[quote]PonceDeLeon wrote:
With all due respect to the software engineers, as much as I admire their profession (I am studying database design and interface design) I have always been baffled by the misnomer of “engineer.”
“Programmer” would be more accurate, as I consider the traditional engineering disciplines that deal with the physical sciences to be more deserving of the “engineer” label.
Just like when I see “education engineer” or “customer support engineer.” Dude, unless you studied heat of reaction shit and mechanics and fluid dynamics, etc, AND you at least have to recall SOME of that shit for your job, you are NOT an engineer. I studied engineering - switched out, didn’t like it - and that is some different shit.
Programmers are wicked smart, and I understand many of them are computer engineering majors - and therefore have to study the core engineering stuff - with an emphasis on software, but they just don’t get their hands dirty with engineering-level stuff in their 9-5s.
Now, if someone can convince me otherwise, I’m all ears. Not trying to shit on anyone’s talents at all, and I was born and raised in the Silicon Valley…[/quote]
My job title is “Software Developer”, fwiw. I consider myself an engineer because I use applied math to find economical solutions to practical problems. Also because of my Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering degrees :P.
I would never consider wasting time on a PE certification unless an employer required it, which is highly unlikely.
[quote]poophead wrote:
SteelyD, just curious but why’d you leave surveying?
I worked for a surveyor (doing drafting) and many times wished I was in the field more…[/quote]
Because I learned to write Mapping/CAD/GIS software. It turns out that you make a shitload more money programming software for GPS units than using them
This thread or a similar one has cropped up before. I remember one poster was adamant that the only logical profession for a T-Man was a bull-raper. I have no idea why…
[quote]PonceDeLeon wrote:
CaliforniaLaw wrote:
Hucker wrote: I am a trainee lawyer and, to be frank, feel like a pussy doing such a white collar job.
Umm… TC is a writer. Is he not a “T-Man”?
And I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks of writers. If you have ever been swayed, humored, angered, whatever…after reading ANYTHING, you have to pay homage to the art of writing.
I think if you look at the most famous writers you can see the absolute test of sanity and will with regards to the starving-artist lifestyle.
I recall reading that Garcia Marquez, my favorite author, got the idea for 100 Years of Solitude while driving somewhere with his family. He turns the car around, drives home and locks himself in a room where he spends 18 months, smoking 4 packs a day until he finishes the novel. The family had to sell their furniture just to support his smoking habit.
And it is one of the most incredible pieces of literature ever written. That’s the stuff of urban legend, except it actually happened. I’m convinced I need a vice if I’m to ever become a famous writer.[/quote]
You continually impress me with your superb taste, Ponce.
I was a linguist in the Navy, and for the government afterward. I have a degree in arabic language. I love the language and hate the job. So I decided to start over and am getting ready to start up school to get another degree as an RN. I want to work for the VA eventually. Right now I play bartender, and I’m much happier than I was before making 10x as much, and excited about the future.
I’ve never felt like I had an actual calling or anything. I’m jealous of people who do.
[quote]njrusmc wrote:
I’m just busting your chops. I still consider scripting real programming given that you follow good SE principles and don’t just shit code on paper. Having done both I consider them of equal difficulty, more or less.
[/quote]
Little do you know that I just shit code onto paper.
[quote]tom8658 wrote:
theAnj wrote:
I’ve never felt like I had an actual calling or anything. I’m jealous of people who do.
x2
I almost went into linguistics and classical languages - really cool material, not many job prospects that I could see.[/quote]
I’m like both of you. Music major, could have majored in either Chinese or Classics (my Chinese/Latin would be better than they are now). And I probably still wouldn’t have had a job in those fields. I never felt a real “calling” to any certain career. I got a bachelor’s in something that interested me, but there are a ton of different jobs I could see myself doing long-term.
I currently work in retail. I make good commission for selling people $200 jeans and $90 T-shirts (and I have no qualms about selling it to them…it’s their money). I think it’s a lot of fun, and the money is good if you have decent salesmanship. The problem is that few people are motivated enough.
I work for a freight express company, loading and unloading trucks, with 90% of it by freaking hand !!! Putting in pallets and throwing more heavy assed package boxes on top of them, to the trailer ceiling !!! Or I get to do FULL TRUCKS of hand unloading, packed from floor to ceiling… JOYS !!!
Something tells me, THIS AIN’T THE JOB FOR ME, DEEP DOWN… Boys keep doing shoulders and backs all the time, I have been told, so my ass is looking for a new job, ASAP.
