YSK: People are switching their profile pictures to Microsoft’s Clippy in protest of the unethical, immoral, anti-consumer practices by various companies. The movement was started by Louis Rossmann (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_Dtmpe9qaQ) on August 7th, 2025.
@6:46 “Clippy’s a symbol that what used to be considered one of the worst annoyances in our life would now not only be welcomed, but for all of his flaws, celebrated as an idol. Because for all of these things that occur right now where there is negative malice of intent, […] Clippy just wanted to help. And if you were to turn him on today, unlike most cloud bullshit, he’d still work.”
Louis hopes for this to be a show of solidarity.
@5:44 “When a company CEO logs into their Slack and sees 10,000 Clippy’s looking back at them, what I hope occurs is that they intuitively understand that they no longer live in a world where they can get away with fucking over the consumer.”
@5:58 “[…] that [people] are alert and they are aware of what is going on, and they are going to politely but firmly push back against it. Every single one of those 10,000 people will be an obstacle to the anti-consumer practices and the anti-ownership practices, and they will no longer be another cog in the assembly line sending us all into a dystopia.”
Why YSK: I was curious about the number of Clippy avatars, and thought other people might be curious too.
@4:28 “Clippy never tried to normalize sex trafficking. He just wanted to help.”
Let’s see where this goes
People whenever something like this (particularly protests that aren’t violent uprisings) happens: “It’s not a sole and immediate solution, so it’s pointless. Also I’m not going to provide a realistic sole and immediate solution that I’m personally willing to act on or lead. Might as well shut up and go quietly.”
I get that it’s frustrating, but stop trying to slam the door on people trying to build up an environment of resistance, solidarity, and hope. If you can encourage that energy into a more effective direction, then by all means: lead the way. Trying to appear like some savvy intellectual superior and just telling people they’re wasting their time isn’t the way to do that.
Don’t you know that doing anything ever is a complete waste of time unless it immediately solves the problem in a single action? It only took five afternoons online watching ineffectual people whine about people doing literally anything for me to learn that valuable lesson.
Not savvy intellectual superior–Russian plant.
Thank you for writing this good and awesome comment.
“When a company CEO logs into their Slack and sees 10,000 Clippy’s looking back at them, what I hope occurs is that they intuitively understand that they no longer live in a world where they can get away with fucking over the consumer.”
No they won’t, they will understand that they need to make sure they’re improving the PR for their shitty practices and have robust RnD in place to make sure their long-term shitty practice plans are evolving
Against an ever-rising tide of pushback and not putting up with it and seeing through their bullshit?
I dunno this sounds like how somebody talks when they’re trying to get the good guys to lose. I’m sure it’s nothing though.
YouTubers doing YouTubers thing.
This reminds me of old “solidarity” profile picture filters that came out after the Arab Spring and later for France. Solidarity was cool but 2 clicks and a picture that doesn’t amount in any significant action or real participation and is VERY ignorable by people above the line. News media will easily spin it into whatever narrative they want as well
If the Apicalypse of Reddit was any lesson…
They will first think “Yo, that’s trademarked!” and then “Lool, a little strawfire, this’ll quickly burn out”.
You can not expect human empathy or even ability to reflect on self from their kind. They are broken by human standards.
I’m not doing the profile picture thing, sorry. It’s stupid and forces me to commit to one issue at a time.
Instead, I’ll put a clippy in the replies when relevant.
📎💬
forces me to commit to one issue at a time
Skill issue
Paperclips in your comments are a bit more annoying in comparison, also you’ll just forget them.
The newest rossmann video explains the idea more, but in short the goal is to get a feel for how large the movement is, not creating some slogan.
This comment section is full of god damn losers who enjoy losing, and want to use any given opportunity to help a little bit to instead sing the praises of their enemies.
Maybe it’s not just the evil maga cunts and the spineless democrats alone who made this mess. Maybe it’s you defeatist whining pussies in this comment section, too.
The correct energy is “fuck yeah, what other ideas and movements can this fit into, support, and help”. Get on board with that, whether you Clippy or not.
Clippy
clips
back
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His name is Clipit, god damn it.
Oh yeah, let’s show them! We’ll show them that even as a symbol of protest we have to use something corporation made.
Microsoft thanks you for the free advertisement.
deleted by creator
I did read the transcript. How the fuck does it change the fact that you’re giving Microsoft free advertisement?
Like, no matter how much you spin the story, the fact remains that this is a Microsoft’s mascot you’re now spreading around.
I’ll keep my corporate boycott without advertising company’s mascots to everyone.
The video isn’t that long.
Definitely not spending 8 minutes of my time on a “protest” video that somehow ends up advertising a corporation.
I did read the transcript in the post and the reasoning is idiotic.
It’s not advertising a corporation lmao, he spends half the video ranting about how much he hates Microsoft
Cool, cool and as a revenge he chooses a cute looking symbol made by said corporation. Yeah, that’ll show them!
That’s free advertisement, all common people need to see is a funny ad featuring Clippy and suddenly all the profile pictures will have a different meaning.
I have no idea why you’re so proudly ignorant.
Just watch the video or move along and accept that you aren’t informed.
That’s kinda rich coming from you. The video is not needed at all. I don’t care about the intent, the fact remains that people are spreading Microsoft’s mascot online.
Simplified enough for you to understand:
- is what I said true? Just a yes/no question, no reasoning, no explanations, no reality twisting
- if you came to the conclusion that yes, it indeed does spread Microsoft’s mascot online, here’s another yes/no question: will most people read or know the reasoning behind?
- if you chose no, they won’t know the reasoning, here’s the last question (this one is not a yes/no question, might be a little harder for people like you): given the two above facts, will this be perceived as a protest by most people, or simply as using clippy for fun/nostalgia/whatever reason?
Thanks writing it all out instead of making us watch the video.
For real! I hate to watch video media for things like this. I mean, I’m on Lemmy and not tiktok or YT for a reason…
The transcription with timestamps of the important taking points, chef’s kiss.
Thanks op.
:) happy to help! I appreciate the appreciation
I don’t mean to get off topic but effective synopsis of media is a massive value add. Making ideas cross platform AND cross media types is helpful, not detrimental. Advertisements are your enemy, not viewers.
When a company CEO logs into their Slack and sees 10,000 Clippy’s
Software engineers will do anything but unionize
Unionised software developer here. I think you’re more referring to just Americans.
Well, no
I think a lot of se jobs are not unionizable basically because they do not generate direct profit but only investments.
The best time to unionize was yesterday. Second best is right now!
This right here. Unions are a much more potent way to tell management “that anti-consumer idea is bullshit and we won’t do it.”
I’ve been tech conferencing all week and I’ve already seen two talks about unionizing tech workers. Maybe the tide is turning?
You could unionize and invest the minimal effort into being part of an awareness/solidarity campaign.
Honestly…yeah. I’ve been trying to push that boulder but I can’t be the only one.
Very few people are willing to break rank because the system is working for them for now.
Yall have the ability to change your avatars?!
Oh? Something tells me it’s they don’t now, they’ll be part of a union at their next job. It’s coming for all of us, just sooner for some.
“When a company CEO logs into their Slack and sees 10,000 Clippy’s looking back at them, what I hope occurs is that they intuitively understand that they no longer live in a world where they can get away with fucking over the consumer.”
Ahh yes. The CEO sees the slactivists’ avatars sand sighs loudly before turning their thoughts back to their yacht and upcoming golf vacation.
Yea this is some bonkers wishful thinking. This is basically the Jeremey Clarkson “oh no! Anyway…” meme
The CEO sees the clippys, starts crying and gives everyone a raise
Then everyone claps
I’ll highjack this comment to add my opinion - I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for the main post.
I see the profile picture as performative (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). I don’t want to fall into a habit of doing performative things and feeling like it’s enough action. I also recognize Clippy is a flawed choice, as one of Microsoft’s mascots and it’s existence as a proto-AI assistant.
All of that said, I found the solidarity in the comment section of the original video comforting. So today, I will perform (and maybe spread just a little more awareness).
I don’t see it just as a performance, but rather a way to find like-minded peopel and build a community that will eventually get things rolling in the right direction. Every movement needs some kind of criical mass to achieve something and a call to action -no matter how miniscule and benign - is a good way of setting things into motion.
True! I know “performative” has a pretty negative connotation and can be used dismissively, but I really do believe there can be power behind simple collective actions like these. Particularly as a starting point for something more.
I’m always puzzled when people tear these things down rather than use them to build into something greater. Channel that energy while it’s there and people are fired up! If someone has ideas that they believe will be more effective, now’s a great time to pitch them - and without insulting the people they’re pitching them to.
It takes a special kind of wishful thinking to think that any CEO is UNAWARE that their customers hate them.
Not a single one thinks any of these decisions are well-received.
They do it because people keep turning RIGHT AROUND and spending their money and attention anyway.
It’s a special kind of Stockholm Syndrome digital slavery because people can LITERALLY just walk away and choose not to.
