Thinkin about something?

My professor remarked to a freshman this morning., "If you think a lot, engineering is a good discipline to be."

If you don't think, then engineering is the discipline for you. If you start thinking, as in, real thinking, you better be a philosopher. For if you really start to think, you will not be thinking about, "What do I do so that a 5 inch bolt has to fit into this 3 inch screw" then you got options. This is what you do. Thats not what thinking is about. When cosidering a solution for the problem above, you are constrained. By money, by manufacturing, by all means to fit or die.

But in some point, if you think, "Is what I am doing really worth it? Does anybody in the world really care about whether this fits a Rolls Royce or a Kia? Or does the guy who buys this even knows what this thing is about?" then you have started to think. If you are the really thinking type and go on further, say, "What happens to the world after this car is released? Emissions? Fumes? not green effects? Okay. what about the person who is not going to make it to buy this effect? Am I not inciting jealousy and violence? " Then you are starting to be a philanthropist.

If you are really really into it, "What is this in the grander scheme of things? Is a rolls royce ever going to make it to the moon? so what if it does? Is it going to the end of cosmos? Is it going to drive God in? Waitamint! Is there a God really? Where is He then? Too busy I guess! What about life? Why is this happening? Why am I here thinking about it? Did God want to me to think this way so that He can change my perspectives? Is He giving me a way to look at in a broader perspectives? Religions?......" Man!!! You have graduated to being a PHILOSOPHER..

( pats on the back, handshakes, claps, spotlights and a graduating cap if a thinking cap is not enough!)

But if on the other hand, you decide to shake yourself out of the reverie, snap shut out of your day dream, "It is all about money man! Jeez, Holy cow! Did you get a gander at the new recruiting lady. Gotta get a date!" and of course there is the Rolls Royce to think about. And then a new pent to seriously think about!

(voices in the background:
Mark, what did you the last you had this problemo?")

HEY! Welcome to the club : You are an engineer!!!!!!
(photo courtesy :internet &google)