The attitude of DMOZ

[Real Estate Forum]

Do you guys believe the way that DMOZ editors are conducting themselves in is justified?

http://resource-zone.com/forum

[Real Estate Forum]

I have been banned from the DMOZ forum because of this
http://resource-zone.com/forum/showthread.php?p=159020#post159020
I also want to drop this subject.

[jimj]

I have never even tried to get listed in DMOZ. Does it really make that big of a difference in the serps? With all the controversy and rumors surrounding it, I would think that it will end up making Google place less emphasis on it. Google is selling stock, who wants to buy stock associated with corruption?

[jimj]

Who even uses dmoz except people that are REALLY into the internet? I mean really, most of my clients can't even tell me what search engine they found me on. 90% of my clients are barely computer literate but know how to use that "search thingy".

I know nothing about DMOZ, but I know a whole lot about business and the reputation that is starting about them is not going to put them at the top!

[Real Estate Forum]

Even though DMOZ is not being used a lot itself, it's results appear in the Google directory which does impact rankings depending on how you are listed.

[jimj]

If you have enough backlinks you can still overpwer someone with a DMOZ listing can't you?

[Real Estate Forum]

Absolutely!

[Real Estate Forum]

But the DMOZ lising will boost you and that is what gives DMOZ and it's editors a lot of power.

[jimj]

Hell with'em. I am banning them from using my sites in there directory! I absolutley hate clicky groups like that. Whatch'em fall. You can't run a business like that. The word will get out eventually.

[jimj]

I am going to just try and keep about a 10,000 link jump on my competition so that if they get a DMOZ listing I will still out rank them!

[Real Estate Forum]

I agree that they are falling. Especially since the motive for listing a site no longer has to do anything with the content or quality.

[Real Estate Forum]

For anyone who does get offended by this thread, please exit now.

However, I have just been informed by an editor friend that this post http://resource-zone.com/forum/showthread.php?p=159020#post159020 not only got me banned from their forum, but also caused my domain name to be red flagged, meaning that I won't be listed in DMOZ even if an editor happens to deem it qualified for a listing.

You haven't heard the end of this yet ... this is a serious matter!

[jimj]

I just checked the directory for my area and sure enough, a few of the sites in there are related to companies who have a reputation for being in with the right crowds around here...........funny that they have a listing there too :p

[Real Estate Forum]

According to them the majority of those listings comes from local editors handpicking them and not submitting http://resource-zone.com/forum/showthread.php?p=158778#post158778

[Las Vegas Homes]

They will have plenty to deal with. From my understanding from the lead attorney over trademark violations with the National Association of Realtors, they are pursueing legal action against dmoz/ODP for misuse of the word Realtor.

Look at it this way, NAR is a lot more powerful than google,ODP or anyone else could imagine. If NAR is sucessful with this action, google will be forced to discount all those listings dmoz has for real estate listings. So the dmoz directory isnt going to be worth much after NAR is done. Plus lets not forget all the extra work that will be forced onto the editors and I believe at that point most of them will quit because then they will have to work.

[Real Estate Forum]

I am right and they are wrong ... please prove me differently so I can get some rest ;)
http://www.ihelpyouservices.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16137&perpage=20&pagenumber=2

[CTABUK]

Well I give you guys 10 out of 10 for your views. In order to understand DMOZ you have to realise that DMOZ gets more submissions per day than any other Directory - It is not an SE, the biggest draw back is you can put absolute crap on your pages and still get listed by DMOZ. If the editor does not really know your subject then you could sneak in.

Read this, please, yes it's massive but it may help you understand the beast a little better
http://resource-zone.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12651

[VegasMack]

While the overwhelming tone of the DMOZ Editors is condescending, I hate painting in group with a broad brush. For that reason I did not vote. If you would re-word it to “some” or “many” I would be happy to cast my vote.

There are still plenty of editors that are committed, hard working and civil.

Sorry Mike, I did read that you did not want to discuss the thread, but it is worthy of discussion inasmuch as it affects all of our members. After review of the thread, I just found more ODP “rope a dope”. No answers. Just an ongoing attempt to justify the status quo.

I was genuinely offended by the editors insinuating that all real estate sites are “Mirrors” or spam. It was clear that the editors posting to that thread were not supporters or friendly to an major industry that affects the GNP in the way real estate does.

It is a shame that a segment of our economy that is as important as real estate is thought of so poorly by the DMOZ editors. I haven’t seen porn or *** related sites draw as much discord in DMOZ.

By way of example, there are 4,530 sites listed for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual (http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Gay,_Lesbian,_and_Bisexual/) in DMOZ, and something tells me there is not a year or two wait to be listed or queues overflowing with stagnate submissions. Please understand, I have no problem with this category and only use it as an example to show how real estate is treated compared to other topics in DMOZ.

When OPD transferred “Real Estate” from Business to Regional, I was one of the most vocal editors. Prior to the transfer, these problems did not exist.

Posted to RZ by motsa: “Written by someone who doesn't know what some of those "queues" look like. In many cases, it's more efficient to go out and find sites on your own than to wade through the (mostly) junk that has been suggested to find the few relevent listings.”You are right Glinda, he doesn’t. He quoted me and I do. And the rest of your post is bullshit AND offensive!

As for the post about 185 real estate sites are enough. When you seek to control any market you enable price fixing. Non-inclusion of competitive sites is a form of control. Are you sure you want to go there ODP?

Or should I say AOL are you going to let them take you there?

~VegasMack

[Real Estate Forum]

What gets me is that they are everywhere. The only forum they do not have a lot of power is http://forums.digitalpoint.com which is my favorite forum (except this one :D )

http://www.ihelpyouservices.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=16137&perpage=20&pagenumber=2

Here you see them all come in. They PM the moderators telling them what to say to me and instigating. They call names and incinuate that me, Mack and Wayne are the same person. There is no limit to how low they will go.

They get away with it because the moderators there are DMOZ editors which seems to benefit the owner of the forum somehow ... not biased at all, right?

[Real Estate Forum]

By the way, if anyone here is pro dmoz as is, feel free to post. I may argue but will not abuse my power to belittle or anything else.

[jimj]

Mike -

I have yet to hear anyone that had something good to say about dmoz. Everyone I have come into contact with seems to have the same thoughts. I know nothing of them, but I will be saving my time trying to get a listing. I like to fight the fight that I know I will win! In the amount of time it and hassle it sounds like you have to dedicate into getting this listing, you could have traded links with 100 or so different sites out there to defeat your competitions dmoz listing. I really doubt that you are insluting anyone. You are simply tellin it like it is, and sometimes people have a hard time excepting reality. They ought to get over it.

[Real Estate Forum]

Thank you Jim and you're right. After I was banned on resource zone I was adviced to suck up and crawl back and then it hit me: why?

I have been doing well for myself without ever being in there. I have been moving and not pouting. While others get handouts and kick backs, I have been working hard. Is it fair? NO, but the world isn't supposed to be ;)

Anyways, I am not trying to instigate but even the leaders of DMOZ are not happy now.

I hope the game is coming to an end soon. Until then I will at least be free to speak my mind here and there.

If anyone disagrees, feel free to .. I am not resource zone, I may argue you but not slander, lie and ban you for it...no way. I've been thru the fire .. bring it on :D

Anyways, the only ones who I heard say good things about DMOZ do so because they have something at stake, the ones I have known and trust will tell me honest enough they are just sucking up and do not mean it. That is what is so sad and at one point DMOZ provided a good service but now that they have gone downhill, I believe I need to go on speking my mind.

Prove me wrong if you like :)


Mike

[Real Estate Forum]

They will have plenty to deal with. From my understanding from the lead attorney over trademark violations with the National Association of Realtors, they are pursueing legal action against dmoz/ODP for misuse of the word Realtor.

Look at it this way, NAR is a lot more powerful than google,ODP or anyone else could imagine. If NAR is sucessful with this action, google will be forced to discount all those listings dmoz has for real estate listings. So the dmoz directory isnt going to be worth much after NAR is done. Plus lets not forget all the extra work that will be forced onto the editors and I believe at that point most of them will quit because then they will have to work.
Class action? Count me in :D

[jimj]

It's not worth kissin their a## to get the listing. I'd rather work three times harder, than have to rely on someone elses power games. That's just me though. I have a reputation for doing things the hard way because I am too damn stuborn to bow down to someone that isn't playin right.

It'll fall apart for them. The idea is great, but who in the world actually thought "volunteers" would be able to keep something like this headed down the right road.

[jimj]

If the NAR is after them, they got trouble comin their way. Those guys have nothing to do but fight over anything and everything and they rarely lose. I heard the NAR actually has people that comb the Internet looking for people who forget to use the ® sign after the term REALTOR®

[jimj]

Can someone tell me how I make the "trademark sign" in a post? I know the code is "®" but it doesn't work in the post? :confused:

[Real Estate Forum]

Wayne or Mack could you answer this? I wanna know as well. I am tired of typing Real estate people, real estate agents, real estate brokers ..

[VegasMack]

Can someone tell me how I make the "trademark sign" in a post? I know the code is "®" but it doesn't work in the post? :confused:Type your post in MS Word. Place your cursor where you want the trademark. Then: Insert> Symbol

That’s it. :)

~VegasMack

[VegasMack]

Class action? Count me in :DCould happen, but my money is on Anti-Trust first given recent litigation.

Microsoft comes to mind. And if I am not mistaken, Netscape and AOL were the catalyst (are you listening Bill?) ;)

~VegasMack

[VegasMack]

They call names and incinuate that me, Mack and Wayne are the same person. There is no limit to how low they will go.Oooouch!!! That is low.

I’m much better looking that you or Wayne. :rolleyes:

But seriously, it’s BS and they know it. They read the IP addresses when we post just as we can, but if anyone from ODP wants to PM me I will gladly give them all 3 phone numbers for a conference call.

Were did they post that Mike?

~VegasMack

[Real Estate Forum]

It is right here http://www.ihelpyouservices.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=16137&perpage=20&pagenumber=2 but the thread is closed :rolleyes:
And I have been banned :D
I wrote about it here http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=8327&page=6&pp=10
However I have privately apologized to bernard (http://forums.digitalpoint.com/member.php?userid=434) who is a moderator there as well. But he doesn't seem to be bought and paid for like so many. I have also asked him to pass it on to Doug who runs the forum even though I believe that having 2 DMOZ editors moderate his DMOZ section is a bad move and prevents the overall opinions of webmasters from being voiced in a free manner.

No matter what your opinion is, voice it here.

I would also like someone to give me the right phone number to the right person at AOL Time Warner who owns and operates DMOZ. They need to know what is really going on.

I want to list it here http://www.realestateforum.com/dmoz.html


Mike

[Jade456]

Okay, here is my two cents. I think part of the problem is that a lot of people are poking their nose into other people's business. There are a lot of ignorant, rude, small minded people out there with a pc and internet connection. Naturally, they feel that they should be listened to and their advice sought after--- Reading through the different threads posted its clear that some of those type of people were involved. As to how they could possibly confuse three of the members here as the same person, just reinforces my point. Looking at the semantics involved, each person has a distinctly different writings style, not to mention the type of verbiage used. I think there was a valid point about DMOZ not being as important as it used to be, frankly I think there are better ways to spend your time. As for "sucking up" to the editors, that is ridiculous. If that is what they require, then they need to get a real life. I forget who said it first, but power corrupts. Perhaps its a good thing then that the DMOZ is not as important in rankings as it was. Especially if its going to be about who you know, not what you are bringing to the internet. Since it is a free directory, those that "own" the directory are free to make up the rules. Again, this is just my opinion, I'm not pointing fingers or taking sides (sounds like I'm running for office :))

[Real Estate Forum]

I don't know what to believe anymore. I am starting to wonder if the ODP with all their problems are even worth bothering with

[VegasMack]

Again, this is just my opinion, I'm not pointing fingers or taking sides (sounds like I'm running for office :))You run, and I’ll vote for you.

You make several good points, and thank you for pointing out the differences between the 3 of us. It is very obvious and the attempt to dilute the message by claming we are all one in the same was beneath the editor to say the least.

And yes, it is a “free directory” just as IE was a “free browser” through Microsoft. The rest is as they say “history”. ;)

~VegasMack

[Jade456]

There are a lot of ignorant, rude, small minded people out there with a pc and internet connection. Naturally, they feel that they should be listened to and their advice sought after---

I think the above sums it up.

[Real Estate Forum]

DMOZ owes me nothing, absolutely nothing. But everyone owes everyone common courtesy .. no matter what!

[EditorWatch]

It looks like Resource Zone does not believe you are all the same person since the folks there are still letting 2/3 rds of you post - LOL.

But that guy seemed to have a point - it seems that you kept posting messages together in the same thread. That was very co-ordinated.

[Real Estate Forum]

Yeh man, they banned me and the other 2 are still there. Whassup with that? :confused: :eek: :cool:

[Real Estate Forum]

By the way, I had a nice phone conversation with Doug at ihelpyouservices.
He is a cool guy. He is not a part of the problem but it will take more of us to get the solutions.

We need to stand up for our believes. I have decided to be more neutral from now on. i want to hear both sides.
There are assholes in every community and one of them at RZ can kiss my *** for good :)

The rest ... there is a lot of miscommunicatiton. I am finally getting to know some of them on a more personal level. Funny how out of so much bad can come some good.

Am I selling out? NO

But yelling and blaming and hating gets us nowhere.

I want to hear what all of you think.

Once again, work is being done at the ODP. Give us some suggestions and I will pass them on.


Mike

[Las Vegas Homes]

It looks like Resource Zone does not believe you are all the same person since the folks there are still letting 2/3 rds of you post - LOL.

But that guy seemed to have a point - it seems that you kept posting messages together in the same thread. That was very co-ordinated.

This is because we all have the same concerns and we all are very active on the forums not just RZ and we know eachother from the forums. As you can see I am a super mod here because Mike ask myself and Vegasmack to assist him with the forum because of our knowledge of the internet and the real estate industry.

This is not to complex. This is also not a scheme to bash the RZ, it is a mere attempt to try and relay or vent our concerns about dmoz in hopes that maybe someone will listen. As I stated on RZ from another post I read on a another forum. It does no good or it isnt going to change things by complaining to the editors on RZ. Some care but most dont. The only way we as an internet community is going to make a difference is by voicing our concerns to AOL. Which I can tell you we have put a drive together to accomplish just that.

[Las Vegas Homes]

There's no meeting of the minds here, because there are no common interest.

You care about the search engine, only: the directory is only another tool to use against it. We don't care about the search engine; the directory is what we build.

We are concerned about accurate meta-data: accurate attribution allowing surfers to evaluate the reliability of verbiage. We see this as the surfer's most important protection against pseudonymous fraud and spam. You are concerned that accurate meta-data will cause people to deprecate your verbiage -- that concern completely outweighs the possible benefit of an ODP listing.

You see the value of your work only as it brings profit to you--its information content is accidental or ancilliary at best. We consider the information content only: nothing else matters.

That's OK. You build your sites to suit yourself, not the ODP, and the ODP will list sites built for whatever purpose that also fit its criteria. But, having flatly refused to consider the changes that would make any accurate information on your site more valuable, you can hardly blame us for thinking no more of its value than you do.


It seems our beloved thread on RZ has been locked and closed..lol. This was a quote from our beloved Mod on RZ as the last post in this thread. My question would be if the editors only care about ODP and the quality of sites listed in their directory and not the search engines then why do they allow their editors to list their sites. Doesnt that suggest that they to only care about the advantages it offers them within the search engines.

[Jade456]

DMOZ owes me nothing, absolutely nothing. But everyone owes everyone common courtesy .. no matter what!

I agree Mike. The world would be a lot nicer if common courtsey was the rule, not the exception. What I find laughable is when a true comment draws the most ire. Especially when you point out someone is doing something very sneaky and low. It then turns you into the bad guy. Why try to cheat when you can get there legit? :confused:

[Real Estate Forum]

Good communication is always the key and that's where they're lacking :)

[VegasMack]

The old saying "Sunlight is the best disinfectant" comes to mind on the situation at DMOZ.

~VegasMack

[Real Estate Forum]

Doug from IHY is a cool guy, I am happy I called him, I have also been talking to his DMOZ editor mods. We are all getting along and even though there are differences of opinions, I believe there are good and bad in every community and once again: the most important thing is the web surfers, they are the ones who want good results, we are all in the business of providing them and of course, we all want our own sites to do well :D

[VegasMack]

I’m glad you got it worked out. I did register a complaint about that one post suggesting that we were all one guy, and asked that it be removed or edited.

~VegasMack

[Real Estate Forum]

Now it's moving to my blog http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10901940&postID=110866363205578285
Don't get in it, guys, seriously. I am done instigating, just sharing. I will keep this thing up there in hope that it may do some good for someone.


Mike

[Real Estate Forum]

and here is a guy bragging about being a DMOZ editor and getting done whatever he wants to http://www.vbwebmaster.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2084&posted=1#post2084

[VegasMack]

and here is a guy bragging about being a DMOZ editor and getting done whatever he wants to http://www.vbwebmaster.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2084&posted=1#post2084Another sad day for DMOZ.

~VegasMack

[Real Estate Forum]

people are being lied to, deceived and talked to as if they were just stupid :
http://www.national-real-estate-directory.com/real-estate-forum/showthread.php?t=213