Engineers

[ATTAK Z]

Why do some people call themselves "Engineers" when really they are "Technicians" or "Plumbers"
Not that there's anything wrong with being a technician nor a plumber

[Martin Keene]

Because they know it makes them should better, and it's allowed to happen in this country.

I believe calling yourself an Engineer in Japan without the correct qualifications, is similar to calling yourself a Doctor here.

[rustyspit]

Because they have been allowed to get away with it for too long.

I saw David Cameron doing a question & answer session with some Chavs on the telly the other week:

'What do you do?' said Dave, 'I'm a Civil Engineer,' says Chav1 proudly, 'I dig trenches and stuff for the gas board....'

[marshalla]

I are a injuneeer - I got it writted down on a peece of papuh n'everything.

Seriously - I suspect it goes back to the days of ships' engineers and the like - spanner wielding troglodytes found in the depths of arcane machinery. Highly respected and essential, but unfathomable.

[Rocky Balboa]

rustyspit said:

Because they have been allowed to get away with it for too long.

I saw David Cameron doing a question & answer session with some Chavs on the telly the other week:

'What do you do?' said Dave, 'I'm a Civil Engineer,' says Chav1 proudly, 'I dig trenches and stuff for the gas board....'

[TheDetailDoctor]

I'm a proper engineer, designing big stuff, such as planes, F1 cars & railway equipment

[Mister V]

The real engineers are the ones who have to fix things in the field. things that that fake engineers in the fancy offices with cad design in such a way that they break in ways you never though possible.

[Zad]

It is a reserved (or is it protected?) profession in Germany too. In our "arts" obsessed society here, it is deemed degrading if you do anything where you have to use your brain rather than your mouth.

[ATTAK Z]

Mister V said:

The real engineers are the ones who have to fix things in the field. things that that fake engineers in the fancy offices with cad design in such a way that they break in ways you never though possible.

Are they not very good mechanics?

[Stu R]

TheDetailDoctor said:

I'm a proper engineer, designing big stuff, such as planes, F1 cars & railway equipment

Aren't you a designer then? Surely the real engineers are the people like me who fix them when they go wrong, you know, dirty hands every day and all that.

• lights torch, runs off*

[Darkslider]

I've recently completed a two year apprenticeship in a course entitled 'Automotive Engineering'. I assume this means I'm now an Engineer, however I refer to myself as a mechanic or a technician as it gives a more accurate image of the type of work I have undertaken.

[crossle]

TheDetailDoctor said:

I'm a proper engineer, designing big stuff, such as planes, F1 cars & railway equipment

Hmmm. And I had you down as an obsessive car polisher, from your PH name...

[Stu R]

ATTAK Z said:

Mister V said:

The real engineers are the ones who have to fix things in the field. things that that fake engineers in the fancy offices with cad design in such a way that they break in ways you never though possible.

Are they not very good mechanics?

Being as it's your thread, what are the differences between mechanics and engineers to you?

[ATTAK Z]

Stu R - let's have a bit more discussion, then I'll give you my opinion

[Frik]

ATTAK Z said:

Mister V said:

The real engineers are the ones who have to fix things in the field. things that that fake engineers in the fancy offices with cad design in such a way that they break in ways you never though possible.

Are they not very good mechanics?

Quite.

Fixing a real problem with only the tools available to you takes ingenuity.

Coming up with a viable solution to a much more complex problem requires a broader range of skills. Especially when your office isn't particularly fancy.

[dfen5]

Six munfs agu I cud not evun spel injuneer. Now I are one.

Cod bless our engineers! Their CV's are always amusing.

[Ordinary Bloke]

I like the fact that Engineer is something to be proud of in mainland Europe. They put it on their emails, they put it on their business cards.

In the UK, it implies a grubby halfwitted greasemonkey*

• Yes, I have been an Engineer at certain times in my life...

[Swilly]

Its quite irrelevant what various definitions of engineer mean.... what is imortant is that the term should be reserved.

Currently it is only an offence (fraud i believe) to pass yourself off as a Chartered Engineer if you are not one, but the simple term engineer should be similarly reserved and differentiated from technicians, mechanics, maintainers and fixers..

.... and people working in engineering i.e. white van man with 'civil engineering' stickered down the side should also be prohibited from using such terms.

Chartered Engineers of all disciplines hold considerable responsibility and should be recognised for it.

To engineer is to plan, manage and implement and usually includes management of the time and cost elements.

An Engineer is white collar not blue.... that is not to belittle our blue collared oikish friends of course

Edited by Swilly on Tuesday 2nd September 22:36

[freddytin]

Engineer, cockney rhyming slang, along the lines of "Ginger Beer".

[Astacus]

When I think of Engineers, I am thinking of people who understand the physical parameters and limitations of structures and machinery and are able to design these things from a functional perpective. I am thinking Brunel here. Designers are people who deal with the esthetics of the thing.

Mechanics are people who fix things that are already designed and built by others.