Comment 29 for bug 556933

This was originally reported in:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xdg-user-dirs/+bug/556933
(which, I'm afraid, someone turned into a mess)

xdg-user-dirs tries to rename standard folders
(e.g. Desktop to Bureau (French), among other languages and folders).

Renaming standard folders is incorrect because :
- there may exist references to their files that would become invalid if renamed
- if such files exist, xdg-user-dirs quite rightly does not rename the folder but just creates the new name
- but then the user's files seem to disappear
- and, for the same reason, the user cannot move his files harmlessly
- similarly, there may be references to the folder itself, even if empty
- and in fact, the Internet is full of references to ~/Desktop (which introducing xdg-user-dirs made invalid)
(that's why those folders are called "standard": their names mustn't change)

The correct way is obviously:
- to create symbolic links such as Bureau -> Desktop (instead of renaming)
- to never remove the symbolic link afterwards (in case references have been made to it)

Temporary workaround: it almost already works: this is a proof of concept:
If, before xdg-user-dirs comes to play,
- one creates the symbolic link (Bureau -> Desktop)
- one makes sure to keep the folder (Desktop) nonempty (e.g. with hidden file),
then xdg-user-dirs will not modify any name and the system will work superbly.