Removing libpng using synaptics removes too many additional packages

[linuxinmyface]

My system USED to be Ubuntu 9.04 64 bit running on a Toshiba Tecra.

I was having troubles compiling miktex as it was complaining about something related to png files.

I installed a new version of libpng, replacing the one that came with Ubuntu 9.04.
The old version was 1.2.27 and I replaced it with 1.2.35.

Doing this wouldn't resolve my problem with miktex, so I fired up synaptics (or w/e the graphical package manager is called ... can't look it up now can I?) to remove my current version of libpng.
I looked for it, found it, clicked on 'remove this package' or similar, and then clicked on 'apply'.

A new window popped up with a list of packages that would get removed if I wanted to proceed removing libpng. I did not check that list and clicked on something like 'ok'.

In the ensuing process just about EVERY package on my computer was removed. Seriously ... this reads just about EVERY package!

Even if I was too stupid to see that libpng is an integral part of my OS and I shouldn't just remove it and rather only replace it with a different version if I have to ... this shouldn't happen!

I am checking the security box for this one since I am sure the aforementioned process removes any security facility whatsoever.

Thanks, Ubuntu people, for making me laugh though. This totally made my day. You guys should try this for yourselves and report back onto this list. Reading your reports would totally make my day for months to come.

[Kurt Wall (kwall)]

Using "sudo apt-get remove -s libpng12-0" shows 319 packages would be removed.