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From: Richard Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
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Subject: Re: Dangerous: delete-file deletes current directory as root!!
Date: Sat, 12 Oct 2002 11:45:14 -0400
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    Now, I'm not sure what `delete-file' should do.  Should it mimic `unlink'
    or should it first check that it is not called on a directory ?

I think delete-file should refuse to delete a directory.
That operation is very risky, and anyone who really wants to 
do it probably will do it from the shell.
I think if Emacs simply detects that it is a directory and
signals an error, it would be fine.