3 ms·

Greenspun first attempts to define what being "professional" does not mean in the context of software engineering (dress nicely, drive a clean car, don't offend

Greenspun first attempts to define what being "professional" does not mean in the context of software engineering (dress nicely, drive a clean car, don't offend), then discusses what makes one surgeon "more professional" than another (competence, innovation, and teaching account for full points), and finally describes how a software engineer would accommodate that standard. The talk does not hinge on the semantics of the term. And on a surgeon's cleanliness, note that Greenspun is referring to the surgeon's car, not hands or other parts. (Though perhaps some doctors could use help in that department: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/getting-doctors-to-wash-their-hands/ http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/getting-doctors-to-...)

vacri 14y ago
I did mishear the comment, but immediately prior he's saying he doesn't expect the surgeon to be well-dressed. Which is wrong in itself - being well-dressed and looking orderly is important for surgeons because it helps put patients at ease and builds rapport with them. I didn't give the speech more than a few minutes because he seemed quite confused by the term - while the speech might not hang on the semantics, I was thinking 'what can he offer if he can't even keep his context straight'. Also, taking your summary as a pracie, it seems to be missing a fundamental part of acting professional: a measured response when acting with others, be it clients or other professionals. You can be competant, inovative, and teach and still be a histrionic, self-aggrandising arsehole that creates drama left, right, and centre. 'Being professional' includes downplaying drama that isn't directly related to the core work of the profession (if your lab is about to run out of a critical isotope, this isn't a drama you want to downplay).
- pseut 14y ago
  Dude, surgeons basically wear pajamas all day. Occasionally they'll throw on a white coat over top.

vacri 14y ago

I did mishear the comment, but immediately prior he's saying he doesn't expect the surgeon to be well-dressed. Which is wrong in itself - being well-dressed and looking orderly is important for surgeons because it helps put patients at ease and builds rapport with them. I didn't give the speech more than a few minutes because he seemed quite confused by the term - while the speech might not hang on the semantics, I was thinking 'what can he offer if he can't even keep his context straight'. Also, taking your summary as a pracie, it seems to be missing a fundamental part of acting professional: a measured response when acting with others, be it clients or other professionals. You can be competant, inovative, and teach and still be a histrionic, self-aggrandising arsehole that creates drama left, right, and centre. 'Being professional' includes downplaying drama that isn't directly related to the core work of the profession (if your lab is about to run out of a critical isotope, this isn't a drama you want to downplay).

pseut 14y ago
Dude, surgeons basically wear pajamas all day. Occasionally they'll throw on a white coat over top.