Is an Engineer the most Respected Profession?

Brid Hegarty

Lately I've been thinking that a lot of other professions are grifters compared to being an engineer. Sure, there are probably many other jobs out there that are perhaps even more important than the average engineer's job in terms of contribution to society. But at the end of the day, if these jobs are ones that you kind of feel anyone is capable of doing, then that's what makes the difference. I see it as the one job that really proves intelligence.

I currently see I an engineer as being more prestigious than a surgeon. Not saying I'm right, just my current view. It's Because the engineer is designing a machine of his own, where as the doctor is tinkering with the body (a machine made by nature). A surgeon doesn't fully understand the body in the way that an engineer understands the machine they designed. 

Unfortunately, the word engineer has become a bit vague. It can mean someone who's designing a bridge or designing circuit boards, all the way down to the guys Elon Musk pays to do stuff on Twitter. Where as a surgeon is a surgeon.

On a daily basis I look at tradesmen and feel like I am more dependent on them in society than they are on me. I might even be using my brain more than they are with my job than they are in theirs, but they must have more of a purpose.

A lot of jobs out there are just side shows. Lawyers, HR, retail, security, drivers, painters, accountants, telemarketers, sales, fashion, actors, teachers, minders. I think that if you want to know if your skill is respected, you've got to ask yourself "if society had to start from scratch again would I be helpful somehow?".

Galwayguy35

An engineer won't save your life, a surgeon will.

lawred2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121211030#Comment_121211030

What about those engineers who design and develop robotic surgeons?

Is this a wind up? Feels like a piss take

An engineer is not on the bleeding edge of technology. Most engineers rehash what has come before. Be that bridges, roads, factory's, medical devices.

Many "engineer" roles in ireland don't require an engineering degree. Unlike other countries, anyone can call themselves an engineer.

So in short. NOPE

Cienciano

No

Jequ0n

Maybe reflect what you are using your brain for, apart from creating pointless threads.

893bet

I am an engineer.

and if the world has to start from scratch ye are all fucked lads.

SEPT 23 1989

The ones that we really need in a society are woefully underpaid

engineers, army,,farmers,carers etc

the rest is just fluff and would be badly found out as meaningless if push came to shove

Brid, please stop starting threads that are basically just you thinking out loud.