Jim Hedger, Editor of StepForth News, one of the blogs I subscribe to, writes in an article on the trouble brewing at the Open Directory Project (ODP) - also known as DMOZ -because of corrupt DMOZ editors who accept payments to list sites.
The ODP is the largest human volunteer-built directory on the web, and one of the most coveted sites for webmasters to get a listing in. Getting listed here almost ensured a good ranking in Google at one point of time.
A blog mentioned in the article is written by a self-professed corrupt DMOZ editor called Ana Thema, who wrote a very interesting post on How To Bribe A DMOZ Editor.
Ana Thema suggests that as a submitter to DMOZ you must get wise to what’s going on or you will not get in and goes on to list three tips for a successful DMOZ submission. She also lists these details on how to make the actual payment.
Never ever correspond with a DMOZ editor and offer a bribe in writing. A decent DMOZ editor would never accept it. JUST GIVE US THE CASH. The first step in a successful DMOZ submission is sending cash through Paypal to the DMOZ editor. Then do the actual submission. For a successful submission be sure to submit using the same email address you used in your PayPal payment or the DMOZ editor will never know which website paid for entry.
In her first post on the blog she notes the reasons why she turned over to the dark side and vows to confess all her sins on the blog.
I was forced into this position by the liars and hypocrites above me who were corrupt. Now I am corrupt and find that I fit into the DMOZ culture better now than when I was honest.
I’m going to tell you everything I have done. I’m going to give you a blow by blow of every DMOZ inclusion I am paid to make. I will tell you how I shake people down, and punish those who refuse to pay me.
And how I must pay someone above me a cut of everything I take.
A comment on her blog led me to the NMOZ - seemingly a clone (one of many) of the DMOZ, except for the invitation to become an editor which asks you to “help build the most dishonest directory on the web” and has “no editors to speak of ” yet.
It seems to have been created by a former DMOZ editor, and the contact page has information on where and how to contact the executives of AOL-Time Warner.
Is there hope for DMOZ?
It was already common knowledge that many SEOs become directory editors so they can get their own sites, and those of their clients listed with ease.
A post on the Search Engine Watch forums also notes the arrogance with which some ODP editors deal with webmasters who submit their sites for listing.
It seems that at least some ODP volunteers have decided that they are Lords of their editor areas and in the Resource Zone forums. As Lords they are judge, jury, executioner and responsible to no one. They can speak to you in any manner they wish and if you raise your eyes towards them to disagree, no matter what your tone or what facts you try to bring to their attention, you are censored or perhaps even banned.
But, as Jim’s article notes,
The Open Directory Project is staffed by volunteers, all of whom are humans with real lives, real jobs and other responsibilities. While many DMOZ editors put up with a lot of abuse, almost all of them (with the possible exception of Ana Thema) take great pride in the size and scope of the Open Directory Project.
Danny Sullivan suggests some ways by which the ODP could dig themselves out of this unholy mess, but concludes that they could lead to more spam.
Now that the shit has hit the fan, it looks like an ODP listing will soon become as worthless as one from the many ODP clones on the web. 
At least Yahoo charges openly for a listing in the Yahoo Directory, whether it lists your site or not. Although $299 is highway robbery, it may ultimately give a Yahoo listing an edge over one from DMOZ.
