He did the art but the idea behind it was Melinda Gates. She wanted to make computers approachable to people who had never used a computer. Microsoft Bob was the result and Clippy was the remnant of Bob.
That’s why I have a small problem with Rossman using Clippy. Rossman’s idea is good but Clippy represents helping people use a computer for the very first time. There was no anti consumer late stage capitalism in Clippy. It popped up in a corner so if you had never used a computer it would catch your attention. You didn’t have to use it. You could turn it off permanently with a single click.
If the Linux man command had a logo, it would be like co opting that logo to represent anti consumer practices. The man command is there to help when you don’t know what to do.
A cartoon drawing (by pmvj) of Clippy with a sly expression with text that reads “if I knew how to steal and sell your data in '97 I would’ve done it”.
He did the art but the idea behind it was Melinda Gates. She wanted to make computers approachable to people who had never used a computer. Microsoft Bob was the result and Clippy was the remnant of Bob.
That’s why I have a small problem with Rossman using Clippy. Rossman’s idea is good but Clippy represents helping people use a computer for the very first time. There was no anti consumer late stage capitalism in Clippy. It popped up in a corner so if you had never used a computer it would catch your attention. You didn’t have to use it. You could turn it off permanently with a single click.
If the Linux man command had a logo, it would be like co opting that logo to represent anti consumer practices. The man command is there to help when you don’t know what to do.
I think you encapsulated one big reason why despite him being logical about most things, he constantly rubs me the wrong way.
Well you’re not supposed to rub clippy on yourself in the first place.
It’s clear to me clippy was chosen solely due to it’s pop cultural appeal and has since been successfully co-opted as the new face of the movement.
A cartoon drawing (by pmvj) of Clippy with a sly expression with text that reads “if I knew how to steal and sell your data in '97 I would’ve done it”.
I think that was the reason he gave for using clippy?
“Clippy didn’t spy on you, he just wanted to help”, as a contrast to copilot etc.