[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #4222: Add global comment/pings override switch

[WordPress Trac]

#4222: Add global comment/pings override switch
----------------------------+-----------------------------------------------
 Reporter:  Otto42          |       Owner:  anonymous
     Type:  enhancement     |      Status:  new      
 Priority:  normal          |   Milestone:  2.4      
Component:  Administration  |     Version:           
 Severity:  normal          |    Keywords:           
----------------------------+-----------------------------------------------
 One of the things we see a lot on the wordpress support forum is user
 confusion with regards to disabling/enabling comments.

 Often, people will, in an attempt to stop spam, immediately try to disable
 comments. They are understandably confused when disabling: "Allow link
 notifications..." and "Allow people to post comments..." on the
 Options->Discussion page has no actual effect. As we know, these only set
 the default settings for comments and pings, flipping them off does not
 change the "on" status of comments and pings for all the existing posts.

 I propose adding a global override switch labeled something like "Disable
 all comment functionality" and maybe a little explanation along with it.
 This will set a flag/option that the comments/pingbacks/trackbacks
 functions will check and be a single global on/off switch. This will allow
 people to do an instant kill of all the input functionality and restore it
 later, without changing any post settings or anything like that.

 It would be useful to eliminate the user confusion here, but it would also
 be useful for short term attacks on sites, where lots of spam or comment
 posting or what have you is coming in. A simple way to disable all
 commenting would be useful.

-- 
Ticket URL: <http://trac.wordpress.org/ticket/4222>
WordPress Trac <http://trac.wordpress.org/>
WordPress blogging software