Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttidcc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!linus!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe From: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: New Discussion (first meetings) Message-ID: <99@ttidcc.UUCP> Date: Mon, 20-Jan-86 14:04:44 EST Article-I.D.: ttidcc.99 Posted: Mon Jan 20 14:04:44 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 23-Jan-86 10:25:10 EST References: <705@leadsv.UUCP> <130400004@hpfcls.UUCP> <723@leadsv.UUCP> <1572@lumiere.UUCP> <430@ur-helheim.UUCP> Reply-To: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) Organization: The Cat Factory Lines: 39 Summary: In article <430@ur-helheim.UUCP> dave@helheim.UUCP (David F. Carlson) writes: >In article <1572@lumiere.UUCP> richl@lumiere.UUCP (Rick Lindsley) writes: >>If you are a programmer, are you proud of it? Indifferent? Ashamed? > >There's this woman who I know and I've met several others like her, >that MUST be ashamed of what they do-- they can not bear the title >programmer. "Software Engineer", PLEASE!!! Programmer sounds like >COBOL for a bank or something. I liken this title inflation to >calling a garbage man a "Sanitation engineer." (N.B.: It's illegal in many states to call yourself an Engineer if you aren't officially certified as such). I also call myself a Software Engineer on forms where specific job title isn't requested. (My actual title is Senior Member of Technical Staff. Impressive, but a little vague). I think this attitude goes back to the dark ages of computers when "programmer" was another term for "coding clerk", the lowest form of life in the software business at the time. Software Engineer sounds more professional and gives the impression what we do isn't so mundane. Not that other types of engineer never do anything mundane, but the word "engineer" calls up images of rugged types in steel- toed boots putting up bridges and building roads through the wilderness or white-coated figures working over mysterious breadboard circuits (a little more romantic than programming Automatic Teller Machines). It also makes it easier to justify getting paid what (we think) we're worth. Anyway, on first meetings, I usually say "These days I'm in computers ...", and elaborate if pressed. I'm not ashamed of what I do, but talking shop is not what I'm seeking in most social occasions. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe) Citicorp(+)TTI 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. Geniuses are people so lazy they Santa Monica, CA 90405 do everything right the first time. (213) 450-9111, ext. 2483 {philabs,randvax,trwrb,vortex}!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe