I was an Editor at ODP for four months. ODP is an Open Directory Project that allows volunteers from the public to apply, and if accepted, edit Categories that they are experienced with in their fields. These Categories later become the Directories of many Search Engines, such as Lycos, HotBot, Google and AltaVista.
This Website was not intended for revenge purposes, but rather the purpose of this Website is to explain one man's personal experience with ODP as one actual example that ocurred, so that some of the problems that exist within the ODP system can be uncovered by the Search Engines that use its content such as Lycos, AltaVista, Google and HotBot, and to warn other ODP Editors new and current what to expect and what to avoid to help prevent them from being targeted by those corrupted Editors that are within ODP, so that they may survive.
I made mistakes, but I believe these mistakes were not a valid excuse for my removal.
There is little doubt that the content of this Website will upset some in the ODP system, as it uses actual posts from the hidden Forums that are usually concealed from the public, and reveals information that is probably not known by Ex-ODP Editors. Except for the identity of the man credited for creating ODP, which I hold no qualms with, otherwise I believe that only ODP "CodeNames" are used within this entire Website, with the exception of names that were posted in the Forums by others. For those that do not know, these CodeNames are along the lines of "RocketMan", "MoonDoggy1" and the like that Editors use to identify themselves. If I reveal personal identities or e-mail addresses somewhere in this Site other than the Forum Postings, please inform me and they will be removed.
Updates to this Site will take place when changes occur in the final outcome, or access to the hidden ODP forums and comments can be accessed or supplied to fill in the missing information gaps.
I tried to keep this Website in chronological order for telling of the events that ocurred, but in some cases, such as direct contact with some individuals, I kept self contained to one page.
- Richard Whettestone.