Personally, I think you handled that situation properly. That case required some action because the OP, who was just trying to learn, was exposed to some unnecessary comments. It was in bad taste to do that to her. It seemed kind of like members of a family fighting while a guest is visting their house. So, removing the comments from her thread was appropriate.The following is addressed to persons other than Ratch:
Did I perhaps choose the wrong course of action? Should these condescending diatribes simply be deleted in the future? Or edited heavily to remove the condescension? (Ratch: I know your opinion on this. Let other folk speak, if you please.)
Also, your moving the nonrelevent posts to another location was proper. Deleting the posts, or even editing them, would not have been a good idea. A forum requires freedom of speech, within the usual limits of course.