790217 - Removing comments for an Etherpad

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Infrastructure & Operations Graveyard :: WebOps: Other, task)

Description

[Robert Nyman]

We have an Etherpad discussing AppCache where a couple of comments were made between friends as a joke. Since it is getting some public attention, though, it will probably be better if we remove them.

The Etherpad is: https://etherpad.mozilla.org/appcache-london
The comments are: PENIS and "Your mother"

Could we remove them now?

Comment 1

[Jason Crowe [:jd]]

Robert,

I have redacted the chat log for this pad. This required manual database manipulation and a restart of the service.  This caused a service disruption for every user on every pad.  All sessions were invalidated as well. In other words this is not something we can just do at any time. In the future I suggest that people make these sorts of comments in a less public place if they intend them to stay as such.

Regards

Comment 2

[Robert Nyman]

Thanks Jason!

Personally, I wasn't offended, but it took focus from the good parts there.
Sorry it was a lot of trouble for you.

What might become a problem here, though, is that Etherpads are used for discussions with third party people. We are very well at the risk of people spamming Etherpads with inappropriate content, so maybe it would be good if users had any way of editing/deleting comments.

Is that a possibility?

Comment 3

[Jason Crowe [:jd]]

Robert,

We are aware of the spam possibility but it is a risk we currently have to take if we wish to use this product.  There are some plans to look into additional features or perhaps a different product but as per usual it will be a while (read not a quarter goal and not to much squeak from them wheels).

Currently the only option open to admins is to delete an entire pad, this also removes the associated chat. I guess this could be done while copying relevant text to a new pad but this is really nothing more than a stop gap (given the potential spam issues you are already aware of).

As always we are open to code submission if you or someone you know wants to build features for the existing product ;)

Cheers

Comment 4

[Robert Nyman]

Makes sense - thanks for clarifying. :-)
I'll make sure that we at least use proper language when writing in a public space.