Take the fact that we did in fact create two separate user groups. And already someone (yes, the STU is the primary suspect) created a ’staff’ user with unlimited access and gave those credentials to students for their use. *sigh*. You may not be a BOFH – but I can be. Lecturers loved (and hated) me for that very reason. I was known for revoking privileges when abuse was found, or disabling user accounts, and even (in one particular case) suspected compromise of an account could evoke rather severe reaction. I did calm quite significantly from those days but as many of my posts on the GLUG list can attest to – it’s still in me. I was actually quite surprised that you didn’t just disable the user1 account.

As for empowering the people – I fully agree. You cannot babysit people all the way. You prod them in the right direction and then leave them. If you’re their boss … some additional prodding may be required from time to time. And eventually the cattle-prod may need to come out.