Engineers Don’t Get No Respect…
Why does everybody else look down on us engineers. They think we are all nerds, nothing but nerds, with no interests or skills or knowledge other than techie stuff. This point is made and amplified over and over by Scott Adams with the wonderfully realistic Dilbert comic strip. These introductory panels from the Sunday, May 25, 2008, strip are classic… and typical…
This mindset was given legs by the dolt from the dark side who coined the phrase, It doesn’t take a rocket scientist. Well, excuse me, but yes it does. Scientists, engineers, technicians… Yes, it does…
Do you people not understand who is really in charge here? … Who is important here? The President disappears for a few days — no one cares. If a salesman or accountant or librarian takes a week off, you forget about them. If a lawyer never shows up again, it’s a good thing. But if the Engineers decided to stay at home one day, the world goes nuts and shuts down. Sure, we are cram full of techie stuff that makes the world go round and brings you all the wonderful gadgetry that you hang around your neck, stick in your ear, clip to your belt, and will soon have implanted under the skin behind the ear — by government edict, of course. And yes, we understand that you don’t understand it and don’t want to understand it and it bores the hell out of you when we talk about it. You just want it to work…
Then be nice to us. Bring us chocolate…
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We are indeed hexed in life…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CmYDgncMhXw
You don’t hear me complaining about engineers. I know it’s handy to have a fixer upper in the house… of course, I do admit they have a few personality quirks but then you didn’t ask about that
I actually think nice thoughts about engineers quite frequently.
Especially when I think about stuff my life depends on, like, say, bridges and the brakes in my car.
We are all, indeed, indebted. Didn’t know chocolate was a favored reward.
I noticed a long time ago that they blush quite easily.
heh…I’ve had some fun with that.
Chocolate? Is that all you want? You guys ARE the bomb you know. None of us could function without you…..but you already know that. Hey I love the ‘implant under the skin’ thingy. Why didn’t you mention the ’sweet and lovable’ thingy? Or is that just you?
I live with an engineer and I bring him a hell of a lot more than chocolate…and what I get in return is that everything always gets fixed. A very nice exchange.
So true, so true.
And even more so of mythematicians (sic!)
Stu
PS: I’ll be taking flak for my blogpost today too….
Engineers — gotta love ‘em — at least I have to since I took the two word oath.
Understanding Engineers – One
Two engineering students were walking across a university campus when one said, “Where did you get such a great bike?” The second engineer replied, “Well, I was walking along yesterday,minding my own business, when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike, threw it to the ground, took off all her clothes and said, “Take what you want.” The first engineer nodded approvingly and said, “Good choice; the clothes probably wouldn’t have fitted you anyway.”
Understanding Engineers – Two
To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
Understanding Engineers – Three
A priest, a doctor, and an engineer were waiting one morning for a particularly slow group of golfers. The engineer fumed, “What’s with those guys? We must have been waiting for fifteen minutes!” The doctor chimed in, “I don’t know, but I’ve never seen such inept golf!” The priest said, “Here comes the green-keeper. Let’s have a word with him.” He said, “Hello George, what’s wrong with that group ahead of us? They’re rather slow, aren’t they?” The green-keeper replied, “Oh, yes. That’s a group of blind firemen. They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from a fire last year, so we always let them play for free anytime.” The group fell silent for a moment. The priest said, “That’s so sad. I think I will say a special prayer for them tonight.” The doctor said, “Good idea. I’m going to contact my ophthalmologist colleague and see if there’s anything he can do for them.” The engineer said, “Why can’t they play at night?”
Understanding Engineers – Four
What is the difference between mechanical engineers and civil engineers?
Mechanical engineers build weapons and civil engineers build targets.
Understanding Engineers – Five
The graduate with a science degree asks,” Why does it work?” The graduate with an engineering degree asks, “How does it work?” The graduate with an accounting degree asks, “How much will it cost?” The graduate with an arts degree asks, “Do you want fries with that?”
Understanding Engineers – Six
Three engineering students were gathered together discussing who must have designed the human body. One said, “It was a mechanical engineer. Just look at all the joints.” Another said, “No, it was an electrical engineer. The nervous system has many thousands of electrical connections.” The last one said, “No, actually it had to have been a civil engineer. Who else would run a toxic waste pipeline through a recreational area?”
Understanding Engineers – Seven
Normal people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.
Understanding Engineers – Eight
An engineer was crossing a road one day, when a frog called out to him and said, “If you kiss me, I’ll turn into a beautiful princess.” He bent over, picked up the frog and put it in his pocket. The frog spoke up again and said, “If you kiss me I’ll turn back into a beautiful princess and stay with you for one week.” The engineer took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it and returned it to the pocket. The frog then cried out, “If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I’ll stay with you for one week and do ANYTHING you want.” Again, the engineer took the frog out, smiled at it and put it back into his pocket. Finally, the frog asked, “What is the matter? I’ve told you I’m a beautiful princess and that I’ll stay with you for one week and do anything you want. Why won’t you kiss me?” The engineer said, “Look, I’m an engineer. I don’t have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog, now that’s cool.”
ROFL @ twomartini!!!
Excellent post.