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Ooh.directory: a place to find good blogs that interest you

Ooh.directory presents itself as a human-curated directory aiming to help users discover quality blogs across diverse niches. This project resonates with Hacker News readers who lament the decline of the 'small web' and struggle to find authentic content amidst algorithm-driven feeds and SEO-optimized

44
Score
9
Comments
#1
Highest Rank
9h
on Front Page
First Seen
Feb 14, 2:00 PM
Last Seen
Feb 14, 10:00 PM
Rank Over Time
111223755

The Lowdown

Ooh.directory offers a refreshing return to human-curated content discovery, providing a categorized directory of blogs across a wide range of subjects. It serves as a counterpoint to the often overwhelming and impersonal nature of modern search engines and social media feeds, emphasizing genuine, independent voices. The site is structured to make exploration intuitive, featuring various sections to aid in finding new or established content. * The directory organizes blogs into main categories such as 'Arts and media', 'Computers, internet, tech', 'Countries', 'Personal blogs', and 'Science', each with further subcategories to refine searches. * Special sections highlight 'Four years old today!', 'Three years old today!', and 'Recently added blogs', showcasing both longevity and fresh content. * Each listed blog includes a brief description, an 'Updated' timestamp, and a snippet from a recent post, allowing users to quickly gauge relevance and activity. * The platform's explicit goal is to facilitate the discovery of niche and personal blogs that might otherwise be lost in the vastness of the internet. In essence, Ooh.directory endeavors to bring back the charm of a structured, editorially-reviewed web, helping users bypass generic content and connect with specialized, passionate writers.

The Gossip

Recalling the Realm of Curated Content

Many commenters expressed a nostalgic desire for human-curated directories, seeing Ooh.directory as a welcome antidote to the 'AI slopocalypse' and the pervasive SEO junk dominating search results. The discussion evoked memories of older web structures like Dmoz and webrings, highlighting a longing for the 'small web' and personalized content discovery, similar to the original appeal of RSS feeds.

Suggestive Streamlining

Users offered various suggestions for improving the directory's functionality and content. Ideas included implementing sorting mechanisms beyond alphabetical order, such as popularity or inbound links. There was also curiosity about the project's data sources and methods for discovering new blogs, such as tracking outbound links from existing entries.

Missing Motifs and Micro-Niches

A few commenters noted the absence of specific niche categories or topics they expected to find within the directory. This indicates a desire for even broader and deeper coverage, particularly for highly specific technical or personal interests.