It’s bad enough that Microsoft is developing some sort of virtual Thought Police for the office, but the sinister-sounding system will also apparently include a built-in micromanagement function. To wit:

The patent application, published Dec. 27, describes a program that would monitor users’ computer activity, automatically offer help solving problems or links to information resources, and even allow supervisory monitoring of users…

I mean, it’s one thing to keep a paranoiac, oppressive set of rules and constraints in place to enslave your workforce and keep your nose in their business, but another thing altogether to deliberately implement a system that automatically second-guesses your hapless minions.

I mean, that’s tantamount to evil. Sadistic, at the very least. You thought that stupid fucking paperclip was bad? Ha! Wait ’til management drops this bad boy on you. You’ll long for the days your machine only offered to screw up your Word documents. Now it’ll be offering its “help” for your whole career.