Hitchcocks Forum

I think many here will agree with this:-

and here is a glimpse into his workshop --------> ------------>

https://ibb.co/bHyfPQ

Too many people these days think "engineer" means someone who writes, or more likely, thinks they know about software. It doesn't!

REgards, Mark

Second attempt:-

Sorry Mark M, have to disagree. I hold a B.Eng and design brake systems which includes the software. I don't mend boilers, drive trains or do anything with dishwashers and it annoys me when part swapping mechanics and repair men use the title. An Engineer is someone who understands a mechanism and can apply the knowledge practically from first principles and providing documented evidence. Your average heating "engineer" can't usually tell you why the part broke they just swap it. The T-Shirt is true, the world is too complicated for science so you guess the last 5% and see what happens.

Andy

Andy, I do agree with you. I chose "software engineer" as an example but as it happens I was also thinking of "boiler engineer" and recently "engineer" used to me to describe a handyman! It's the apparent ignorance of what engineering actually means as a process and discipline that I was getting at.

REgards, Mark

Hello to the Two Ms----
I also share your feelings on the apparent misuse of the word "Engineer"...Just because a person is involved in Engineering does not make them an "Engineer" per se' does it ??..
On the other hand we can't have just any old person working on our vehicles, homes etc. so I'd hope that even though they may only be changing parts, they have at least the relevant qualifications to cover that type of work ??......And this is not a new thing either....Back in the American "Wild" West their Locomotive drivers were referred to as "Engineers".. Was this because there wasn't a recovery service in those days and thus they had to effect any repairs themselves whilst many miles from home ???.......

And finally at age 68 I'm ashamed / happy to say that this subject matter reminds me of a drinking song from when I was a Marine Engineering Apprentice in the Royal Navy....WARNING !!!!..I'll only post the link as some of a milder disposition may be oh-so easily offended }----------- http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/navysong/Dat ... /B0011.htm ----

ROTFL, love the song. I suppose its good so many people want to be Engineers. Its a shame they feel somehow denigrated by being a mechanic, articifer, technician etc. I'll take someone who calls him/herself a machineist over a "workstation manager" anytime, I assume the former can set to some degree, not just watch the rubbish come out. If I want something fixed rather than getting a report on how it was rubbish to start with, these craft people are the ones you want. Why not celebrate these skills? OK, dishwasher repair man is a rubbish job title I'll give you that. Andy.

The following is a TRUE story}----- a) A few years ago Joyce's car ( A Skoda Fabia 1300 ) slowly developed an odd fault viz}--- the engine's response to the accelerator demand was slow, or lagged behind, or over-reacted !! especially at min. setting or low demand such as entering a roundabout system...Yeah !!--real FUN stuff.....

OK, I had a shrewd idea of what it was but 'er indoors ( ever the pragmatist ) said}-- "Let's take it to the main workshops where they can use their electronic "finggy" to find the fault".......I agreed ( dare I do otherwise ??) and we duly turned up at a pre-booked appointment............The Reception Area was a nice, clean bright room in a medium pastel green with flowers and shrubs everywhere.........."Elevator Music" played in the background as a petite young female receptionist in a pale grey(gray) 2-piece suit approached confidently clutching an A4 clipboard with questionnaire papers attached.......

Twenty mins. later, with all questions duly answered, she took our car keys and headed off to the main workshops....Meanwhile we sat back in the comfy, button-back leather chairs, drank their god-awful free-range Coffee and listened to Mantovani, Pavarottii, Johnny Cash.etc...After approx half an hour she returned, gathered us around the main table and went through the computer print-out in detail, explaining all the relevant highlights...........Eventually, at the very bottom came the final diagnosis which read}---------"Non-Diagnosed Electrical fault" ------- I kid you not, that's exactly what it said and they charged us £40 for the privilege........

Later that week I went to our local "Registered Vehicle Dismantler", ( Scrap Yard to you and me )..purchased a used complete throttle position indicator unit and fitted it myself !!---£20 and a 1000% rating on my Smug Mode Read-out .!!!........With the "Dumb-down" brigade in the ascendant they would say}-- "So what's in a title anyway ??"----------"EVERYTHING" is my reply ..OK, rant over..