Some of those editors ...

[Real Estate Forum]

really suck: http://resource-zone.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32440

[VegasMack]

Very interesting read Mike and typical of what is going on in DMOZ these days.

When I was an Editall/Catmv I spent my time editing, and not in the various forums.

I really got a kick out of “They aren't, editors are just unpaid volunteers with other things in their life.” answering for bobrat (Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 4,230). What life? That is just post to that forum.

The phrase “unique content” is a catchall to not list your site. The simple truth is there are editors that own their own sites embedded in virtually every category throughout ODP. The editors that would view, edit and eventually approve your site are also in all likelihood your competition. Getting the picture here? A real flaw in the system.

They call it “humans do it better”. I call it corruption.

In essence they are seeking to control a multitude of different markets and the result of locking out competition is price fixing.

It is unfortunate that Google places so much emphasis on DMOZ inclusion for the Google SERPS.

After Microsoft’s multi million dollar encounter with Anti-Trust litigation, you would think that Google would be smart enough to distance itself now that they are publicly traded company from an organization that is surly destined for the courts.

(A word of warning: Before any editors remove any more of my sites for speaking my mind, I would like to remind them of and invoke my First Amendment Rights. The title “editor” is not a synonym for deity!).

~VegasMack

[Las Vegas Homes]

WOW, I think Mack just pulled a Wayne, my real estate partner is turning into a second me. I have to agree with him however and DMOZ is a waste of time and it wont be long till they end up in court. From my understanding the National Association of Realtors is looking to go after them from the use of the term Realtor within their descriptions for some of the real estate listings.

NAR is the last group they want to go against. I for one will look forward to them being put to bed. Most editors in dmoz are no better than anyone else but because of the so called preceived power they believe they have it is abused. I personally believe they should all get a life. Maybe when I have some free time I will sue them, just for the hell of it.

[Tomas]

I have seen the NAR thread on DMOZ forums. Interested what will happen.

I have applied for a greenbuster on some category that has submissions in queu for a long time already, and they didn't approve me because of little experience. Experience for GREENBUSTING! I think I know what is going on....

[EditorWatch]

VegasMack

And why would an Editall no longer be an editor?

[Real Estate Forum]

What gets me is that there are editors out there whose sites contain the same kind of content which has kept me from being included before. I had pages with affilliate links and not enough "unique content" and some of them are doing the same. If you are too stressed, don't take the job. Unique content is also a very vague term. If you have never seen the content before, it could still be ripped off from another site that never got submitted to DMOZ. "Your site will NEVER get in" was the arrogant response I used to get until an editor contacted me thru another forum and cleared some things up.

[Real Estate Forum]

I would like the DMOZ editors to start showing their own sites to lead by example

[VegasMack]

VegasMack

And why would an Editall no longer be an editor?Actually, Editall/Catmv, (mackm)

After a prolonged medical recovery (broken neck & fusion), I went to log in, and was locked out.

And yes, I did request a reinstatement.

And no, I did not receive an answer.

And no, I did not have my login revoked due to improper behavior.

Any yes, I was once accused by my detractors of “Cooling” one of my own sites.

And no, it was a not-for-profit site owned and operated by a University (no connection with me) and was proven.

And yes, I believe there are a few good Metas left.

Hope that answers your question. :)

~VegasMack

[VegasMack]

VegasMack

And why would an Editall no longer be an editor?EditorWatch,

And now, if you would be so kind as to answer my question please.

What did I say in the thread http://resource-zone.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25683&page=2&pp=15&highlight=vegas that could possibly be used as a legitimate reason for an editor to remove my site www.vegas4sale.net from the directory?

~VegasMack

[EditorWatch]

Your site was listed, then removed (but left to be reviewed again) as the agent name did not appear on the site. At that time it was in Agents

Probably explained in here - but I'm too lazy to read it ---- http://dmoz.org/guidelines/regional/realestate.html

Later on another editor looked again, and decided it has been misfiled and should be in Agencies and it awaits being reviewed there.

So not banned, not blacklisted, and the person who unreviewed it has never been seen at RZ. In fact it had been delisted long before that thread was started in RZ. (I didn't read that RZ thread, I avoid dealing with real estate)

[VegasMack]

Your site was listed, then removed (but left to be reviewed again) as the agent name did not appear on the site. At that time it was in Agents

Probably explained in here - but I'm too lazy to read it ---- http://dmoz.org/guidelines/regional/realestate.html

Later on another editor looked again, and decided it has been misfiled and should be in Agencies and it awaits being reviewed there.

So not banned, not blacklisted, and the person who unreviewed it has never been seen at RZ. In fact it had been delisted long before that thread was started in RZ. (I didn't read that RZ thread, I avoid dealing with real estate)Thank you for checking EditorWatch; however I believe your dates are off. The site was still listed a day or two before, and unlisted soon after the thread. This was observed by drilling down in the directory, not doing a search. Wayne noted the fact that it was listed prior to his initiating the thread to check on his personal sites status.

Yes I am familiar with http://dmoz.org/guidelines/regional/realestate.html and I was at ODP during the reorganization of the Real Estate categories and thier transfer from Business to Regional. At the time I objected strongly to one of the largest industries in the Nation being removed from Business, but I have a feeling you are already aware of that.

The site was, and still is within ODP Guidelines. It is the ONLY Las Vegas real estate site that I own and maintain that I submitted to ODP. All content is original.

The site was at the time a Team Site, All Pro Realtors Team, therefore no Agent would have been listed. It is now a Team site for Advanced VIP Team with Century 21, and no Agent is listed on it still.

Thank you again for the courtesy of checking into it and promptly responding in a professional manner.

~VegasMack

[Las Vegas Homes]

Your site was listed, then removed (but left to be reviewed again) as the agent name did not appear on the site. At that time it was in Agents

Probably explained in here - but I'm too lazy to read it ---- http://dmoz.org/guidelines/regional/realestate.html

Later on another editor looked again, and decided it has been misfiled and should be in Agencies and it awaits being reviewed there.

So not banned, not blacklisted, and the person who unreviewed it has never been seen at RZ. In fact it had been delisted long before that thread was started in RZ. (I didn't read that RZ thread, I avoid dealing with real estate)


Thought I would chime in a little. I can confirm that the site was listed prior to the thread that I started, is a matter of fact I believe I have a snapshot of it somewhere on my system. As Vegasmack stated, I was checking on my site and noticed that the site in question here had been removed when I stated that the person who submitted my site was an editall once for dmoz and I felt knew the guidelines for such a submit.

Editing of the real estate section in dmoz imo has been terrible. To many real estate agents or webmasters who manage real estate sites handling those sections.

I have personally had a few sites that have not been placed into dmoz. Some sites have been waiting to be listed for over 3 years now. I got tired of trying so I stop trying.

[VegasMack]

I would like the DMOZ editors to start showing their own sites to lead by exampleWhen I was an editor at ODP, I placed all sites I was affiliated with in a Bookmark named “My Possible Conflicts”.

EditorWatch if you are still out there you should still be able to pull them up in your CP.

These Bookmarks showed up in my public profile. Available for all to see.

Several other editors did likewise. It is a great way to curtail controversy and corruption while instilling confidence in the directory by the Internet community.

I think it is a good practice, and should be made mandatory IMHO.

It is still not an end all solution. I was contacted numerous times by editors that wanted me to “Cool” or tweak their site or nuke their competition. They would ask me so the edit would not have their fingerprints on it.

There will always be that problem as long as site owners or operators are allowed to be editors I’m afraid.

~VegasMack

[Real Estate Forum]

check this http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?p=99441#post99441

[VegasMack]

check this http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?p=99441#post99441As you can see, the thread http://resource-zone.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31571 was shut down rapidly.

One of my favorite excerpts was “If this matter is not resolved according to ODP's own guidelines, what are we to say when forums are filled with spammers making anti-ODP speeches?”

Now I have for a defended OPD for a couple of years until recently. Exactly how far does OPD have to decline before those on high allow the peasants to complain of the stench without being called “spammers”?

The only reason there is not more DMOZ dissension in the forums is fear of reprisal and the ongoing hope of hopes that their site will eventually appear.

The thread did not begin to cover the corruption and abuse IMHO. After all, “Gods” are not accountable to mortal man and have no need to follow self imposed rules.

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely!’

That is the problem with the OPD anonymity. No accountability. It is all to easy to dismiss sites as spam, or lack of unique content and go in search of the “perfect site” while their queues are full of stagnant unedited submissions after months of editor neglect.

One example might be a category near and dear to my heart, Las Vegas Real Estate (http://www.dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/United_States/Nevada/Localities/L/Las_Vegas/Business_and_Economy/Real_Estate/). There are 168 sites listed in the sub-cat Real Estate: Residential: Agents (http://www.dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/United_States/Nevada/Localities/L/Las_Vegas/Business_and_Economy/Real_Estate/Residential/Agents/). Only a total of 185 real estate sites if you include the 16 Agency sites.

According to the Real Estate Division in Nevada there are currently 16,290 ACTIVE Agents. Now do I believe all are full time? Of course not. Or that all Agents have a website and have submitted thier site to ODP for review? I don’t believe that either. But PLEASE don’t ask me to believe that only 185 have bothered trying to promote their businesses.

This problem exists all throughout DMOZ.

How can this not bring ODP under suspicion especially when so many editors are also website owners and so much is at stake?

~VegasMack

[Las Vegas Homes]

Preach on my brother preach on. You bring up great points. I personally have never thought of that only 185 sites yet we know that Las Vegas is one of the biggest markets in the country for real estate on the internet.

[Real Estate Forum]

To say that DMOZ was corrupt would be wrong, but saying that DMOZ is overlooking corruption is pretty accurate.

[Real Estate Forum]

I have seen the NAR thread on DMOZ forums. Interested what will happen.

I have applied for a greenbuster on some category that has submissions in queu for a long time already, and they didn't approve me because of little experience. Experience for GREENBUSTING! I think I know what is going on....
It's not what you know, but ... well ... we all know the story all too well