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Wrong analogy. Your analogy compares demands of a specialized non-intellectual profession (plumbing) that does not value general problem solving with abilities

Wrong analogy. Your analogy compares demands of a specialized non-intellectual profession (plumbing) that does not value general problem solving with abilities of someone who is purportedly good in general problem-solving in addition to possessing industry-specific expert knowledge (your fluid mechanics expert). While here we are talking about a profession (software engineering) that does value general problem-solving ability except it also requires additional industry-specific expert knowledge.

protomyth 13y ago
"specialized non-intellectual profession (plumbing) that does not value general problem solving" Haven't worked with any plumber I take it? A plumber does quite a bit of general problem solving.
- eru 13y ago
  Yes. So the distinction is more like abstract problem solving.
wavefunction 13y ago
Your description of plumbing is so off that I don't know where to begin. I assume you have a similar conception about other "working class" professions? My brother was "just" a welder and could look at the blueprints produced and approved by experienced architects and engineers and tell them exactly why their designs would fail under load and how to fix them on the fly without massive cost overruns. I urge you to reconsider your preconceptions about people working in "non-intellectual" professions.
- bluekeybox 13y ago
  I'm very impressed by your brother's ability, and I believe that if he exercised it to its full extent, he would not be "just a welder" as you describe.
  - wavefunction 13y ago
    Well that's why I put it in quotation marks, to indicate that the description was a bit sarcastic. He worked as a welder for a good ten years (17-27) before going to college to get a degree in construction management. My main point is that people in the "trades" are often just as intellectual and capable as anyone else might be.

protomyth 13y ago

"specialized non-intellectual profession (plumbing) that does not value general problem solving" Haven't worked with any plumber I take it? A plumber does quite a bit of general problem solving.

eru 13y ago
Yes. So the distinction is more like abstract problem solving.

wavefunction 13y ago

Your description of plumbing is so off that I don't know where to begin. I assume you have a similar conception about other "working class" professions? My brother was "just" a welder and could look at the blueprints produced and approved by experienced architects and engineers and tell them exactly why their designs would fail under load and how to fix them on the fly without massive cost overruns. I urge you to reconsider your preconceptions about people working in "non-intellectual" professions.

bluekeybox 13y ago
I'm very impressed by your brother's ability, and I believe that if he exercised it to its full extent, he would not be "just a welder" as you describe.
- wavefunction 13y ago
  Well that's why I put it in quotation marks, to indicate that the description was a bit sarcastic. He worked as a welder for a good ten years (17-27) before going to college to get a degree in construction management. My main point is that people in the "trades" are often just as intellectual and capable as anyone else might be.