We had a user show up at the helpdesk frantic because all her files were gone.

HD: what did you type?
User: rm *
HD: It did just what you told it to.
User: No. It was supposed to ask me each file yes or no
HD: [thinks awfuk] Oh, the sysadmin at your undergrad school set "confirm" in the system login. You'll have to set that in your dotlogin.

id post a recursive delete function(as a joke) but even on this site some people are retarded

a newb should never use a force command on removal that can be abusive towards layman/retards. that part should not be included otherwise decent article