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Whoever came up with "hold the shift key for eight seconds…

“Whoever came up with "hold the shift key for eight seconds to turn on 'your keyboard is buggered' mode" should be shot.” quote by Linus Torvalds
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“Whoever came up with "hold the shift key for eight seconds to turn on 'your keyboard is buggered' mode" should be shot.”

Linus Torvalds

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Criticizes a confusing keyboard shortcut that makes users think their keyboard is broken, implying it should be removed.

In simple terms: Bad shortcut should be eliminated.

Key Takeaway

Avoid using confusing shortcuts.

Themes

us design us experience software

Mood

frustrated critical

Type

cautionary technical

When to use this quote

  • Operating system settings
  • keyboard customization
  • software documentation

Key Concepts

Human‑computer interaction usability

Questions to Reflect On

  • Should developers prioritize clarity over novelty?
  • How can UI design prevent user confusion?
A Different Perspective

May frustrate users but could be harmless.

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