It’s difficult to believe the tantalizing list of scandalous topics being presented as fact by a blogger claiming to be an Open Directory Project (ODP) editor – Ana Thema. Regardless, the blog - http://www.corruptdmozeditor.com is generating lots of unwanted attention for ODP also known as DMoz (for Directory.Mozilla) an open content directory of the Web that has been maintained and by volunteers of trusted human editors. Trust that is until now.

Topics on the "tell all" blog include:

** How to Bribe a DMOZ Editor
** Corruption is Rampant - Get Yours or Get Out
** DMOZ Editors Are Laughing at Your Submissions Behind Closed Doors
** Sabotaging a Competitors DMOZ Listing for Fun & Profit

The Open Directory Project is run by Time-Warner's AOL's Netscape division. Representatives from the company were unavailable for comment. (Note: Not surprising. This blogger isn't listed in the DMOZ profiles, references screenname that are also not in the profile and, to characterize all DMOZ editors in this negative light is simply unfair.)

The blog itself was set up in December of last year, and has a small pool of posts. A recent post with screenshots from DMOZ's internal message board Penguin Cafe -- a message board community launched in June 2000 and labeled "a new social club forum" for editors -- appears to be fueling concerns that DMOZ editors are not treating webmasters fairly that submit sites for review. I believe the post takes the messages from the board out of context to justify any supposed wrongdoings at DMOZ.

If anything, the news of this blog is likely to force the adoption of new message board rules for posting so that potential conflicts are avoided in the future.