package xdg-user-dirs 0.15-2ubuntu6.16.04.1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration

[don jackson]

during update i get this error

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: xdg-user-dirs 0.15-2ubuntu6.16.04.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-112.135-generic 4.4.98
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-112-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.16
Architecture: amd64
Date: Tue Apr 17 13:58:13 2018
Dependencies:
 gcc-6-base 6.0.1-0ubuntu1
 libc6 2.23-0ubuntu10
 libgcc1 1:6.0.1-0ubuntu1
DuplicateSignature:
 package:xdg-user-dirs:0.15-2ubuntu6.16.04.1
 Processing triggers for libgtk2.0-0:amd64 (2.24.30-1ubuntu1.16.04.2) ...
 dpkg: error processing package xdg-user-dirs (--configure):
  package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-10-24 (175 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.5 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20160803)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.4
 apt 1.2.26
SourcePackage: xdg-user-dirs
Title: package xdg-user-dirs 0.15-2ubuntu6.16.04.1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to xenial on 2018-01-29 (78 days ago)