Why Are Terrorists Often Engineers?

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Oh that's easy. They spent 4 - 5 years of their life in classrooms with no girls...

Or deodorant.

[p911dad]

Wait a minute. The article frames this as involving Islamic engineers (ie framing Islamic culture...) Drawing conclusions that engineers in general have a tendency to terror is a big jump and in fact stupid. I worked with engineers for many(40) years and cannot recall one that was a terrorist or had any such ideals. Straight arrows and serious people. I was on the "grey" side, and they mostly were black and white thinkers. Sure we had fun with them, but I'm sure they had fun with us too. But no terrorists.

[boba]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

We can do this all night.

I agree we could.

I would like to make the point that those that can thrive in both a binary and gray world can rise to the top using that skill set. That is not to say that those that only live in a binary world cannot be equally successful and rise to the top in their discipline. Those that are binary and dolts are found at the bottom of the pile as are those that have abstract skills and are also dolts.

The question was why so many technical types 'go over the edge' ideology wise and my point was that these people tend to be wired in a more binary nature so they tend to see all things in a more or less black and white, good / evil context.

[boba]

Originally Posted by gmeteer

Wait a minute. The article frames this as involving Islamic engineers (ie framing Islamic culture...) Drawing conclusions that engineers in general have a tendency to terror is a big jump and in fact stupid. I worked with engineers for many(40) years and cannot recall one that was a terrorist or had any such ideals. Straight arrows and serious people. I was on the "grey" side, and they mostly were black and white thinkers. Sure we had fun with them, but I'm sure they had fun with us too. But no terrorists.

I agree with your observations within our society.

I think this is more a view of an ideology, Islam, and the effect of binary thought within that framework vs the ability to deal in abstracts within that framework.

[john70t]

And the creators of the Pinto weren't?

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by boba

I agree we could.

I would like to make the point that those that can thrive in both a binary and gray world can rise to the top using that skill set. That is not to say that those that only live in a binary world cannot be equally successful and rise to the top in their discipline. Those that are binary and dolts are found at the bottom of the pile as are those that have abstract skills and are also dolts.

The question was why so many technical types 'go over the edge' ideology wise and my point was that these people tend to be wired in a more binary nature so they tend to see all things in a more or less black and white, good / evil context.

I highlighted a portion of your quote which reads like a perfect descriptor for our more strident PARF denizens.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

What he really said was "do you want to super-size that?"

No, what Shakespeare really said was:

"For 'Tis the sport to have the engineer hoisted with his own petard."

Translated today, that would be: "It's fun to see the engineer blown up
with his own bomb."

Even the Bard knew back in the 16th century that engineers were terrorists.

In your case, I wonder how Shakespeare might write: "Now make me a sandwich, beeyotch!"

[red-beard]

Jim - I resemble that remark....

Boba - You're on the right track.

One thing I do want to point out is that many engineers are SUCCESSFUL terrorists or terrorist leaders. Our training shows us how to analyze things, break them down into solvable chunks, then go and solve them. The training could be helpful to understand the weak point of a vehicle, a bridge, etc, to do maximum damage. We LOOK FOR weakness. Our intention is to FIX it. But a terrorist with the same skills will use that knowlege for evil.

Remember, for the first 150+ years of our country, our military leaders all had to get Engineering degrees. Anyone who went to West Point or Annapolis, was an Engineer.

[David]

We're the closest thing to a robot without all that silly programming. Just give us a task and we solve it.

There are always a few engineers who are a little unbalanced and possibly fanatical.

You combine engineer and fanatic and you have a chance of a terrorist (or PARF Pelican!)

[Bob Goding]

I am a retired Engineer---are we sure they didnt mean "Tourist"?

[wdfifteen]

I think people who want to blow things up cover the whole spectrum of skills and education. It's only the engineers who actually know how to do it.

[LWJ]

Ok. I am going to really piss off some of you. I think that there are two important issues already addressed. First is that engineers are in fact smart enough to properly execute a plan. Second, I think the binary thinking is somewhat relevant. Third, (and I qualify this as someone who has virtually all my and my inlaws family with engineers and actuaries) engineers are often less polished socially.

What do you get? An angry,disconnected competent person. My father is a perfect example. He is too mild mannered to be a terrorist but he has all the qualities.

Sorry to drop the bomb, but I share an office with an engineering firm. They live up to the stereotype daily.

Larry

PS - I think this is fascinating by the way.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I think people who want to blow things up cover the whole spectrum of skills and education. It's only the engineers who actually know how to do it.

Nonsense! I'm studying to be a pharmacist and we know how to blow some schit up too!

[RWebb]

an interesting set of response - I just figured it was because they were still angry from college at having to take the water-down dumb-azz physics for engineers courses, instead of being allowed to take the real physics courses.

[porsche4life]

Try taking the watered down physics for Pharmacists... Mein Gott! So boring

[slodave]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

If you got paid to blow Schit up, wouldn't you?

Heck, I'd blow stuff up free. Getting paid would just be the icing on the cake.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by RWebb

an interesting set of response - I just figured it was because they were still angry from college at having to take the water-down dumb-azz physics for engineers courses, instead of being allowed to take the real physics courses.

Physic snob!

[billybek]

How do you know when an engineer is an extrovert?






He looks at your shoes instead of his own when you speak to him......

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by dd74

In your case, I wonder how Shakespeare might write: "Now make me a sandwich, beeyotch!"

Make haste, ming-ed vixen, get off thy @ss,

And maketh meager repast, bonnie lass.


Zounds ! What mounds !

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

Make haste, ming-ed vixen, get off thy @ss,

And maketh meager repast, bonnie lass.


Zounds ! What mounds !

Zoinkies!

- Shaggy