The-Source.com

If you follow Ubuntu at all, then you are probably aware that there are some big UI changes coming up. I don’t currently have any machines running Ubuntu – I do have one desktop running Kubuntu – but I like to keep up with the distro.

The good

First off, check out Mark Shuttleworth’s explanation of the new color scheme. I’m very NOT graphically oriented, and this is hands-down the best explanation of a color scheme I have ever read.

I never cared a lot either way about the color scheme and default UI for Ubuntu, because I always fiddle around anyway. At a bare minimum, I set up my own wallpaper; if it’s a machine I will be using regularly, then I usually set up some theme and conky changes I prefer as well.

The default Ubuntu layout has always looked “good enough” to me, and that was about all the thought I gave it.

After reading Mr. Shuttleworth’s explanation, though, I’m really digging the new color scheme because I feel like there is some rationale behind it (which I can understand- that always helps!)

The neutral

Another big change is window buttons will be on the left, in a new order, like so:

Now, as far as the actual button placement: I don’t really care personally. First off, I don’t plan on installing Ubuntu any time soon, and if I did I would be tweaking the theme anyway and would naturally move the buttons back to the right. Not because one way or the other is better, but because that’s how 99.99% of the software I use has the buttons:

• Games (on any platform). Close button: top-right.
• Every other theme on every other distro? Close button: top-right.
• Non-Linux devices and computers? Close-button: top-right.

The bad

Now, as I said – I don’t really care about the buttons myself. But it seems pretty clear to me this is a major change for the default interface, and was pushed out with little to no forewarning and followed up with little to no explanation or rationale. It’s not surprising to me that the user base has some concerns. 

With the exception of Mr. Shuttleworth saying that he likes it and would like to experiment with something new on the right in the future there has literally been zero explanation for the change. I’ve read a lot about how “there are good arguments for either position” and so forth, but even the longest blog by somone directly involved in the process gives no such arguments.

Because of the presentation, I consider the change stupid. Not the the change itself, but the way it was handled.

Contrast with the excellent explanation behind the color scheme change and it is pure fail. It actively makes the change seem worse, because it appears there is no reasoning at all being applied.

Futhermore, in the bug report and on the Ubuntu Forums there’s a lot of talk about how “we’ll get feedback” and the change is about “user experience” and so on.

…And now, the kicker

The kicker, of course, is something I see way too often in Ubuntu land: people that don’t like it are simply called “trolls” and told to shut up. Often it’s shut up and leave.

What the hell? How exactly are you supposed to get feedback and determine if you have a great success with your user interface if you don’t listen to the users?

That’s why I despise sycophants and the so-called “leadership” that seeks to isolate and stigmatize any criticism whatsoever by saying things like “put up or shut up”.

First off, I think that most users get upset because they honestly care – because they want the product to be the best it can. Very few people are actually “trolling” when they say they don’t like the changes.

Secondly, how exactly are people supposed to provide the feedback? Part of the problem is that there was no pre-warning, and no clear channel to provide feedback. So people that care and want to make their opinion heard are left with what option exactly?

Thirdly, there’s a whole organization of people fucking Ubuntu up. Don’t expect the one dude that posted how he doesn’t like the buttons on the left to undo your dipshittedness at the same rate. That’s a joke, son. Relax.

The real problem

There is a growing mindset – especially in Ubuntu – of  unthinking defense: it doesn’t matter how or with what rationale – just defend. If someone says anything critical, discredit and attack them personally.

I think it really comes out in this particular case because there isn’t any ideological divide and there’s little question that the change was poorly rolled out and explained. There’s no sticky licensing or “Free vs. Open” issues here to cloud the waters.

Therefore, I see the people that are not just defending and rationalizing the change, but going that extra mile to degrade and silence criticism as “fanbois” of the worst type: unthinking sycophants that would defend any change and perceive any criticism as invalid.