RUMOR: End of live of ODP ?

[MarketingLady]

There is a rumor in a German forum treating the coming end of ODP. As evidence, the poster cites

1. Bob Keating leaving the ODP - this is already publicly known
2. Autumn Looijen, Chief Engineer posted in the ODP internal Forum to quit the ODP end of Aug - this is a internum

What is really going on there ? Did somebody hear something about these facts and the future of ODP ?

Link to forum in German language: http://www.suchmaschinentricks.de/fo...=10939&forum=7

[awall19]

similar info has been posted in many locations.

[MarketingLady]

Thank you, awall19 ! Do you have some links treating the abounding rumors ? What is your opinion guys regarding this subject ?

[awall19]

I have seen it at a few spots. I could speculate but that is all it would be

[JayM]

These rumors are doing the rounds on the forums.
To be honest I wouldn't be shocked, nor bothered if they were true. DMOZ has been dying a long slow death for a while now.

Somebody put it out of its misery.

[stoner3221]

I don’t think there is much to the rumors but they certainly need revitalization and a sound business structure to survive.

[sem4u]

Heard it all before. It is still the largest directory out there and deserves more support.

[JayM]

Originally Posted by sem4u

Heard it all before. It is still the largest directory out there and deserves more support.

I think people would give more support to DMOZ if the editors were not so arrogant and rude in the support forum and more supportive about actually getting sites listed.

[sem4u]

That is true, but if more people actually read the forum posting guidelines then maybe there would be a better atmosphere over there.

I also haven't got a site in for ages, but I try not to complain.

[awall19]

most sites submitted to most free directories are garbage so with the value there is reason for delay. I have got over a half dozen sites listed in DMOZ (some of them one page sites and some of them in less than a week)... most of them quickly, but a few slower.
I think I have seen a bunch of exceptionally rude statements in the support forum, but obviously not all of the editors are bad.
when you get that big things get all mixed up though.

[John Scott]

DMOZ has too many concept problems. They are unable to fix their basic operation model, and it will eventually kill them.

[I, Brian]

If DMOZ had a basic fee, at least staff could be hired to deliver a customer service, and the project be self-supporting.

[growler]

Although the rumours in staff changes are fact, the conclusions drawn about the results may be specious and perhaps involve wishfull thinking from those unhappy with DMOZ.

The longest thread on the subject in another SEO forum, which claimed a number of other "facts" seems to have been deleted.

And although I believe there may be many advantages to having a paid DMOZ, it will not happen, since ODP has a founding principle which guarantees that would not be allowed.

I think having a reasonable fee, more like $25.00 than the typical $200-$300 would be affordable to many small businesses.

Anyone is free to start their own paid directory at any time. So why is there no successful paid directory?

[John Scott]

Originally Posted by growler

Anyone is free to start their own paid directory at any time. So why is there no successful paid directory?

Um, Yahoo. Business.com. Zeal, LookSmart, GoGuides, Skaffe.... ETC. Plenty of successful paid directories. Don't hear too many horror stories about them, either.

[sem4u]

You not going to add Bluefind to that list John?

[John Scott]

Originally Posted by sem4u

You not going to add Bluefind to that list John?

Too new.

[growler]

Then if they work, why does anybody want DMOZ to charge, why not use the paid directories that work and ignore DMOZ? I don't speak from experience, I never used a paid directory for anything - it just seems that I keep seeing these contradictory statements

1. DMOZ is dead [or dying I hope it dies soon]
2. I wish DMOZ would start charging and add sites faster [so why would you want to start paying them - it just prolongs the agony <G> ]

[John Scott]

Originally Posted by growler

Then if they work, why does anybody want DMOZ to charge, why not use the paid directories that work and ignore DMOZ? I don't speak from experience, I never used a paid directory for anything - it just seems that I keep seeing these contradictory statements

1. DMOZ is dead [or dying I hope it dies soon]
2. I wish DMOZ would start charging and add sites faster [so why would you want to start paying them - it just prolongs the agony <G> ]

I don't see anything contradictory about wanting all of the existing web directories to perform to the best of their potential.

[awall19]

cost money = not open
2 year wait = not open

since time is not something that can easily be priced I think many think the open concept is more in tune with making people wait vice making people pay.