Engineers as Users

[Spaceman Spiff]

Since this subject's about engineers, here's my 2¢ worth:

In my engineering career, I've observed three types of engineers. The first assumes to know everything there is about computers (and everything else technical) and makes reckless changes without understanding the consequences of the actions. The second doesn't want to know anything about computers and only wants everything to work perfectly all the time, everytime, no matter what. The third, a vast minority, wants to know all about computers and takes the time and energy to research the subject, ask intelligent questions, keep up on the latest software and hardware advances, etc. That person invariably gets tagged as "nework boy" by most engineering organizations and is loved by some and hated by most of his peers (or her peers, as the case may be).

Unfortunately for "my kind", most engineers are simply egotistical a$$holes that couldn't begin to humble themselves regarding anything remotely technical, as if it's a personnal affront to their abilities when a technical issue arises. Quite simply, most are afraid to admit they don't know something. An engineer doesn't have all the answers, regardless of what they think, but a good engineer will know how to find the answers. Without trying to make this sound corny, it's too bad we reflect so poorly on such a noble pursuit. Anyway, that's all I have to say about this subject.

Yesterday I couldn't spell "engineer", now I are one...

[Platypus]

A couple of years ago I installed a new washing machine for a retired Engineer. Just short of his house the truck started to boil, so when I arrived I asked to top up the radiator with water. "Don't leave that water in it" he warned. "When you get back to town, empty it out and fill it with COOLANT." I said nothing. He knew these things, he said, he was an Engineer.

I moved a "fantastic plastic" machine out of his laundry, and set up the new large, heavy one (a Speed Queen, you'll know in the US). The laundry floor was timber, and bounced a bit when it spun up. Engineer was quite put out. The old one didn't do that, & this expensive new one is supposed to be much better. I proceeded to explain to an Engineer that Resonance is a function of Mass and Compliance. The floor has the same compliance as before but the Washing Machine has much greater mass, so the resonant frequency is much lower. The spin rate of the washer can now reach resonance, whereas it couldn't with the old, lighter machine.

He grunted & grumbled, but he knew I was right! After all, he was an Engineer.

[NTTECH1]

I have seen this before best sugguestion is to run the app CADD from the Server WINNT Server 4.0 or OS/2 Warp Server. Setup the user files in the server and run the APP on the WS.

[bruta]

I hate that when it happens

My DC3 crashed and when I came into the office I had to bump the system and found that I hated everyone in the office because they blamed me. Thats BS, so I feel for ya man

[crtlaltdel]

Yep gotta love it, we gave a dept here internet access, that was a mistake. They immediately loaded Ao hell instant messenger, my boss wasn't happy about that and on top of it all the whole company even our satellite offices are getting access. SNET was here all day friday installing the rest of the 5 T-1 lines

[Radical Dreamer]

could nothave said it any better myself

[Budster64]

ok...I know I have said this more than once in these forums but here goes.
The engineers we have here are ID10T's!!!!!!!!!! all of them with the exception of...nope they're ALL ID10T savants(although I am not sure what they are savant in yet) who have trouble even logging into their computers in the morning, using an address book, reinstalling a printer, mapping a network drive, changing the size of their screen,etc etc etc ad infinitum.

I have never seen such a bunch of high falutin inept A$$holes in all my life.

but on the lighter side...nope there is NO lighter side.

WHEW...that felt good

[King Grover]

I am smack-dab in the middle of the engineering dept here surrounded by about 50 of them types. We have a prett simple policy. If I/S did not purchas the software or approve it, we will not support it. The machines belong to us, not you. We can do wahtever we want to them at anytime we feel. You have plenty of network storage space, so do not store any data on your hard drive. It will carash. If you need to store data on your hard drive, it is your responsibility to back it up as often as necessary. you harddrive will crash and I will ghost your machine. DO NOT NSTALL SOFTWARE> That is MY job. thank younullDO NOT NSTALL SOFTWARE

[SNAFU]

Originally posted by QSECOFR:
That's why they're engineers, not techs.

'Nuff said. The worst calls...the worst problems...the worst users...are the Engineers. The best way to deal with them...is to send someone else!!

[LagMonster]

it is funny to see the look on people face when you bust them.. whats even funnier is listening to their explanations.

"I am using the beta because its more stable"

Whats wrong with this picture.