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Engineering is reportedly the world's second oldest profession, yet licensing has only been around since the mid-19th century, so I don't think it's particularl
by jordanb 15y ago
Engineering is reportedly the world's second oldest profession, yet licensing has only been around since the mid-19th century, so I don't think it's particularly fair for the licensing regimes to make a claim of exclusivity on the word.
I've met many Electrical Engineers over the years. Some of them are licensed PEs, many are not. The vast majority of the EE projects do not involve a risk to human life and therefore are not required to use PEs. I've never noticed any angst on one side or the other over the use of the word "Engineer" to describe EEs who don't have their PE.
I also have met computer programmers who do write software that involves a risk to human life. They are every bit as meretricious and dedicated to building defect-free systems as engineers in any other discipline.
Arguably, there's no pressure to enact a licensing regime because there have been so few incidents in which software has actually hurt people. That's a testament to the professionalism of the computer engineers who write life-critical systems.
- hollerith 15y ago>Engineering is reportedly the world's second oldest profession What an odd thing to say. Reported by whom (besides you)? Tinkers, blacksmiths and mechanics have been around for a while. Are you including them in your definition of engineer? (James Watt was a mechanic.)
- blrs 15y agoI don't know if engineering is the world's second oldest profession, but its interesting to know what google says is the world's oldest profession: prostitution!
- dctoedt 15y ago> They are every bit as meretricious and dedicated to building defect-free systems as engineers in any other discipline. I think you may have meant "meticulous." Meretricious: 1. alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry. 2. based on pretense, deception, or insincerity. 3. pertaining to or characteristic of a prostitute. [1] [1] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/meretricious http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/meretricious