this post was submitted on 15 Jan 2026
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Because using a gui is easier for novices, doesn't risk fucking up your entire system if you accidentally copy paste a troll answer from Reddit, and doesn't require you to learn commands by heart if you want to use them repeatedly.
It's also much easier to understand what you're doing, if you're doing it graphically, vs just copy pasting some cryptic command from the internet
Feels fairly obvious tbh....
Your attitude is EXACTLY what makes IT novices afraid of adopting Linux. Because they think, thanks to people like you, that using Linux requires you to be good at using the CLI. But hey, if you want to scare away new users, be my guest.
Keep reinforcing their incorrect assumptions about how hard and complicated Linux adoption is, and push them to stay on Windows. A+ job if that's what you're trying.
To the extent that is true, then the novice doesn't end up asking for help. The goal is that the capability is discoverable. Or if it's really a bit harder, there are hopefully tutorial youtube videos that cover the use case.
But when a user asks for specific help on a task they couldn't figure out for themselves, or are asking for help with a 'something went wrong' dialog box, well helping with CLI is much more feasible than the involved mess of trying to basically make video tutorials ad-hoc, or screen share, or try to help them find the obscure log file an application wrote somewhere with the real error.
Thank you!! Great point
Spot on.
I think the problem lies in the usage of commands from the internet, if you take a look at the commands, they get very straight forward and easy to use. Also i never said that the commands where hard, or you need to use them. If a newcomer uses a gui its fine, but for the most power, and least resources, the cli is, ans will always be, the best.
The whole point of the post is that because users like you only ever give answers in terms of CLI commands, novice users probably don't even realise how many GUI options there are.
Obviously CLI is faster and more powerful, literally no one ever argued it wasn't, but it's also less intuitive and harder to understand than GUI interactions (there's a reason why people on Windows tend to use the GUI options and not do everything with the CLI), and for novice users, that this meme is explicitly talking about, that ease of use and understanding is far, far more important than the benefits of CLI.
I see your point there, but it is just far easier to give an answer in command form, than telling people where to click on a GUI.
But i do understand what you are saying, and i cant argue with it. GUI tools are good for early users, and those who dont want to use the CLI. CLI is better for those who want/need that extra power.
So when helping others, you prioritise how convenient it is for you to help them, rather than how effective that help will be for them ?
I dont help them at all, i am here just trying to understand the people who help others. Also, do you want people to help or not? Do you help ppl? I think you should appreciate any help you can get. Even if it is the evil CLI help.
Bad advice is worse than no advice.
And I help people with tech problems all the time, and I do them the common bloody courtesy of tailoring my advice to their level of tech literacy. If you're too lazy to do that, then you shouldn't be offering your help in the first place.
Yes, teaching people to paste random CLI commands they don't understand from random ass internet comments is in fact worse than no advice at all.
Just like telling someone how to fix their own home wiring is worse than no advice at all. It reinforces dangerous and bad practices that could lead to system damage or data loss. It takes one fucking typo in a CLI command, or a wrong root directory, to go from deleting one folder to wiping your entire system. People who don't understand the commands they're pasting, should avoid using the CLI as much as possible, completely if they can.
And resorting to insults like that is pathetic, child like behaviour, and the sign of an insecure and intellectually dishonest mind.
Two-day suspension.
Mimimi, you are soooooo cute, trying to get me to stop saying the truth on the internet. My friend, if you want to stop me, then ban me. Please!
Truth, my ass. I've read your recent comments. You're just being a self-righteous dickhead with a false sense of superiority. You derive your self-worth from being a contrarian.
Thanks for giving me a reason to report you :3
Rule 2: be civil
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