How to entertain engineers.
This is of course meant in jest. I have nothing against engineers and found this all very entertaining.
In pursuing my research of the lifestyles and habits of engineers, I was able to observe firsthand their leisure activities.
1. Conversations/Discussions
- The engineer is a social creature -- but only among its own kind. This is probably due to the nature of their conversations. Expect random topics, as you would with most groups of people, but then expect always the question why? tagged onto every discussion. Engineers go to great lengths to find the scientific reasons behind every natural phenomenon, be it actually scientific (what is the optimal way to throw a paper plate?) or political (why do people vote this way based on historical trends?) or even philosophical (what are "houses" to Mankind?). Except higher-level terms to be thrown in amongst neologisms and Internet slang (e.g., the occurrence of pwn in the same breath as phenotype).
All non-engineers are advised not to involve themselves in these conversations. Student engineers tend to talk in circles; attempting to follow these conversations will result in headaches for the uninitiated.
2. Video Games
- Video games exist as the cultural standard of many groups with college-aged members. They provide friendly competition and seizure-inducing graphics to keep all individuals interested. When involved with a group of engineers, however, expect them to use the system for purposes other than playing games. Why use something for the purpose for which it was specifically intended? Expect to stare at a screen of pictures of themselves (engineers tend to be fascinated with how they can capture themselves on camera) and constantly replay the same videos. This repetition seems to increase their analytical powers. For non-engineers, it can be quite a boring process.
3. Other Methods of Entertainment
- For a group considered to be so technical, engineers are notably crafty -- but not like your grandma's crafty. No, everything an engineer makes must have a purpose. They will often take cheap disposable items lying around the house and, using their favorite tool, duct tape, adhere them to other things lying around the house. Take a broken broom handle. By itself, it's just something to whack people with. Engineers are not so obviously violent. However, taping two paper plates to the end of the broom handle yields a frisbee-like javelin with which they can properly cause mayhem.
- You thought fans were only there for keeping you cool or airing out a room. No, for an engineer, it provides an exploration in air pressure and wind speed/direction. While most would be satisfied by a short, five to ten minute experiment using ping pong balls, paddles, and various paper products, an engineer will only be satisfied once all possibilities have been exhausted. Non-engineers are advised to find a comfortable chair.
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In pursuing my research of the lifestyles and habits of engineers, I was able to observe firsthand their leisure activities.
1. Conversations/Discussions
- The engineer is a social creature -- but only among its own kind. This is probably due to the nature of their conversations. Expect random topics, as you would with most groups of people, but then expect always the question why? tagged onto every discussion. Engineers go to great lengths to find the scientific reasons behind every natural phenomenon, be it actually scientific (what is the optimal way to throw a paper plate?) or political (why do people vote this way based on historical trends?) or even philosophical (what are "houses" to Mankind?). Except higher-level terms to be thrown in amongst neologisms and Internet slang (e.g., the occurrence of pwn in the same breath as phenotype).
All non-engineers are advised not to involve themselves in these conversations. Student engineers tend to talk in circles; attempting to follow these conversations will result in headaches for the uninitiated.
2. Video Games
- Video games exist as the cultural standard of many groups with college-aged members. They provide friendly competition and seizure-inducing graphics to keep all individuals interested. When involved with a group of engineers, however, expect them to use the system for purposes other than playing games. Why use something for the purpose for which it was specifically intended? Expect to stare at a screen of pictures of themselves (engineers tend to be fascinated with how they can capture themselves on camera) and constantly replay the same videos. This repetition seems to increase their analytical powers. For non-engineers, it can be quite a boring process.
3. Other Methods of Entertainment
- For a group considered to be so technical, engineers are notably crafty -- but not like your grandma's crafty. No, everything an engineer makes must have a purpose. They will often take cheap disposable items lying around the house and, using their favorite tool, duct tape, adhere them to other things lying around the house. Take a broken broom handle. By itself, it's just something to whack people with. Engineers are not so obviously violent. However, taping two paper plates to the end of the broom handle yields a frisbee-like javelin with which they can properly cause mayhem.
- You thought fans were only there for keeping you cool or airing out a room. No, for an engineer, it provides an exploration in air pressure and wind speed/direction. While most would be satisfied by a short, five to ten minute experiment using ping pong balls, paddles, and various paper products, an engineer will only be satisfied once all possibilities have been exhausted. Non-engineers are advised to find a comfortable chair.
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