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Re: Software engineering: a useless profession?

by gothic_mallard (Pilgrim)
on Nov 05, 2004 at 11:35 UTC ( [id://405467]=note: print w/replies, xml ) Need Help??


in reply to Software engineering: a useless profession?

Is it just me or do some of the rest of you also attempt avoid letting people find out you work with computers?

Why do I say that? Because in my experience it's quite amazing the amount of people that when you tell them you're a software developer say "oh, that means you can fix my laptop/pc/printer etc..."

It's like someone saying "I'm a window cleaner" and then someone expecting them to be able to reglaze the entire house....

Okay, slightly far fetched example but hopefully you take the point ;-)

--- Jay

All code is untested unless otherwise stated.
All opinions expressed are my own and are intended as guidance, not gospel; please treat what I say as such and as Abigail said Think for yourself.
If in doubt ask.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^2: Software engineering: a useless profession?
by perlcapt (Pilgrim) on Nov 05, 2004 at 12:37 UTC
    I certainly am guilty of hidding my (perlcapt's) technological candle under a bushel. It is a social thing. I've noticed that regular folks don't much open up to geeks. It may be fun to talk about geeks bitting heads off of chickens, and laugh about it later, but who wants to have a personal friend who is so depraved!

    On the other hand, once I've be able to do something that "common" man can appreciate, then I feel free to show my technical instrests. Finally, after that door has been opened, then I can talk about my experience.

    I imagine it is something like "coming out of the closet," but I may be wrong.

    How did I become so twisted?

    After saturating myself in technology, I feel I need to refresh by relating to folks who prefer to talk about farming, or boats, or their families, or even their religon.

    On the other hand:
    If I obssess on my technology and tools, I start turning wierd, unsocial, unapproachable, maybe even somewhat psychotic. Compulsion and psychosis are closely related.

    My family tolerates my sitting with the laptop in the living room. But they expect me to be able to put it down and engage in a conversation with out any hesitation. They don't like to feel that they are competing with the computer/Internet for attention.

    perlcapt
    -ben
Re^2: Software engineering: a useless profession?
by neniro (Priest) on Nov 05, 2004 at 12:31 UTC
    Is it just me or do some of the rest of you also attempt avoid letting people find out you work with computers?

    No, thats a common behavior. If you tell someone that you're a programmer or something similar, some of them want you to fix their IT-problems, the other ones think that you're somehow a strange person. So it is sometimes the best idea to give only vague answers to questions about your job.

      I sometimes say "I write books about computers, and teach computer classes". But more often, I just say "I'm a professional standup comedian". It's simpler, and about the same craziness, and people can relate to it a bit better.

      -- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker
      Be sure to read my standard disclaimer if this is a reply.

        I just tell people I am an entrepreneur. Then they think I have no job skills at all (outside of making money off other people's work).
      I don't *avoid* telling people that I work with computers, but I don't get into the details of what I do, unless they are persistent.
      I am a Data Warehouse designer, ETL programmer, and SQL expert; none of which are easy to explain to non-techies, so usually I will tell people that I am a professional Computer Nerd. That usually gets enough across.
Re^2: Software engineering: a useless profession?
by Sandy (Curate) on Nov 05, 2004 at 21:06 UTC
    Depending on my mood, I am any one of the following:

    Professional nerd

    I get paid, but I'm weird, so back off!

    i have a desk job

    i really really don't want to talk about it

    Systems Analyst

    just want to confuse the person so that we can get on with more interesting topics, like 'how old are your kids'

    Scientist

    my true calling but currently not working in my field of endeavour
Re^2: Software engineering: a useless profession?
by JediWizard (Deacon) on Nov 05, 2004 at 16:58 UTC

    When I fiurst got started, I was always proud to brag: "I am a software Engineer". I have paid the price for that. Every where I go, people ask me to fix there computers. Recently I went to visit family in California. When I was there, every relative whose house I visited had a computer which was malfunctioning (Windows) in some way. Long story short: I spent half of my vacation fixing peoples computers. When will they learn not to buy microsoft products?

    May the Force be with you
      More importantly, when will you learn to say "I don't know Windows"?
Re^2: Software engineering: a useless profession?
by FoxtrotUniform (Prior) on Nov 07, 2004 at 06:52 UTC
    (I)n my experience it's quite amazing the amount of people that when you tell them you're a software developer say "oh, that means you can fix my laptop/pc/printer etc..."

    "I will be happy to try to fix your laptop/pc/printer, when I have a spare hour or two, for a bottle of good Scotch."

    I think that ("other") people have a tendency to assume that, because you're doing what seems like magic (just typing at a keyboard, not doing anything obviously technical that involves physical tools and parts), fixing their spyware-encrusted Win32 install is a trivial matter. After all, you're not getting your hands dirty, are you?

    Most people are willing to accept that fixing their computer is Work, rather than Magic, provided that you explain it to them with a certain level of politeness. Once they recognize it as Work, they may not stop asking you to rid their machines of spyware and their printers of paper jams, but at least they'll be more willing to pay you for your time.

    Incidentally, my standard xmas gift to my parents is Free Computer and Network Maintenance and Upgrades. They buy new toys, and I install them when I come to visit. It works out quite well.

    --
    Yours in pedantry,
    F o x t r o t U n i f o r m

    "Anything you put in comments is not tested and easily goes out of date." -- tye

Re^2: Software engineering: a useless profession?
by freddo411 (Chaplain) on Nov 09, 2004 at 22:45 UTC
    Is it just me or do some of the rest of you also attempt avoid letting people find out you work with computers?
    I developed a rather interesting way of answering such probing questions when I was in college. At that time the question was: "What's your major". If I answered honestly I would say "Astrophysics", which invariably resulted in a response of "Oh, that's nice", followed by a quick retreat by the questioner to refill a drink.

    Not wanting to strike out so quickly I modified my response by using the following algorithm: simply adopt the major of the last person I spoke to, and give that as my major. Follow that with a series of questions about their major (reloading for the next conversation).

    After a short while I had majored in every subject and managed to store up an unending list of fascinating anecdotes about obscure subjects.

    When people ask what I do for a living, I like to say I work for an "evil corporation". ;-)

    -------------------------------------
    Nothing is too wonderful to be true
    -- Michael Faraday

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