The OpenDirectory project (ODP) aims to build a human-edited directory of as much of the web as possible. Many humans use ODP directly to find sites, and most search engines recognise ODP as being a 'high quality' resource and adjust listings accordingly. The project was inspired by the the Yahoo propriety directory and both have run into problems due to sheer size and differences of vision. There is a MailingList of ex-ODP people called xodp.

(zcat(1) was once an editor for the ..new_zealand/personal_pages category and advises that being an editor is hard work. To preserve your sanity I suggest you get approved, and then immediately resign.)