Hey, Dmoz, DELETE MY SITE!!!!!!

Okay, so you're in the minority if you have a site listed in Dmoz and want it removed. You're also wondering how to get it removed, right? I'm sure you've sent in one or more update requests asking for removal or e-mailed one or more editors asking them to remove it and have either been completely ignored or received a response to the effect of No, your site will not be removed. So, how do you get your site removed from Dmoz?

Okay, from different editors you'll hear different things. Some will tell you that Dmoz doesn't remove sites upon requests, while other editors will remove sites when asked. Well, it all comes down to that thing called Editor Discretion. Unfortunately, I've gotten more than my fair share to remove sites. Most I ignore because they lack one very important ingredient: A Very Good Reason. That's right. If you have a very compelling reason for your site to be removed from Dmoz then I don't have a problem with using my editor discretion and removing it. But, you can't send an update request or send me an e-mail saying only "please remove my site from Dmoz," because chances are I'm not.

Firstly, that's not a compelling reason! Secondly, how do I know it's your site? That's something you'll have to convince me of. And, thirdly, depending on the category your site is listed in you might have a lot of convincing to do before someone will just delete your site, or shall I say that if I edited in some parts of the directory I would no honor requests from people who want a site removed.

Now, if you are listed in a non-competitive part of the directory, then you have a shot at getting your site removed. Firstly, when you send the editor an e-mail or use the Update Listing feature then be sure that you give very specific reasons for wanting your site removed from the directory; even if being specific means being long-winded in your request. From that point it is up to the editor's discretion on whether or not to remove your site based on your reasons.

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten many requests that have convinced me to removed their site. Only saying things like "Remove my site because I don't want it in the directory anymore" isn't convincing. And, being especially nasty about it doesn't help your cause because that means the editor will probably ignore it, because most editors don't want anything to do with angry responses. To ask for your site to be removed start with something along the lines of "Please remove my site because...." and give a very good reason for why you want it removed. I don't think most editors will remove it regardless, but it's worth a try; an editor with a sympathetic ear might end up reviewing your removal request. However you decide to phrase your removal request just make sure to be nice about it, because being mean will most likely get it ignored.

For example, I reviewed a request where someone wrote "Remove my site! I'm the owner of it and I don't want it listed anymore..." This was probably his second or third removal request but the other requests had been deleted without any action taken. Even after I got the request of him demanding to be removed, because that's what he wanted and, by golly, it's his site and what he wants goes, I ended up deleting it mainly because of his tone. Finally, he sends in another update request asking to be removed and finally gives a reason why. Which, in my opinion was quite compelling. But, instead of removing it, I listed it in a similar category. I guess if the guy does a search for back-links to his site he'll see that it's still listed in Dmoz, but in a different category. Of course, the much wiser editor I am today, I would have deleted his site instead of moving it to another category. If there is anything to remember regarding removal requests it's that 1) most requests aren't acted upon, 2) Dmoz is under no obligation to remove sites from its directory, and 3) Be nice with your request. Being nice will lead me into my next post about communication etiquette when conversing with Dmoz editors and asking for favors at the same time, so stay tuned...

OTHER RAMBLINGS

Okay, who actually believes Dmoz is still having server problems, or is still trying to figure out how to fix it? Come on, if something seems too bad to be true, then chances are it is. Editors could have been editing a very long time ago, but unfortunately, editors are waiting on a slow poke called AOL to get some Dmoz-related tasks done that will let us edit again, and AOL is like a snail at getting things done. I assume that the same people who are working on Dmoz related tasks are also working on AOL related tasks and the AOL-related tasks come first; so it's probably a priority issue. Now, don't take this as word that AOL is ready to shut down Dmoz, it's quite the contrary, and editors have gotten some-what regular updates regarding what's going on.