
  
<h1 align="center">Cooling Sites</h1>
<ul class="toc">
  <li><a href="#whatis">What is cooling?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#many">How many sites can be cooled in one category?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#good">What are 'good' reasons for cooling a site?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#bad">What are 'bad' reasons for cooling a site?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#haveto">Do I have to mark a site cool?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#notcool">Another editor has cooled a site, but I don't think that 
    it is cool. What should I do?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#fewsites">A site has been cooled in a category that contains only 
    two sites in total. Is this acceptable?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#whocooled">How do I find out who cooled/uncooled a given site?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#recently">How do I find out which sites were cooled recently?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#byeditor">How do I find out all the sites cooled/uncooled by a 
    given editor?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#selfcool">Can I cool my own site?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#selfcool2">But my site is the absolutely very very best in the 
    category, in fact it's the best in DMOZ, please can I mark it cool?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#askcool">Can I ask for somebody else to cool my site then?</a></li>
  <li><a href="#reasons">Why can't I cool my own site? That's just unfair.</a></li>
  <li><a href="#noicon">I've cooled a site, but it doesn't have the cool icon, 
    and isn't sorted to the top. Why?</a></li>
  </ul>
  <h4 align="left"><a name="whatis"></a>What is cooling?</h4>
  <p>Designating a site cool means that it appears at the top of the listings 
    in a category, and has a <a href="http://dmoz.org/img/star.gif">star icon</a> 
    on the public-side, and a <a href="http://dmoz.org/img/award2.gif">palm tree 
    icon</a> on the edit side.</p>
  <h4><a name="many"></a>How many sites can be cooled in one category?</h4>
  <p>Theoretically any number, <i>but</i> the guidelines suggest that two sites 
    should be the maximum. Besides, the public-side of a category will only ever show a maximum of two cooled sites. 
    <p>
    If you feel more than two sites deserve cooling, then I would suggest you reassess the criteria you are using; only the very <i>best</i> 
    sites are meant to be marked cool.</p>
  <h4><a name="good"></a>What are 'good' reasons for cooling a site?</h4>
  <p>Cooling is, by definition, a subjective judgement, and thus there are very 
    few rules about the process. However, there are a number of factors you should 
    consider:</p>
  <ul>
    <li>Should the site have been listed in the first place? Sites which are prohibited 
      by the guidelines; affiliate links, mirrors, etc.; should obviously not 
      be cooled.</li>
    <li> Does the site offer a large amount of unique content? Is it truly the 
      best in the category?</li>
  </ul>
  <h4><a name="bad"></a>What are 'bad' reasons for cooling a site?</h4>
  <p>Cooling is, by definition, a subjective judgement, and thus there are very 
    few rules about the process. However, there are a number of reasons that are 
    <i>not</i> acceptable:</p>
  <ul>
    <li>&quot;I've used this company before, and they're very reliable&quot;. 
      This is irrelevant, we're meant to judge the coolness of the site, _not_ 
      the entity behind the site.</li>
    <li> &quot;Amazing Flash animation on the first page!&quot;. Though presentation 
      can enhance, or detract from, the content, it is not the prime reason that 
      a site should be cooled.</li>
    <li> &quot;They update daily; I've loved this site for years&quot;. Although 
      update frequency can enhance a site, it should not be the sole reason for 
      cooling it; content is king.</li>
  </ul>
  <h4><a name="haveto"></a>Do I have to mark a site cool?</h4>
  <p>No. Some editors seem to believe that just because they can cool, they should. 
    This is wrong. You should only cool a site which is exceptional, not simply 
    for the sake of cooling it. Indeed, many experienced editors rarely cool any 
    sites at all.</p>
  <h4><a name="notcool"></a>Another editor has cooled a site, but I don't think 
    that it is cool. What should I do?</h4>
  <p>A few questions to ask yourself:</p>
  <ul>
    <li> Do you have anything to gain by uncooling the site? i.e. does it belong 
      to a competitor for instance? If so, leave it be.</li>
    <li> How long has it been cooled? Sites change over time; one that was cool 
      a year back may no longer be.</li>
    <li> Are there any sites in the category that are greatly superior to this 
      site? Or, is it a borderline case? Try not to undo another editor's work 
      without good reason.</li>
  </ul>
  <h4><a name="fewsites"></a>A site has been cooled in a category that contains 
    only two sites in total. Is this acceptable?</h4>
  <p>Depends on the category. By definition, a cool site is the most comprehensive and definitive resource on a topic. To make this assessment, you usually need to compare several sites on the topic to determine the cool one. Therefore, it doesn't always make sense to cool a site in category that has two sites listed. It's better to search for more relevants sites to add to the category, and then decide which site deserves to be cooled, if any. However, if you only have two sites that can be listed in a category, then designating one as "cool" might okay in some cases, such as designating an "official site." Remember, you don't have to cool any sites, and some categories have restrictions on site cooling.</p>
  <h4><a name="whocooled"></a>How do I find out who cooled/uncooled a given site?</h4>
  <p>Either look at the logs for the category in which it was cooled, or its editor 
    notes.</p>
  <h4><a name="recently"></a>How do I find out which sites were cooled recently?</h4>
  <p>Consult the <a href="http://editors.dmoz.org:8080/editors/cool_log.cgi">cooling log</a>. 
  </p>
  <h4><a name="byeditor"></a>How do I find out all the sites cooled/uncooled by 
    a given editor?</h4>
  <p>Restrict the cooling log by editor. To do this, either click on the 'Sites 
    Cooled' link from the editor's profile, or, go to the <a href="http://editors.dmoz.org:8080/editors/category_logs.cgi">Category 
    Logs form</a> select 'Cooling Log' from the drop-down list box and type the 
    editor's name into the 'Editor' box.</p>
  <h4><a name="selfcool"></a>Can I cool my own site?</h4>
  <p>No. Doing so is grounds for termination of your editing privileges. </p>
  <h4><a name="selfcool2"></a>But my site is the absolutely very very best in 
    the category, in fact it's the best in DMOZ, please can I mark it cool?</h4>
  <p>No. Doing so is grounds for termination of your editing privileges. </p>
  <h4><a name="askcool"></a>Can I ask for somebody else to cool my site then?</h4>
  <p>It is suggested that you don't. Such behaviour gives rise to allegations 
    of impropriety and is discouraged. </p>
  <h4><a name="reasons"></a>Why can't I cool my own site? That's just unfair.</h4>
  <p>The ODP has a reputation of fairness and objectivity; users should have no 
    reason to question our integrity. When it is found that editors are engaging 
    in self-promotion it gives the ODP a bad name.</p>
  <h4><a name="noicon"></a>I've cooled a site, but it doesn't have the cool icon, 
    and isn't sorted to the top. Why?</h4>
  <p>The most likely reason is that the site has a media date. Sites with media 
    dates can't be cooled.</p>
