I don't want my home directory to be my Gnome desktop

[Joe Smith]

Colin Paul Adams wrote:
> ...
> and consequently I see all my sub-directories on the dektop (which
> makes it far too crowded).
> ...

Check the file ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs

I'm not sure if/how that file connects with the GUI settings, but that's 
where the config is stored, so changes there take precedence. You have 
to logout/login to see any change.

<Joe