nanog mailing list archives

Re: "Engineer" (Was: Tech contact for Qwest?)


From: Dirk Harms-Merbitz <dirk () power net>
Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 09:56:29 -0700


You gotta be kidding. When was the last time that you talked to a
sales engineer? Most of those (generalizing here, so obviously there
are exceptions) aren't any good at engineering but have learned the
buzzwords. There is a reason why they aren't doing systems work.

People just come in all shapes. Some honest some not. Doesn't matter
what proffession or title. Sales people generally don't really know
enough to lie even when they do. 

Dirk

On Mon, Aug 23, 1999 at 11:24:36AM -0500, Stephen Sprunk wrote:

I think that most of us act as ethically as management permits.  There's a
reason why vendors bring an "engineer" along on sales calls; customers have
a very solid understanding that nobody else (sales, marketing, etc) can be
trusted.  That's not to say every "engineer" is without ulterior motives,
but they're virtually guaranteed to be the most ethical people you'll meet
at any company.

What happens when a civil engineer refuses to certify a bridge is safe?
What happens when a network engineer refuses to certify a network will work?
Why is there a difference, and what can we do about it?

Stephen "Engineer" Sprunk


Stephen Sprunk, K5SSS, CCIE#3723
Network Consulting Engineer
Cisco NSA   Dallas, Texas, USA
e-mail:ssprunk () cisco com
Pager: +1 800 365-4578
Empowering the Internet Generation


----- Original Message -----
From: J.D. Falk
To: Vadim Antonov
Cc: david () brouda com ; nanog () merit edu
Sent: Monday, August 23, 1999 10:48
Subject: Re: "Engineer" (Was: Tech contact for Qwest?)



On 08/22/99, Vadim Antonov <avg () kotovnik com> wrote:


David Brouda <david () brouda com> wrote:

Now, I have mentioned three key words: engineer, professional, and
ethics.
As a student of engineering, I believe that these three words go
hand-in-hand.

The facts that somebody is being professional, educated and ethical does
not
guarantee that he has any idea of what he is doing.  The catch is that a
clueless person is generally unware that he's clueless, so he can be quite
eithcal and professional in what he thinks he is doing. Watch the hordes
of ATM zealots - many of them with very impressive credentials.  Does not
make their "contribution" any more worthwhile.

Yeah, but at least they have a code of ethics.  Where'd ours
go?

 ---------========== J.D. Falk <jdfalk () cybernothing org> =========---------
  |            OKINA MAKETSU IPPAI NO UISUKI, ONEGAI SHIMASU!            |
 ----========== http://www.cybernothing.org/jdfalk/home.html ==========----





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