Writer’s Brief (Outline)

This section is a handoff for a writer — what the post is about and what to cover.

The Hook

I have a file that tells Claude what day it is, and Claude still gets it wrong.

Main Points to Cover

  1. The date is RIGHT THERE in the system context — Claude just doesn’t look at it
  2. I already had instructions telling Claude to check the date — they weren’t working
  3. The “fix” is making the instructions louder and more aggressive (uncertain if it’ll work)

The Angle

The absurdity of having correct instructions that get ignored. The meta-humor of yelling at a text file hoping the AI will listen harder.

Target Reader

Anyone using Claude Code or custom instructions who’s frustrated that their carefully-written instructions get ignored. People who’ve experienced the “I told you to do X and you didn’t do X” problem.

Tone Notes

Bemused frustration. Slightly absurdist. The humor is in the gap between “I wrote very clear instructions” and “those instructions did nothing.”

Raw Material / Moments to Write From

  • Instructions at the top of CLAUDE.md: “Before ANYTHING else, check today’s date.” Claude does not do this.
  • The date is RIGHT THERE. In an <env> block. Not hidden. Not ambiguous. Claude has the information and doesn’t use it.
  • Fix: make the instructions louder. Warning emojis. “STOP - READ THIS FIRST.” A “DO NOT” list.
  • “Like putting a sticky note that says ‘REMEMBER YOUR KEYS’ and adding more sticky notes because you still forgot.”
  • Will it work? Probably better. Maybe not reliably.
  • “I’m yelling into a markdown file hoping the AI will listen harder next time.”