Safe Speed Forums

Oh, how I laughed. And then angered because the java script on the "message reply" link fails to work.

From Reg:

Paul Smith claims to be "an engineer". Does anyone know what sort of "engineer" he is and whether he has any training in road safety? The term "engineer" could mean anything from someone on a building site working out the right mix of ingredients to make concrete to someone who services tanks on Salisbury Plain. In Internet chatrooms, however, he talks about delivering computers to offices, so is he a delivery man? Does anyone know?

Anyone who's meassage rely link works, could they post this from me please:

I really must take exception at Reg's slur on my profession. I am a professionally qualified, well trained and highly experienced transportation planner and highway engineer.

Whatever my thoughts on Paul Smith, my 20 or so years in the industry gives me the right to call myself an engineer. An engineer does not come round to fix your washing machine, or put the chain back on your bicycle. An engineer is a professional grade like your GP or an accountant.

In Reg's ignorant post, the professions to which he refers are known as operative and skilled technician respectively.

I am sure if you asked Paul politely, he would tell you his qualifications. What qualifications or training do you have, Reg?

Edit: must check spelink

What's this about? Where's the original?

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Not doing good tonight. Thought I'd posted the link - sorry.

http://www.transport2000.com/messages/messageList.asp

(you might have guessed )

... and a quick google of { "paul smith" engineer } reveals the computer delivery as one hit, hence the misconception (but you probably all figured that out). I'll get me coat!

It's very bizarre to operate a "message board" that selects and censors posts to suit its own purpose.

Anyone got any clear ideas about how I might object to the practice, and the frequent libels?

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

I don't know - but I do know that when a friend of mine tried to take on the might of... something, I forget what, they played very dirty - started posting child porn in his name etc...

Much care rquired.

Of course, there is more than one Paul Smith. For example, the computer development engineer who's excellent products may be found at http://www.pscs.co.uk/.

Try a quick Google -- here is one I did earlier.

_________________
Will

You can always e-mail Steve Hounsham at steveh@transport2000.org.uk - but whether it will do any good I don't know.

Their contact page is at;

http://www.transport2000.org.uk/aboutT2 ... tT2000.htm

Having this censored message board is absolutely ludicrous.

_________________
"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

write to Steve Hounsham, and then if it doesn't stop (especially if Steve doesn't reply), sue T2000 for liable/defemation of charecter/something.

the message board has a disclaimer saying that posts aren't the views of Transport 2000, however you can quote their rules (which say that posts like those there shouldn't be there), and the fact that _every_ post is moderated (read censored) and can be vetted for content that T2000 do not want to put out.

Simon

Well I got this answer in and posted, more from my perspective than Pauls which is probably why it got in. I hope you don't mind Paul.

No disrespect to the accountants of this world, but I'd have quit years ago if being an engineer was remotely like being an accountant! Perhaps the project management, fault finding and plumbing aspects of it make it a little like being a GP!



This is confusing to outsiders, I know. The media refer to anyone who can use a screwdriver as an Engineer. Even so, despite decades of effort by stuffy societies to force the profession into the same rigid structures as doctors, accountants and pharmacists, engineering has always refused to be boxed in. I think that is because engineering is an inventive, pragmatic and imaginative process, which results in many types of engineers. To be even remotely successful in that line of work, many have to be designer, operative, project manager and skilled technician in the same shift.

_________________
I stole this .sig

I think we are missing the point here. Someone is obviously trying to gain the “intellectual highground”. What is to say that one person has a better understanding then another just because of their job, or indeed their qualifications. Remember when a Taxi driver won Mastermind.

It is a common propaganda tactic to try and rubbish the credentials of an opponent.

I prefer to asses the substance of what is being said rather than the letters after someone’s name!

_________________
Speed camera policy Kills

Yes, good points. Certainly I've been "proud" to call myself an engineer, but then to many folk, as you say, that's just someone who can hold a screwdriver. I might say "technician" for the screwdriver-holding brigade, but I can and do reserve the expression "engineer" for a far more sophisticated and creative profession.

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

I should say. Some of the most useless people I've ever met have PhDs. That's not to say they are stupid - far from it, but to be useful one has to be pratical. Being academic simply isn't anywhere near enough.

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

That's a fair point Gismo, you are obviously willing and capable of decerning what is useful and what is rubbish. There are however a large number of people who cannot or will not. Reg's question was quite a reasonable one, would you take specific investment or medical advice from a mechanic?
My reply was actually more from a personal perspective, it ain't easy becomming an Engineer, I'm not after the intellectual highground, just a bit of understanding.

Fred Dibnah died the other day. He could engineer a 200 foot chimney safely to the ground with nothing more than some timber, a sledge hammer and a gallon of petrol! Check out chimney

Technician or Engineer? Who could judge?

_________________
I stole this .sig

My wife is a Nurse. She works with newly qualified doctors. She spends most of her day trying to stop them killing patients...

Sometimes experience is worth more than paper qualifications.

BTW I am a "qualified" Mechanical Engineer for what it's worth.

_________________
Speed camera policy Kills

When it comes to actually doing the job you will get no arguments from me but when it comes to talking about a subject it's rare that experience alone will give both breadth and depth of knowledge. BTW it's worth quite a lot.

Bringing down a chimney without any need for explosives etc. Artist perhaps? Undeniably a very clever and skilled man with a passion for engineering, especially the steam stuff he did on TV. Very sad.

_________________
Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein