Overwhelmed?
by qbp

So, you're a bit overwhelmed with work to do? Got too much feedback coming in for improving the categories ("cats" or "cat") you edit? Well, I've been through a few of these circumstances before and if you're being sucked down into what is sometimes called ODP Editor Suicide Syndrome, or ODPSS, this guide is for you.

Overworked

OK, first we'll start out with the overworked problem. I know, unless you're like me, you have a personal life, but those greens and reds stare you in the face every time you log in. It can get pretty bad when you get a cat with more greens (sorry, forgot to explain: "greens" are unreviewed sites, and "reds" are sites that have been tagged by the ODP link checker Robozilla.) than you bargained for. This has happened to me, more than once, so I speak with a little experience.

First thing you need to do is STOP. You're a volunteer, you're helping us (the rest of the editors and the whole Internet community) by even being here and taking the time to edit and ask for the cat you did. So, what you need is a rest. You don't have to resign, just take a week or two off and do something that doesn't have to do with the ODP. Don't worry about leaving the forums (as I did), if something really important happened someone can contact you by editor feedback. Nothing is essential unless root (the people who are paid by Netscape to work for the ODP) or the metas say so, in which case you should check your mail semi-frequently "just in case." After you've rested a bit, log in again and you'll probably find that you've forgotten how hard it is to bust (meaning review) greens and you'll have forgotten that it is hard at all and go at it as if you were just accepted as an editor. I speak from experience.

If this hasn't helped, if you still feel down for "letting the Internet community down" by letting greens and reds sit I recommend doing one of two things:

• a) Resign from the cat that's bothering you so much
• b) Resign as an editor

Obviously, A is the first choice. If you have been accepted for a cat that was too big for you, resign and state in the reason that you had no idea how much work it was and that you wanted to focus your attentions elsewhere or something. If afterwards, move on to option B.

Option B is to be used in pretty extreme circumstances. If you're thinking about choosing option B, please, please talk to a meta you trust. If you still want to resign, remember that resignation is not permanent and you can always request reinstatement. If you want to choose option B, you can always come back and be welcomed back "into the fold" so to speak, you won't be rejected for even harboring the thought of resigning.

Well, I hope this section has helped you through your problems. If it hasn't, contact me or a meta (if you don't know how to do this, see the bottom of this article.)

Too Much Feedback

Here we go now on to the problem with too much feedback. We'll talk about too much feedback for the cat you edit. (FYI: The "correct" way of talking about "your cat" is a derivative of "the cat I edit") If you get too much feedback on a cat, naturally the first thing to do is state clearly but not forcefully that you will work on it. (Just in case you didn't read some of the things I've defined, "cat" or "cats" are category or categories, "red" is a site that has been flagged with an error by the ODP link checker robozilla and "green" are unreviewed sites.) If stuff still comes in, continue to get a little firmer with the fact that you're going to work on it. If you requested feedback in the fora (plural of forum) make sure that you post a reply thanking the people who replied to the request and that you would work on it. If you continue to get too much feedback, make sure you actually work on it. If it gets to the point when there's too much work to do, refer to the first section in this article for information on the topic of too much work. If none of this helps, contact a friendly meta (one who's not sending you feedback of course) and ask them to step in.

If none of this has helped you, or if you need general help, contact me, any editor at Test/Editors/Mentors or a friendly meta. You can contact editors by going to the Dashboard (also called Editor Main) and click the link in the right-panel called "Find an Editor" (under the Tools for Editors heading) and when you get to the profile of the editor click the Send to (editorname) and send your e-mail. As long as you set a real e-mail address in your profile (or when you signed up) people can reply to you by e-mail.

- qbp