canEditCharacter = function(charId, userId){
	userId = userId || Meteor.userId();
	var char = Characters.findOne(charId, {fields: {owner: 1, writers: 1}});
	if (!char) return false;
	return (userId === char.owner || _.contains(char.writers, userId));
};

canViewCharacter = function(charId, userId){
	userId = userId || Meteor.userId();
	var char = Characters.findOne(charId, {fields: {owner: 1, writers: 1, readers: 1}});
	if (!char) return false;
	return (userId === char.owner || _.contains(char.writers, userId) || _.contains(char.readers, userId));
};