Jordan Peterson on Engineers - Are you an Engineer?

[@dead7781]

I'm studying to be an engineer and everything said here really resonates with me. But I will say that I'm sort of split because I do like people. I don't really enjoy social events or shallow small talk, but I love studying people and learning what makes them tick. I really enjoy long one-to-one convos where most of the time I'm just asking questions about the other person and just trying to learn as much as I can about them. Sometimes I think I would be better suited as a psychologist or therapist.

[@peepletree5537]

Can we talk to each other on some site plz i do resonate with what u mentioned in the comments

[@suryavardhansinghshekhawat865]

Same with me although I think these skills come in handy as an engineer too.

[@danielcaldwell5940]

I think Dr. Peterson is spot on with this. I am close to retirement after 46 years as an engineer. I have designed or built Nuclear power plants hydropower plants facilities to distribute electricity, chemical plants telecommunications facilities. As engineers the thing we do are what make society work. And yes I am more interested in things than people, although my grandchildren may displace things as an interest.

[@engineering_irl]

Thanks for sharing! Those industries (like power generation) underly and shape society as we know it, although the general public would know little outside of the outlets in their homes. Certainly, over and above the technical details and the societal impact, it is a general interest in things that keeps the curiosity.

[@analog_guy]

I would express my sentiment a little bit differently. If I became a doctor or nurse, I could help perhaps a score of people each day. If I became a teacher or preacher, I could typically help perhaps some hundreds a year. As an engineer, I can help millions if my creations have enough reach. Also, as an engineer, I can exert some control over my creations. Whatever I do, I could perhaps exert some influence on others, but I don't feel I could ethically exert control on anyone, other than to try to prevent harm.

[@itzrew]

IoT - The Interest of Things

[@AltafKhan-qd1tk]

Underrated comment

[@bag2963]

@@AltafKhan-qd1tk wdym

[@engineering_irl]

@@AltafKhan-qd1tk right?

[@ReadWithTshepho]

I'm a humanist & interested in The Internet Of Intellects.

[@ayoitskryptic]

this is it and also the understanding of things as well

[@lukasliseth1059]

Thank you for making this collection! I have just started in engineering university and have noticed these changes in me!

[@engineering_irl]

No problem. We enjoyed putting this together and should see another vid coming soon. This time, it will be Elons' 5 key steps to be a better engineer.

[@linhngo7398]

I'm afraid to lose my technical edge to people babysitting

[@engineering_irl]

The higher you go the more this becomes reality. What do you do to keep in touch with the technical?

[@Kenny-tl7ir]

“Engineers prefer things than people” I hate to burst your bubble, but people ARE things. - Mechanical Engineer

[@ayoitskryptic]

As a medical school dropout I realized I was less interested in people and more interested on how computer systems and science worked and had a natural inclination to problem solve and have curiosity. This curiosity and passion to find a solution to make something work is why I fell in love with the field and switched into this field (also the love for computers). But being able to fix something and understand it like even a car is just so satisfying to me intellectually. My friend mentioned that it brings out the masculine energy which I found interesting and funny because men have this itch to fix something when it’s broken, which I believe makes sense. I’m curious on everyone else’s perspective and situation.

[@BritishEngineer]

I would’ve picked med school, you’d be communicating people equally as much as you would be in engineering. A doctor / consultant would be behind the scenes, remotely receiving results from the general practitioner or nurse who actually communicates with the patient. An engineer would be behind the scenes, remotely getting instructions on design or modification from a spokesperson of the company who communicates with the clients and / or higher management depending on request origin. A doctor would solve problems with existing biological systems, an element of crucial aspects. An engineer would solve problems with existing mechanical or electrical systems (depending upon the field) but can go the extra mile to actually design and calculate these complex systems. Electrical engineering is the most similar to medical biology. You’re using logic gates formed by neurones which form the human brain, power systems, motor control and sensing, etc.

[@HeavyReign12]

I really am only interested in like the 8-10 people that are close to me in life. I couldn't care less about other people, yet I somehow will log everything in my head about someone. Their mannerisms and everything, I love to observe and read people. Yet I don't care about them. Once someone called me a psychopath and it really made me wonder, but I've always felt frustrated by my empathy. I don't want to know people, it is too painful. Science is an escape, my coding assignments are an escape, somewhere for my brain to go. I'm afraid I will never be content, sometimes I just don't want do anything. I'm not even particularly intellectually gifted, yet I feel like if I'm not doing something that analytical aspect of myself will start picking my soul apart. Thanks for reading my self reflection.

[@KosDoostdaram-ym6sr]

You don’t need to be above 116 IQ to become an engineer. I’m a third year EE student with a GPA of 3.91 at an accredited university and I can tell you I’m bang average when it comes to intelligence, maybe even below average in certain aspects of it. For example I’ve tried taking up chess and I just cannot improve for the life of me, constant blunders and I’m incapable of coming up with strategies or making quick calculations in my head.

[@KosDoostdaram-ym6sr]

You just have to be a persistent learner and embrace feeling stupid

[@musthaveV8]

On another note ive gotten two iq results of 142 yet dropped out of college because I thought I wasn't smart enough. Perspective is 🔐

[@chaselesser3191]

I feel I have some ADHD, and I pushed my way thru Mechanical Engineering. I can become proficient. But it takes me a while to ramp up. Some people notice, others don’t. Lol.

[@somerandomboi8239]

That doesn't have to mean you're not smart, just that you're slow. There can be a difference. Not saying I'm smart, I feel just like you, but just as an example: I take days to fully comprehend a new equation I see. Just today I've finally completely grasped the center of mass formula after knowing it for like ten days. Yet some others like a = F/m, I = U/R, Vf = Vi +- at and R2 = R1(1+@dT) (and the consequent @ = dR/(R1*dT)) were as clear as can be almost the instant I saw them. Thoughts on my case anyone?

[@johnnychinstrap]

One comment I noted is that he said, engineers should be good people and have their heads screwed on straight. As an old used up engineer and engineering professor I think this is the most poignant point in this thesis. I had a patent on on a handheld lie detector and to perfect the technology I needed to study statement analysis and am an expert on lying and the detection of lies. If you are heading into AI, please be cognisant that the underlying pursuit of AI is the truth and homo sapiens lie 60 percent of the time and 80 percent by omission. With the onset of easy access to the internet the dissemination of false information has become a game to many. The ultimate pursuit of truth resides in the elimination of homo sapiens from the planet or to convince humans that however difficult the truth may be to say, it is a necessity to be heard, for our species to prevail. Be cognisant of this when you write the code for this endeavour

[@sariodev]

Are engineers creative?

[@liquidketamine8562]

Very

[@engineering_irl]

@@liquidketamine8562 we must agree on this for sure

[@liquidketamine8562]

@@engineering_irl That's like the whole point of engineering, using physics and science creatively.

[@engineering_irl]

@@liquidketamine8562 definitely agree! You sometimes see that narrative out there that engineering is the opposite end of creative topics

[@championboy4782]

Two things, creative or ruthless

[@anthonytilleman3576]

Man I really wish Jordan Peterson was one of my physics professors.

[@AltafKhan-qd1tk]

Happy engineers' day all!! Today, 15th September, is celebrated as Engineer's day in India

[@engineering_irl]

Happy Engineers Day!

[@mecanuktutorials6476]

All vague generalizations. Engineers come in many shapes and sizes. Typically, we study (and apply) abstract concepts which some find easy to grasp and others never will. It’s a built intuition that comes from experience. In the workplace, an Electronics Engineer, a Civil Engineer and an Automotive Quality Engineer have next to no overlap cause they’re fundamentally dealing with different systems and applications. While the notion that all “Engineers” share certain characteristics is interesting, I don’t see any evidence in Jordan Peterson’s assertions. My personal experience is that people are shaped much more by their life experience OUTSIDE of school than in it.

[@Charon58]

Peterson makes a living out of generalisations and vaguely substantiated assertions. I know several engineers (including my daughter) who are very caring and social. They just love building shit.

[@JC-kb8vb]

Oh, my, this guy just does not shut up. What authority is this guy to talk about every single topic?

[@josedejesuslopezdiaz]

facts

[@engineering_irl]

100

[@kylevebar3909]

I’m a patent attorney

[@engineering_irl]

Nice

[@ValidatingUsername]

Oh Dr.Peterson, I really hope you read this until it sinks in. Analytical people HATE anything that does not conform to its own fundamental axioms. You would never see an engineer prioritize a machine that does not work to an expert that can do the job.

[@mochabomb]

I think engineers are sexy. 🤭

[@doedelzak3914]

It's their big fat wallets isn't it?

[@mochabomb]

@@doedelzak3914 and that too of course. Smartness & money, who would say no to that?

[@MrAntreaspaok]

​@@mochabomb and what do you offer instead? Just a hole? Lol

[@amitjose3739]

thanks even though Im not fully satisfied with the description.

[@gigigem5631]

​@@doedelzak3914No, it's the ability to look at the situation and come up with a right solution, problem-solving skills, sharp mind

[@marklo6283]

You dont need to be smart to be an engineer. it's all about work ethic. If you study hard, practice practice and practice. I guarantee you engineering will be a breeze except you will most likely fail and hate your life forever

[@BobCalNor]

A fair observation. They are among the most insensitive people you will ever meet. But, would you rather have poets, accountants, and English teachers designing our technical products. I think universities chuld do a better job teaching STEM technocrats some soft skills.

[@Kenny-tl7ir]

Basically, teach STEM technocrats how to manipulate people. That’s what soft skills basically are.

[@oldmate99]

OK captain obvious

[@Rev-di1vl]

as an engineer, I can tell what ppl want before they speak.

[@engineering_irl]

It's as though you've considered it through that lens well before they've started to consider it for themselves. Something says to me a fundamental understanding of how things work now are a large part of understanding what one would want next.

[@Rev-di1vl]

@@engineering_irl Foresight seems to be logical wisdom, normies dont seem to have the same level of clairvoyance.

[@ydid687]

yes lay-people's needs can be predicted beforehands however engineers often design god awful GUi and i also find that proficiency in a specific field leaves them a lot wanting in other aspects of life

[@Rev-di1vl]

@@ydid687 Is that your arbitrary opinion or is it backed by fact, and which subset of engineers specifically are you referring to? I work in electrical engineering and understand not all engineers are built the same.

[@Rev-di1vl]

@@engineering_irl Always bank on an individuals laziness and you cant go wrong

[@deansacca781]

Engineers whould have ticker tape parades....not the Kardashians....

[@engineering_irl]

Wouldn't that be something.

[@deansacca781]

I lnow. But the dumbed downed idiots in America will never do that. Every time I get on a plane, I wonder who made that flap assembly? And how many people were on that specific team to make it work ? Your average American doesn't care....