Did You Know?
The proper way to use the Gem™ style paper clip (seen massively above) is probably not the way you’re accustomed to. The smaller side should be located at the front of the papers being held together. That way, a greater amount of the papers’ surface area can be lifted for more complete casual viewing. The problem is that for whatever reason it’s a much more natural motion to apply the clip in a top-to-bottom, moving away from the body motion by catching the larger side on the top of the sheaf. One needs to teach oneself to do it the other way even though the result is a much better arrangement.
A similar situation occurs with corded telephones. Most people introduce an inadvertent 180° twist in the process of picking up the phone, holding it to the ear, then putting the receiver back on the cradle. Both lefties and righties do this, but in opposite directions. This is why so many of those coiled cords get twisted up and ugly so rapidly, and why more than a few people patented those rotating cord attachments.
I have no idea whether these subconscious subversions of everyday objects constitute poor design or if the perversity of people is such that anything is subject to misuse. Or poor use. Or suboptimal use. Or whatever.
A brief visual history of the paper clip.
09 Mar 2009 Mon at 11:14 pm
i vote for the nifty clip and the owl clip. they are my favorites.
10 Mar 2009 Tue at 9:48 am
My guess is that “theoretical” doesn’t always jive with “optimal”.
10 Mar 2009 Tue at 10:01 am
Uhm. Yes.
10 Mar 2009 Tue at 3:34 pm
this post frightens me too much. i just keep waiting for that damn clippie to come flying out asking me if i need help. DIE CLIPPY DIE!!
11 Mar 2009 Wed at 10:47 am
My corded telephone is clipped shaped … what should I do?
11 Mar 2009 Wed at 5:07 pm
Ask for a refund.
12 Mar 2009 Thu at 10:03 am
I didn’t know there were so many types of paper clips. I actually prefer binder clips… http://tinyurl.com/dxqzoy
25 Mar 2009 Wed at 3:43 am
What’s his/her name???
25 Mar 2009 Wed at 7:31 am
?
11 Jun 2009 Thu at 10:23 am
The only problem with the method described above is that the torsion of the paperclip causes the larger portion of the clip (located behind the set of clipped sheets) to raise slightly, but just enough so that other sheets become stuck to the set of sheets you are working with. That is why I have never used a paper clip the “proper” way. Furthermore, I just conducted my own experiment and discovered that the difference in the area available for reviewing when using the “proper” method is minimal at best. Thus, I will continue to use the paperclip in the “improper” way because it really does work better for me.