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Them: So what do you do?
Me: I'm software engineer.
Them: And what do you do?
Me: I'm programmer, I'm creating software.
Them (confused): Really..?
Me (admittedly): I'm a computer nerd.
Them: Oh, I see.
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Them: What do you do for a living?
Me: I work in a firm.
Simple, clear with no following questions.
Microsoft ... the only place where VARIANT_TRUE != true
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I tell people I clean toilets for a living. That way the don't ask me to fix their PCs.
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I tried doing that before. I always say I make coffee for the boss/sexytary. 
They don't believe me though. 
Don't mind those people who say you're not HOT. At least you know you're COOL.
I'm not afraid of falling, I'm afraid of the sudden stop at the end of the fall! - Richard Andrew x64
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But do they ask you to clean their toilets?
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.
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Funnily enough, I was asked yesterday by the bloke who cleans the toilets if I could come round his house to fix his computer.
I said "What's wrong with it"
He Said "Everytime I go to Facebook or other sites it doesn't display properly, the logos all blocky and you can't see or do anything"
I said " Are you on XP?"
He said yes and I told him I don't need to come round.
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It is a crime to call your self a software engineer.
Title XXXII Chapter 471.003
No person other than a duly licensed engineer shall practice engineering or use the name or title of “licensed engineer,” “professional engineer,” or any other title, designation, words, letters, abbreviations, or device tending to indicate that such person holds an active license as an engineer in this state.
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It's pretty much the same in Texas, but I'm a licensed Professional Engineer so it's OK for me. The main problem is that there is no certification category for "Software Engineer," but apparently the Texas PE board is considering adding a certification for that.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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You should try being a DBA, SQL Dev...
I just tell people I fix things that none one else understands, including myself. 
Common sense is admitting there is cause and effect and that you can exert some control over what you understand.
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S Douglas wrote: I just tell people I fix things that none one else understands, including myself.
Haven't tried that one. Thanks. 
Don't mind those people who say you're not HOT. At least you know you're COOL.
I'm not afraid of falling, I'm afraid of the sudden stop at the end of the fall! - Richard Andrew x64
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Because IT'S BACON!
=========================================================
I'm an optoholic - my glass is always half full of vodka.
=========================================================
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What's with the use of "coder" or "engineer" or "coding" and so on, instead of "programmer" and "programming" all over the place: to read people's articles these days is, seemingly, to observe a carefully-planned avoidance of the terms... I even read one article which said, "When you're going for a job, don't use the word 'programmer' because it puts employers off," but then again, if they're hiring programmers, then what's wrong with being a programmer?
More to the point, don't "coding" and "coder" sound menial to you - as though you have no actual idea of what you're doing, but are simply sitting on an assembly line, putting together other people's ideas? It seems to me that there's a type of self-denigration going on in the programming world: twenty years ago, we appeared to people as gods; now we're seemingly trying to blend in and appear to them in a form they can understand... I don't like it.
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Dan Sutton said: I don't like it.
Ditto!
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I think it happened at the same time that programmers got lumped into IT.
To me IT are the folks that maintain the networking infrastructure. Maybe did light programming (scripts, basic report queries, etc...)
Programmers are the ones who use "real" languages,compilers, etc... to write "real" applications.
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. ~ George Washington
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Agreed... which is why it's annoying when web designers think they're "programming in HTML" or some such nonsense...
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Dan Sutton wrote: don't "coding" and "coder" sound menial to you - as though you have no actual idea of what you're doing, but are simply sitting on an assembly line, putting together other people's ideas?
Wouldn't that make it an excellent description of most "programming" jobs?
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Not really, because it precludes the idea that the programmer has anything to do with designing the system -- it sounds more as though he's been told what to write and how to write it, and is just sitting there doing the menial task of putting it all together; in reality, the concept of "programmer" also contains the concept of "systems analyst" -- i.e. if you don't get to make decisions about how the system is designed, then you really are just a coder.
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I love "business analysts". In some places they've been okay, but in most they're people with non-technical backgrounds who haven't got a clue what's actually needed, or how to express it in terms useful for developing an application.
In a recent place I worked, one business analyst's previous job was working in a care home. Nice enough person, but I fail to see how that experience of changing bed sheets and serving meals on trays is relevant. Most of the others were at the same level, experience wise.
Needless to say the project was a complete failure (the worst I've seen in my career) costing rather a lot of money and producing diddly. Still, all the business analysts were a much higher rank and salary than any of the programmers.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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"I fail to see how that experience of changing bed sheets and serving meals on trays is relevant"
Not been in IT long have you?
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Duh! I should have seen that one coming
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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Mine was never that kind of job. I did hardware system IPL.
Dave.
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