Clippy Quote by Charles Stross Cory Doctorow
““Helpfiles are traditionally outnumbered by no-help files, which superficially resemble a helpfile in form but not in content because they don't actually tell you anything you don't already know, or they answer every question except the one you're asking, or you open them and a giant animated paper clip leaps out and cheerfully asks where you want to go today. And wikis are worse.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Trouble with Help Files,” 2015, published on his personal blog
He criticizes help documentation that is either too numerous, unhelpful, or overly generic, and finds wikis even more problematic
In simple terms: Help files often fail to provide useful answers, and wikis can be even less reliable
Key Takeaway
Seek clear, concise, and truly helpful documentation
Themes
information overload
usability
communication
digital literacy
Mood
critical
analytical
concerned
Type
opinion
analysis
commentary
When to use this quote
- software onboarding
- customer support
- technical writing
- online communities
Key Concepts
knowledge management
user experience
information architecture
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we design help systems that truly answer user questions?
- What standards ensure wiki content remains accurate and useful?
A Different Perspective
Even well‑intended resources can mislead if not properly curated
