From: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!cbosgd!jcg Newsgroups: net.movies Title: Engineers (sheer, unadulterated flaming) Article-I.D.: cbosgd.3322 Posted: Tue Mar 22 09:24:30 1983 Received: Wed Mar 23 08:55:22 1983 "DON'T YOU THINK IT'S TIME ENGINEERS GOT SOME RECOGNITION" Mister Daniel W. Meeks has called for engineers getting an even break in the positive publicity department. Though it is true that engineers have accumulated a bad reputation for unsocial traits over the years, Mister Meeks, in his submission, shows us exactly why. Until engineers learn to speak, write and spell in their native language (read that, communicate as normal human beings) they will always be the brunt of jokes among the more clever sections of the intellectual community. Over the years, the common thread of all civilized, well-educated men and women, has been, and will always be, the ability to communicate thoughts and ideas to one another intelligently. Many engineers (though not exclusively) have distinct problems in this area. From Mister Meeks' article, I suspect he is a classic example. The argument that engineers are somehow different and do not need to be well-versed in the use of their own language is vacuous. What doctor, lawyer, scientist, politician, teacher, warrior, nurse, inventor, etc. worth their salt could not form a basic written sentence in their native language? Please Mister Meeks, spare me your pleas for pity. As a Computer Scientist, I have had to struggle to reverse the lazy attitudes taught to me by narrow minded "engineer-types" concerning the importance of the world beyond my terminal. Communication, both verbal and written, is the greatest part of my job now (though Applications and Systems software continues to spew from my keyboard) and I laugh at those who claim an engineer needs only technical skills. Phooey! Working to save engineers from vanity, Jim Grams P.S. Please move further discussion to net.lang or net.flame where it belongs.