Editing in the ODP can be a fun and gratifying experience. By
joining the ODP, you are helping to build the most comprehensive and
widely distributed Directory of the Web. The ODP is a diverse
community of editors representing many nationalities, cultures, and
interests. The common denominator is an interest in creating an
unbiased, objective resource for the general public, fully covering
the breadth and depth of human knowledge, and representing all topics
and points of view.
The Directory guidelines outline the principles and standards
governing the ODP's editorial content and community activity. All
editors are expected to follow these guidelines, and use them as a
basis for good editorial decision making and common-sense judgment.
While there are definitive polices given here, many guidelines are
sufficiently generalized to allow for unique and special
circumstances. While it is critical that you follow these guidelines,
it is equally important that you not apply them so rigidly that you
sacrifice user-friendliness for the sake of editorial purity. Use
these guidelines as a basis for your editorial decisions as well as
category specific charters. Remember to always keep the end-user in
mind.
The guidelines provide editing basics, and don't address all
editing nuances and special circumstances. Editors should consult the
Editor Resource Zone
which gives additional guidance, examples, and other tips, advice, and
how-tos. If you still have questions after consulting these
resources, post them in one of the editor forums. Non-editors should
consult the ODP Public
Forum, where editors are available to answer any questions you
have about the ODP.
Each section of these guidelines is described below.
