I think you are confusing the -f in apt-get with something else.
 From the man page:
-f, --fix-broken
Fix; attempt to correct a system with broken dependencies in place. This 
option, when used with
install/remove, can omit any packages to permit APT to deduce a likely 
solution. If packages are specified,
these have to completely correct the problem. The option is sometimes 
necessary when running APT for the
first time; APT itself does not allow broken package dependencies to 
exist on a system. It is possible that
a system's dependency structure can be so corrupt as to require manual 
intervention (which usually means
using dselect(1) or dpkg --remove to eliminate some of the offending 
packages). Use of this option together
with -m may produce an error in some situations. Configuration Item: 
APT::Get::Fix-Broken.

There is a force option in apt-get but you have to type out 
"--force-yes" there is no single letter equivalent.

Are you possibly thinking about the -f (force-ignore nonexistant files, 
never prompt) option in rm?

Brian Cluff

On 01/20/2011 02:54 PM, gk wrote:
>  -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  F != fix broken...
>
>  - -f == force
>
>  If you spend any time in Debian's IRC they pretty much tell you
>  NEVER use -f. NO system is that far gone to not be fixed by the other
>  means Lisa mentioned. Dpkg is the package manager, dselect is another
>  low end function and APT/itude is a front end would I've never had
>  fail me. If you start with apt get you have to stay with it. IF you
>  start with Aptitude manuals say to stay with it.
>
>  Too many horror stories on Synaptic. The only GUI package manager I
>  have had that worked every time was in Sabayon, and it is called
>  Entropy, IIRC.
>
>  VP -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.11 (GNU/Linux)
>  Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/
>
>  iQEcBAEBAgAGBQJNOK8EAAoJEKABT2DAOAZyg9sH/3CnzAeugBq30rQ5NPZH0hbo
>  CFFhKekwRw3Ayf3bqvt2CY2VUDVzmQS3ZpboGL++5VRY2zlUhL3JHGAmVL04lecm
>  lbd98RlMq5ZTJeDbM5gVSxecKzhQvpjtQFriUQpG8UqkNA7FU8Wydwg3b5WhbEok
>  YhmK2QTlPGFRqK/MdDYgXS8OMQHSIGlKSqMp/+7tkD47TI6gObI7+mNvE9C+A9D3
>  MP8fhv7/RMV+0NPNSD5M0g2ETjHDwQf8sru5JLS4Ko++Da9AYxRCUMEGqsHiOtpD
>  hAuQrbLI38B1pLaPIhlzQkC99pC+BrWRVfGewfMUYSd6sSetyMTHfrYeqjtnHdk=
>  =1o76 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
>  --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss
>  mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe,
>  unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
>  http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
>