[The Architect 2.0]

When you tell people what you do for a living, do they actually understand you?

I've had people send me audio-visual technician job postings, ask if I can put in a good word for them at Microsoft*, try to get me to create a new theme for their blog**, and to help them hack battle.net.


*these people think that Microsoft is the only software company in the world

**After I tell them I can make fancy popup boxes for them, but I can't find a nice color combination since I'm not a developer, they keep insisting that I have to be able to since that what people at EA do all day long.


so...what are your experiences with people outside of industry?

[wordswords]

Most people have such a vague understanding of what software development entails, that they think anything technical is in your domain. They are also often not really interested in finding out what it really means.

[no2pencil]

The Architect 2.0, on 08 February 2012 - 01:03 AM, said:

what are your experiences with people outside of industry?

I get a lot of 'couldn't you just add that real quick?' type of questions.

Distances between zip codes, that shouldn't be too difficult, couldn't you just add that real quick?

Or the idea of the hidden 'secure' switch. 'Couldn't they just make it more secure?'

[CTphpnwb]

no2pencil, on 08 February 2012 - 07:21 AM, said:

The Architect 2.0, on 08 February 2012 - 01:03 AM, said:

what are your experiences with people outside of industry?

I get a lot of 'couldn't you just add that real quick?' type of questions.

It can seem like magic to the unfamiliar, so that's understandable — unless it comes from your boss.

Oh, and I'd say that my family doesn't understand at all. They accept that it must be a good job because it pays well. I got a nice bonus around Christmas that seemed to significantly increase their respect for the job.

This post has been edited by CTphpnwb: 08 February 2012 - 07:50 AM

[tlhIn`toq]

My friends have a fairly good idea of what my job is. I've had this job for 8 years. I've been in this field for 20+. I've had the friends for 5-25 years. I tend to make friends with like-minded people, so they can grasp what I do. None of my friends see my job as "sit around and play on the computer all day", if that's what you're asking.

I don't see how software development is any different than any other career field, though.

Everyone looks at someone else's job and says "I don't understand what all the bitching is about. How tough could their job be to just do x y z?" Yet those same people get indignant when it is done to them. <laugh>

If you've never been intimately involved in doing that other job you don't know all the details, all the legal hoops they might have to jump through, some certifications they need, whatever. In the end it is that "don't judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes" philosophy.

[jon.kiparsky]

Quote

In the end it is that "don't judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes" philosophy.

I always thought that was brilliant advice. 'Cause it's pretty safe to start judging someone when you're a mile away from them, and you've got their shoes anyway.

[tlhIn`toq]

Yes and no... Depends on the caliber of their rifle and the magnification of their scope.

[jon.kiparsky]

And whether there's any intervening landscape features.

You're right, though - if they're well armed and you're unlucky enough to be on a flat and treeless plain, you'd be kinda screwed.

[bonyjoe]

My friends kind of understand it, though if someone asks how my job is going and I actually tell them including technical details they clearly phase out.

I have however been asked by several doctors/nurses in the past few weeks what I do for a living and when I say 'Software Developer' without fail every single one of them has said something about "oh, you'd be helpful with this computer"... Well no I probably wouldn't as you use proprietary software that looks like it was designed by someone in the 1800s

[Sergio Tapia]

I have become the family GeekSquad gut, almost every relative asks me to take them out shopping to build their PC. Honestly it's fun because I get to buy new computer parts, and when isn't that fun?

Not only that, but I'm magically expected to know everything about computers. Including why MSN Messenger can't connect right this second. "Can you fix the messenger?"

[jon.kiparsky]

bonyjoe, on 08 February 2012 - 02:07 PM, said:

I have however been asked by several doctors/nurses in the past few weeks what I do for a living and when I say 'Software Developer' without fail every single one of them has said something about "oh, you'd be helpful with this computer"... Well no I probably wouldn't as you use proprietary software that looks like it was designed by someone in the 1800s

What, you got a problem with MUMPS?

That would be sensible.

[ishkabible]

Well, I don't work in the industry yet but no one in my family *really* respects my hobby(maybe my uncle). From dad's view if it's not making money or getting something physically done then it isn't worth while. My mom pretends to respect it and is certainly somewhat impressed by it. A good example of what I mean can be summed up in a quote "wow jake, I sure am impressed by all that code" ... jee thanks mom

To sum up my dad's feelings I can give another quote "does it make money?"

This post has been edited by ishkabible: 08 February 2012 - 02:58 PM

[The Architect 2.0]

the thing that ticks me off is when mechanics(or people that spend alot of time in garages) can't comprehend the fact that computers don't get fixed within 2 minutes...i mean like come on, i could measure my time spent waiting for mechanics by counting birthdays.

[BenignDesign]

My family expects me to be the go-to gal for all things electronic.

Why doesn't my Wii remote work anymore? How do I connect the surround sound to the TV? How do I set up a wireless network? How can I fix my iPod? How do I buy books on my Kindle? Can you make Myst work with Windows 7? Can you take this back to Best Buy for me? Why should I buy a new monitor? Can't you fix the old one? Why can't I get my pictures from my camera to my computer? How do I make my Word document print two-sided?

Honestly, people! I'm a programmer!

Would you go to a proctologist if you needed brain surgery?

[jon.kiparsky]

BenignDesign, on 09 February 2012 - 11:04 AM, said:

Would you go to a proctologist if you needed brain surgery?

Naming no names, but I know some people who ought to...