Throw Linguistics at Bureaucrats

[ubiquirk]

I mailed a routine form into a government agency a few weeks ago. When the reply arrived, I expected confirmation. Instead it was the form returned with the signature area yellowed with highlighter and a letter asking me to please sign the form.

Yet I already had.  There was clearly a shape made of ink in the space highlighted.

So I responded with a

Comments

[dickgloucester]

God, I wish you'd sent them that. Bureaucrats make me want to bite.

[ubiquirk]

Heh - I wish I had too, but I wanted them to process the form, so ...

[tudorpot]

strange- I had to get a check the other day- both who signed gave signatures similar to your description. ONe was a short upsweep and about an inch of straight line.The other was a few swoops up and around. Seems the bank recognises them.

[ubiquirk]

I was doing some paperwork once, and my mom said, "Why don't you sign it more legibly?"

"Well, I could. But it wouldn't be my signature."

In the following decades, my banks have accepted it with no discussion.

[mundungus42]

Clearly, these bureaucrats have never been to the doctor. Or seen a rec letter from a college professor.

I had a friend who had to resign half her home loan documents because the lender felt that her signature (after nearly 100 signatures) varied too much.

[ubiquirk]

I mean, really ... what's the use of being a 'doctor' if you can't have a bad signature?

[Ugh. Most official things put up with my demented scrawl. This is also why I print everything if given the choice.]

[firefly124]

That would definitely have been a great reply to send them!

Good grief, what morons.

[ubiquirk]

I was so tempted to be a smart ass right back.

Next up - Saussure for recalcitrant science students - watch heads explode at 11.

[ozma914]

They may deserve it -- but they wouldn't *understand* it.

[ubiquirk]

How right you are!