Most DMV clerks, bank clerks, post office clerks, etc, come off as passive aggressive assholes.<p>It's not because these people are assholes in their home life. It's because that's a function of the job. The easiest, fastest way for mankind to get things done is for some people to be flat, monotonous, and uninspired from 9-5. That doesn't mean that they're not normal human beings any other time.]<p>I would rather have a form tell me what's wrong as accurately and briefly as possible than try to be nice or helpful. I can't remember it was Joel Spolsky or PG that said something along the lines of "Give me what I need, and then get out of my way."