General Questions
What's the best way to use rethos?
There's no single right answer, but there are a few suggestions for making your experience as powerful as possible.
First, take time to create your profile and add your issues of passion. Taking action on issues is the whole reason rethos exists.
Second, build in some content, and use the content other members have added, so that you raise awareness about your issues and beliefs when people your profile.
Third, use the opportunities. Opportunities help you instigate your allies to take action, and help you find partners and resources for the action that you want to take
Fourth, and perhaps most important, help build the community. The more members we have, the more power we have to instigate lasting change on the issues that matter to us
How I can offer my feedback to the rethos.com instigators to help improve the site?
We need all of the Members to help make rethos.com a well oiled engine. Please offer us your feedback via feedback@rethos.com – technical issues, criticism, suggestions, new ideas and referrals for media partners, NGOs and corporate members are all welcome.
If you find any broken links or bugs, please include the details of what the error is and the URL where it took place on the site
How do I send an invitation to someone not on rethos.com?
How do I send a message about rethos to a non-member?
When you click on Invite Allies, your computer’s email program will open, with a hyperlink in a blank email. Select your desired contacts and invite your allies. Note: if you use a web-based e-mail service such as Gmail or Hotmail, you will have to copy the link into your email message field manually.
When they click on this hyperlink in the email, they will go to the rethos site and be asked to create their own profile> Once they join, they will be automatically allied with your profile.
How do I send a message to another member?
To send a message, click on the My Messages in the Dashboard in the upper left-hand corner of your profile. Then click Compose A New Message on the right-hand side of your screen. Next, select who you want to send the message To, enter a Subject line and then compose your Message. (You can also drag and drop a Keeper into your email to share a piece something of interest.) Click send at the bottom of the screen.
How do I perform a search?
You can search the entire rethos platform using the search box at the top-right of every page. Searches help you find News items, other community members and opportunities.
Note: At this early stage of the rethos go-live, keep you search general to generate the most returns.
How is Content Regulated on rethos?
Rethos is self-regulated by its members. Any comment that is reported to be hateful, violent or abusive will be removed from the site. To have a piece removed from rethos: please email the url and a description of the posting in question to feedback@rethos.com
Profile Questions
How do I create a profile for myself?
To begin you rethos experience, you must activate your exclusive space on rethos.com – your member profile. Take the time to fill out the fields of your profile. This is the “glue” that helps connect you to like-minded allies and that provides easy access to the Newsfeed items and Opportunities that fit your issues of passion.
What are issues of passion?
Issues of Passion are the fundamental reason that we have gathered on rethos.com – to find lasting solutions to the pressing issues that are currently facing planet Earth. By declaring issues of passion you acknowledge that you can’t turn a blind eye, that you give a damn and want to access all of the resources based on that issue to affect positive, tangible change.
Issues of passion can be anything you choose or feel strongly about. Some examples include climate change, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, child soldiers, water pollution, violence against women, refugees.
Your issue(s) of passion will automatically sort, content, connections, and opportunities for you. But of course you can always access content beyond your declared issues.
What is the Status Field in my profile?
The status field in your profile can be used at your discretion. You can use it to show if you are online or offline, traveling or ruminating, working or partying, happy or sad…
How do I edit my profile?
If you are a rethos member, you have total flexibility to change the content of your profile at all times. Simply click the option Edit Profile in your Dashboard (the upper-left hand area of your screen) and change or add to any of the settings. Then at the bottom of the form click Update. You will see a green message “We've updated your profile” above your profile if your changes are successful.
News Feed Questions
How do I create a posting?
To upload a new posting, click on “Create a new post” on the right of the page. This will open a dialogue box where you can enter the title, body text, image (and source link if it is from another website). Be sure to tag it with as many issues as possible so it will come up when other members search for issues.
Click Post to add your post. It will show up in the personal blog of your profile, the Community News of your allies, and the Newsfeed media gallery.
How do I post a video?
To post a video, from your Profile Home click Create A New Post on the right-hand side. Select the Type of Post to be Video. If you are uploading a video file, click Browse towards the bottom of the posting screen and navigate through your computer and select the file. Note: files over 200 MB will be rejected.
How do I post a video from Youtube?
To post a video from YouTube.com, first, select the Embed Code beside the video on YouTube.com and Copy it. Next, return to the screen on rethos where you are posting a new video. Paste the Embed Code into the dialogue box labeled Video HTML Snippet. You are good to go – Publish Post at the bottom of the screen.
How do I cite the source of a piece of content?
If the content you are posting is an excerpt from another source on the Internet, we ask you to post a brief excerpt from the article and enter in the mandatory name of the source and the original URL of the content by selecting the Article/News option for Type of Post
How do I properly tag my postings?
To tag your postings look for the Tag It dialogue box. In this box, enter all the key words that apply to your posting (Issues, people, places, events involved etc.). Separate each of your tag words with a comma. Please double check for typos. so that other people can find your postings.
How do I delete a posting?
First, make sure you are logged in and are being recognized as the piece’s author. (If the some right corner of the screen says: “login” – then you are not logged in, click login, enter your password and email and click Log In.
Second, click on the title of the posting you wish to delete. Then click on the the ‘Delete’ button just to the left of the posting date. Then confirm at the bottom of the page, if you are sure that you would like to delete the posting.
How can I post comments?
You must be a registered user and logged in to post a comment. Click, Post a Comment below any news feed item or opportunity to leave your reactions (or Be The First To Comment).
How do I rate something up or down?
Click one of the face icons beneath the posting to show your Disapproval or Approval. Each icon also shows a text “tip” reminding you what the icon means. The system racks up the cumulative ratings and ranks the content accordingly in the search results and elsewhere.
What is a Keeper?
Keepers are a way of saving items you like and discussions you are a part of. To add an item as a Keeper, click “add to keepers” in upper left-hand corner of the desired page.
How do I share something with another member?
To share a News Feed item or an Opportunity, first add it as a Keeper. To do this, click “add to keepers” in upper left-hand corner of the desired page. Then compose a message to the member you wish to share with. Drag and drop the desired Keeper into the body of the message. Click Send.
Opportunities Questions
What is the opportunities section?
Opportunities allow you to share with the rethos community – whether a job offer, a volunteer position or something that you are looking to give away or find for your initiative.
How do I post or delete opportunities?
You must be a registered user and logged in to post an opportunity. If you are, click New Opportunity on the right and fill out the necessary fields for the posting. Be sure to tag it with as many issues as possible so it will come up when other members search for issues. The more detailed description the better – but keep it concise, of course. Don’t forget your contact info!
What is a Keeper?
Keepers are a way of saving items you like and discussions you are a part of. To add an item as a Keeper, click “add to keepers” in upper left-hand corner of the desired page.
How do I share something with another member?
To share a News Feed item or an Opportunity, first add it as a Keeper. To do this, click “add to keepers” in upper left-hand corner of the desired page. Then compose a message to the member you wish to share with. Drag and drop the desired Keeper into the body of the message. Click Send.
Allies Questions
How do I ally with another profile?
To request other members as allies, go to their profiles and click the Send An Ally Request icon below their profile avatar (or picture), located top left of the profile.
Once they approve your request, they will be included amongst your allies
How do I remove my alliance with another profile?
In order to end your alliance with another member, click on My Allies in your Dashboard (upper-left hand corner of your profile). Scroll down until you find the member that you would like to remove. Click on End Alliance below their avatar.
How do I send an invitation to someone not on rethos.com?
How do I send a message about rethos to a non-member?
When you click on Invite Allies, your computer’s email program will open, with a hyperlink in a blank email. Select your desired contacts and invite your allies. Note: if you use a web-based e-mail service such as Gmail or Hotmail, you will have to copy the link into your email message field manually.
When they click on this hyperlink in the email, they will go to the rethos site and be asked to create their own profile> Once they join, they will be automatically allied with your profile.