I know how this happens, I do. A tech writer is given a task to "document the product," and it turns out there isn't much to say. But telling the bosses that nope, it's ok, we don't actually need to say anything about this might be perceived as, dunno, not being cooperative. Maybe even suggesting that the writer's job isn't that important.
Anyway, today we have a couple of examples of what might result if the writer (and common sense) does not prevail. First up, we have these, um, helpful instructions that came with a compass that I own:
There must be a universe in which people buy compasses who don't already know what N, E, S, and W mean. I don't believe we live in that universe.
But even that is reasonable compared to the following, which Twitter user Alex Warren posted today:
More dubious guidance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8,
9