The WebRing system is set up to monitor many aspects of activity (or lack of). The system also monitors the validity of email addresses. Being inattentive to your Ring or inaccessible to members can result in your Ring being taken away, either temporarily or permanently.

No one disputes that there are valid reasons to be unavailable for Ring management; however, the topic is not open for debate. The biggest consistent complaint to WebRing Support is a manager who won't approve a pending membership, answer an email, or remove an off-topic or problematic membership. The problem has grown so out of hand that the automated system controls had to be implemented.

1. Verify your email address through the system (this also ensures you don't have a 50 point adoption penalty against you) and ensure your spam filters aren't blocking any WebRing system or member email.
2. Log in at least once every 10 to 14 days and look through your Ring(s) even if you haven't been contacted by a member or notified of a pending submission. Ensure all active members should be active and things are running smoothly even if automated management is in use (since it can be wrong.)
3. Process all applications in a timely manner. If you are concerned about not activating sites that FAIL the checker, read up on Conditional Approval. Make a determination on a site's qualifications within ten days, using suspension as the means to hold a FAILing site. If the site is not qualified to join your Ring, deny it. Otherwise, approve it. If you cannot do this in a timely manner, perhaps you manage too many Rings and should consider adopting out some of them.
4. Identify and assign responsible Ring helpers to step in and assist with management issues in the event you should be away from your computer for an extended period due to unforeseen events such as loss of access, computer malfunction, or lengthy illness. These people can also assist if you take a vacation or must devote more time to a work project, family issues, or simply cannot process applications quickly enough.

More recently, the software has been programmed to locate mismanagement involving navigation ratings due to the growing complaints of Rings with non-existent, off-topic, or pornographic sites in ACTIVE membership because Managers who choose not to use automated management are also not choosing to manage their Rings manually. When Support finds Rings with adult content, they are placing these Rings behind the adult firewall, which greatly decreases traffic to the Ring.
This notation is included because new warning emails are now going to managers who are identified as being potentially neglectful. The idea is to get them actively managing their Rings in a trio of areas. Two warning emails are sent. Both are broken down and explained fully on individual pages.

• See the 30-day warning here.
• See the 45-day warning here.

If you are here because your Ring is already out of your control, there isn't much anyone will do. This page is the most detailed information you'll find. This WebRing Support will decline any requests to return an adopted Ring and likely has referred you here for information and guidance. No explanation has ever been accepted by Support for a manager's absence. Since managers can log in to view Rings, a lack of application notification emails is not valid. Since Helpers are available, no extended absence is permitted. Passive management is history.

If a Ring is not in your account now, this does not mean there is no chance for you to manage it again. It depends upon the management status. Compare the managing ID on the hub with what is shown below and follow any included instructions.

foster_ringmanager - this is the managing ID for a Ring that is being checked manually for troubles. In these cases, a member reports a problem, such as bouncing email, failure to respond to an inquiry, or excessive time pending, and it is investigated by a special department of WebRing Support. There are special instructions and explanations on the profile page for user "foster_ringmanager". Find the situation that pertains to you and execute the steps listed.
As a word of caution, go about this carefully. Any negative attitude or attack on the foster_ringmanager will greatly decrease your chances of managing that Ring again. Severe instances have resulted in permanent adoption penalties.
The foster_ringmanager will hold a Ring for up to sixty days. If the manager is not located or cooperative by then, the Ring is adopted out through the automated adoption process.

adoptable - This means the Ring is currently being auto-managed by the system as the automated process of selecting a new manager has already begun. The Ring may have been placed for adoption by the foster_ringmanager after sixty days or by the system after a series of email inquiries over a period of several weeks either bounced or were ignored. You can put in for the adoption, using this information to help improve your chances of success. But, ultimately, the decision is up to the system.

If any other User's name appears as the manager, it is already too late. You've been replaced after at least 2 months of absence. You can try to contact the new manager, if you have access to the proper link, but the manager is under no obligation to relinquish control of the WebRing to anyone who asks.