category? An amazing number of applications suggest shopping sites for non-shopping categories and visa-versa.

 

Did you list all sites which you own, promote, are affiliated? Even past ones and one which don't belong in the category? Sometimes people don't ones which don't belong in the category, but they are important too. Honesty is extremely important.

 

That should get you started on the reasons, just keep on going the same way.

[Webber]

Thanks for your suggestions Gloria.

 

I did examine the possible reasons closely; suitabe sites were added imo, no hype texts and no typos; 100% sure.

 

The category I was applying for is a niche so that shouldn't cause any problems as well.

 

No lies either.

 

Kind of clueless ...

 

But you suggest I should try to apply again? I was under the impression the rejection message stated otherwise.

[cromlec]

I encourage you try it once more. Read guidelines because You and ODP deserve it.

[Webber]

OK, I will start reading then

[gloria]

Unless the message said something like "Do not apply again," you can reapply. But you do need to figure out which of the reasons apply to you.

[Webber]

Unless the message said something like "Do not apply again," you can reapply. But you do need to figure out which of the reasons apply to you.

 

Well it was not literly, no remarks either, so a bit unclear ...

 

One question though: when you have created one of the suggested sites i.e. have busines connections with it, is it still possible to apply? I could imagine this can be considered as biased?

Heck, I'm even confused what site to submit at all reading the possible rejection reasons regarding this.

[pvgool]

Well it was not literly, no remarks either, so a bit unclear ...

There are always remarks. A list of common mistakes is included (one or more of them apply to you) and in some cases a personal response is included.

 

One question though: when you have created one of the suggested sites i.e. have busines connections with it, is it still possible to apply? I could imagine this can be considered as biased?

There is no problem in you having connections with one of the 3 sites you use as a sample.

As long as you handle your site the same as any other site it is OK.

Being biased ofcourse is not OK.

[Webber]

Thanks for the encouragement. You did not handle my application by accident?

[pvgool]

I don't think so. I did not process any applications today.

[Webber]

Then it probably was one of your collegues, I believe you do manage one of the categories on top of the subcategory I was applying for, not 100% sure though.

[jimnoble]

There are about 100 of us who can process editor applications. It's not safe to assume that it was one of the few of us who post here.

[Webber]

There are about 100 of us who can process editor applications. It's not safe to assume that it was one of the few of us who post here.

 

I understand.

 

Meanwhile my new application has been posted.

[makrhod]

I considered that but find it kind of hard to -how you say- be unbiased. Also DMOZ clearly says that one should not become an editor to get listed

A common misinterpretation of what is clearly spelled out in the public guidelines:

Everyone is welcome to apply to join the ODP, including those who own, maintain and promote websites. Editors may have business or other types of affiliations relevant to the categories they edit, and may add their own sites or sites with which they are affiliated.However, it is contrary to the goals and policy of the ODP for editors to add only their own or affiliate sites, to engage in self cooling or other forms of self promotion, or to exclude or disadvantage a site that belongs to a competitor for the purpose of harming the competitor. Inappropriate actions may include excluding competitors' sites from the directory simply because they belong to a competitor or intentionally editing their titles or descriptions in a manner that distorts their content or diminishes the chance that users will find or view those sites.

In summary, yes, it is perfectly OK to have an interest in listing your own site, but no, it is not OK if that is your only interest.

 

can you apply for specific categories and if so how many months will it take to be accepted?

Yes, the application has to be for a specific category, and most applications are reviewed within days to weeks. Please complete the form honestly and carefully, as failing to do so is likely to lead to rejection. Even if that happens, feedback is sent to help you be more successful another time, because we want people to join.

I hate to say yes to something when I can't deliver or also have to let submissions wait that long.

Two more misconceptions I'm afraid. All editors are volunteers, and any worthwhile contribution is appreciated. Accounts close automatically if no edits are made in 120 days, but apart from that there are no requirements for activity, and those editors can apply for reinstatement anyway.

As far as "submissions" go, there is no need for any editor to even use them as a resource when building a category, and in fact editors often have much more success finding sites on their own. We welcome site suggestions from non-editors, but there is no requirement at all for any editor to review them.

[Webber]

Thanks for your efforts to shed more light on these subjects.

[Webber]

I think I'll give up ... this is getting crazy and even worse than that

 

Can someone please shoot me ... application rejected again but now with an even more confusing remark:

 

"With an application to become editor there are two things of importance. Complete and honest. We believe that your application doesn't meet both criteria."

 

This is getting crazy and even insulting, especially when no specifics are being mentioned. Dissapointing to say the least, as if I'm trying to be incomplete or dishonest on purpose, heck I'm trying to help out as volunteer with DMOZ, I'm not applying to be part of the secret service or to join the Olympics Team ... or am I?

 

I can imagine not everybody fits the bill of becoming an editor but based on grounds like these communicated to me? Which specific assumptions are behind this?

 

Imagine how you would feel when being accused of being incomplete and dishonest in an application without specifically being told why or how ... yeah right, read the guidelines/conflict.html as if that sheds any light on my incompleteness and dishonesty as presumed by somebody I don't know and who doesn't know me ...

 

I believe there is something fundamentally wrong with the way editors are screened, especially when I learn that some editors needed to apply 5 times before being accepted; did you ever manage to get a job in real life where you could apply multiple times and had to overcome barriers of being accused without knowing why? Don't think so.

 

You either get hired or not the first time around and when there are short comings they tell you specifically ... and when they think you're dishonest they don't hire you at all, end of story ...

... but appearantly I can still try to apply again, no remark about that, can somebody tell me what kind of weird application game is being played here and what subjective assumptions play part in this?!

 

When your grammar is bad and your writing is poor that's clear but this ... this is completely subjective and unclear imo.

 

people, let's get real here ...

 

I think I'll stop this quest to become an editor, appearantly there are lots more complete and honest editors to choose from ... hopefully they also have the ability to edit the DMOZ, I appearantly do possess the most important skill, the other things not.

 

Talk about a bummer!

 

p.s.

In all completeness and honesty: I did try to be as complete, relevant and honest in my application; this is how I am and work on a professional basis so ...