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WebRing Helpers
WebRing is cracking down on abandoned Rings and neglectful RingMasters. Even with these control measures in place, the number of Rings being adopted out is growing at an alarming rate. There is no acceptable reason for being separated from your WebRing, not illness, family situation, or computer problems. Therefore, no RingMaster should be without a Helper or three. Helpers have limited access to your Ring but can still keep your Ring relatively safe from being adopted out. Be sure you select users you trust.
What Helpers Can Do
- Process New Sites
- the ability to approve an applicant
- the ability to deny an applicant
- the ability to put a site "on hold" (perhaps for the manager's decision)
- Manage Members
- the ability to activate suspended members
- the ability suspend active members
- the ability to delete any member
- the ability to toggle any member off automated management
- the ability to edit the URL, title, or description
- the ability to assign a membership to a different ID
- Email Ring Members
- Ring Applicants
- Active Members
- Suspended Members
- All
- Individual Members
- Invite Others
These are the only duties of a Ring Helper, but they are crucial. You must select people you trust or watch their activity closely as they can admit or exclude any site.
Accessing Management Functions as a Helper
This is a bit inconvenient right now as there is no section to your account listing the Rings with which you are listed as a helper. I'm pestering WebRing to create a page that will list the Rings for which you are a helper. Currently a helper will see the group of management options under the heading "Helper Tools" in the left column. Helpers also do not have a way to decline being made a helper or terminate the partnership. At this point, it's all in the control of the RM. I'm also working to get Users the ability to refuse and end helper arrangements.
Who Can Be a Helper
You can select any registered user that you please, even if they don't hold membership in the Ring, even if they have no management experience. They only need a WebRing User ID. But you shouldn't assign helpers arbitrarily as they do have access to the membership of the Ring and the system email. Ensure you have identified users who you can trust.
How to Assign a Helper
It's always best to get confirmation from the prospective helper before assigning them to assist. The helpers you assign are not obligated to perform any of the duties available to them. The responsibility for managing the Ring still belongs solely to the RingMaster which also means that manager is accountable for any questions or problems that arise as a result. Ring Helpers are assigned through Global Settings. Vital details for proper execution can be found here. There is no limit to the number of IDs you can assign, but keep in mind the old addage "too many cooks spoil the broth". Having too many helpers could result in each thinking the other is going to handle the Ring with the end result being that no one has done anything. Also, if one helper does something unethical, the difficulty in determining who is at fault would increase. So keep it to a few trusted users.
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