Sick As A Dog

Well I failed to avoid the nasty virus being spread around my house. Damn kids. High fever, sore throat, nasty cough, and congestion reigned last night. This morning is an Ibuprofen and decongestant morning. I am just trying to make it to Saturday without collapsing at my desk.

I wanted to clarify something from yesterday, as my post may be a bit confusing. I have had mostly positive feedback personally, from the management and upper level editors from both directories I contribute too. I think most of the uncomfortable feelings are created through whispers (third party comments, he said-she said) things as well as some mis-understood sarcasm or ribbing on both sides. I wouldn’t classify anything I have dealt with as hostility, rather just an uncomfortable situation. Its perhaps even possible that the passers on of the whispers have their own agendas, and I take it all with a grain of salt.

The bottom line is, no one should make a mountain out of an ant hill. This isn’t something thats really an issue, unless someone is breaking the rules/guidelines somewhere and neither side wants that to happen and both actively strive to prevent it. I have been asked privately several times over the last week, if I am leaving the ODP. The answer is an absolute, NO. It is my first love and my primary focus. The BOTW is great though and worth a share of my free time. Its so refreshing sometimes to just be able to edit without worrying about other things. Thats not saying I would trade the other things for anything. I am so proud to do what I can for both projects and look forward to working jointly with them to make everyone’s experience good on both sides.

DMOZ = Good
BOTW = Good
BOTW + DMOZ = Best of both worlds, IMO.

My new motto for the week: Chin up and try to enjoy the day!

DMOZ, BOTW, and Beyond

Lately I feel like the spit-bucket boy, accidentally caught in the middle of the ring between to prize fighters. Its not a place thats very comfortable to be in, for sure. Most of the problems IMO are based on mis-conceptions and confusion between the two directories. Some of it is real, but a lot of it is imagined. Here I sit (along with several others) straddling the fence of both worlds and not necessarily feeling at home on either side anymore.

Some (not all) DMOZ editors have a problem with BOTW editors participating on both sides. They have some legitimate concerns, but concerns are not facts and I have seen nothing that justifies the concerns thus far. Contrary to popular belief, its not the highest levels that have the most heated opinions on the subject. Often times its below the Meta level and sometimes it Meta+. There is absolutely nothing wrong IMO with anyone, at any level of DMOZ wanting to contribute at BOTW so long as you are maintaining the ODP Guidelines with regards to actions and communications. This is something that has been stressed at BOTW the entire time, don’t conflict yourself with DMOZ or any other resource you are using to build that directory. As DMOZ editors we need to just let it go, its not threatening our existence and its not stealing our best editors away. In fact, our animosity in a lot of cases is driving the good ones away.

On the flip-side, not all fault lies within DMOZ. Many of us joining BOTW are doing so out of both curiosity and also because of diminished personal satisfaction from editing in DMOZ. Whether its frustration with the direction (or lack there of) of the project, hurt feelings for believing we have been taken for granted, or whatever. I have seen some references to DMOZ being evil or the true bad guys in this. Sometimes I feel like I am viewed as just being a fly on the wall and even though the staff and management have all been extremely sincere at making me feel welcomed, I sometimes feel like the third wheel. Someone who is not really welcome on the playground. I hold no ill will towards anyone on either side, I know that its human nature in a lot of cases like this and perhaps naively believe its not as it seems. I just wish we could all just drop it and move on. Those of us who want and are invited to play in both sandboxes, shouldn’t be getting grief from either side. Nor should we be pressing buttons and taking pot shots back and forth because of it either.

I think we can both co-exist and we should be able to do so and get along at the same time. I have stated this elsewhere, but if someone doesn’t feel I personally still belong on one side or the other by all means let me know and let the management know. If I can’t be trusted to do whats right and whats good, then I don’t deserve to be associated with either side. I hope that I have continued to prove that is not the case and that I won’t stand by idly and allow the integrity of either (any) project suffer because of my actions or inactions.

• I have contributed to DMOZ now for almost 4 years (next month will be my 4th birthday).
• I have over the last couple of years and to my knowledge still can, contribute to JoeAnt.
• I have contributed information and opinions to Resource-Zone and Digital Point (also opposite ends of the spectrum)
• I have contributed to various other forums related to DMOZ and sites.
• I have edited a few minor problems at Wikipedia (although, not enough to remember which ones or where)
• And now I am choosing to give a little time to BOTW.

All of these things are similar in topic and all of them give me a certain amount of personal satisfaction and enjoyment in their own ways. There is no reason to think less of anyone for choosing to participate in one or more of these or any other projects. If you don’t like one, thats fine its your choice and opinion. Feel free to keep it to yourself though, unless its really a concern supported with evidence (such as abuse) and then by all means scream it from the highest mountain. Then send me a message about it, so I can scream it as well. No one wants that and as far as I know, both (all) sides are working hard to combat and remove the results of such actions.

Please be kind and respectful of everyone.

Spinning Wheels

Fathers Day has came and went. I did get to spend the day in a lazy boy, but unfortunately it was rocking my baby (2) who is sick with a bad stomach flu. Spent most of the weekend, sleepless and holding a bucket or feverish little boy. Today I seem to only be ’spinning my wheels’, unable to accomplish much of anything positive to DMOZ or anywhere else for that matter. Just going to try and get through some real work and get home early to my son.

DMOZ - Its really just been one of those enlightening mornings again. I realized (again) just how insignificant I and my opinions are. Nothing new though, I am not upset about it (although it probably sounds like it ). I don’t do this for anyones appreciation or respect. I do it because I still believe it can be a great and useful resource, more importantly I do it because I enjoy it. I continue to love the project and its editors. That continues to drive me going forward and hopefully it doesn’t wane again.

BOTW - Not been able to do a whole lot at this point. I have gotten to play around with the buttons and make a few contributions. Its kind of refreshing to just be an editor again, and not have to worry about all the other issues for a while. I have been a pain in the backside to my friend RJ though. Lots of newbie questions from me. He has been taking it like a champ though, and hasn’t redirected me to anyone else…..yet. Just between real work, sick kids, etc I haven’t had a lot of time (as expected) to get into the swing of things. Looking forward to maybe dedicating a block of time this weekend though.