DanHalen
Well-known member
Mrs. DanHalen is asked a lot "what does your husband do for a living" and she says "he's an engineer." The typical response is "oh great so he drives a train." The word "engineer" is tossed around so much it's almost like our entire profession has been undermined. I see a lot of "environmental engineers" around where I live and it's a fancy title for basically a janitor. I can only imagine what the general public thinks an environmental engineer is. When I was in college I started out as a Mechanical Engineering major and when people would ask me what my major was they would ask me how to fix their car because they thought I was studying to be a mechanic. WTF???
I've grown a bit tired of trying to explain to knuckleheads what I do each day. My response is usually "I parallel park trains." I get strange looks and if they're a prick I usually say, "I parallel park trains all day do you want me to park one in your a$$?" My cynical approach has mixed reviews, some laugh hysterically some are highly irritated and offended. Not much in between.
When we take and pass the FE exam we're designated as an EI or EIT. I personally think they are misnomers because it sounds like we are still in college and haven't graduated yet. Interns do internships in college. Perhaps we should examine eliminating the EI or EIT designation and retain the FE in it's place? Don't know if that would help with the image of our profession or not, but seems to me it would help eliminate some confusion.
I've grown a bit tired of trying to explain to knuckleheads what I do each day. My response is usually "I parallel park trains." I get strange looks and if they're a prick I usually say, "I parallel park trains all day do you want me to park one in your a$$?" My cynical approach has mixed reviews, some laugh hysterically some are highly irritated and offended. Not much in between.
When we take and pass the FE exam we're designated as an EI or EIT. I personally think they are misnomers because it sounds like we are still in college and haven't graduated yet. Interns do internships in college. Perhaps we should examine eliminating the EI or EIT designation and retain the FE in it's place? Don't know if that would help with the image of our profession or not, but seems to me it would help eliminate some confusion.