Can I call myself a physicist yet?

  • Thread starter Thread starter flatmaster
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Physicist
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the qualifications and titles associated with being a physicist. Participants debate whether one can call themselves a physicist without a PhD, with opinions varying widely. Some argue that a PhD is necessary, while others believe that anyone with a degree in physics or who actively engages in physics-related work can claim the title. The conversation touches on the distinction between being a student, a researcher, and a professional physicist, with some participants suggesting that job titles should reflect one's current role and responsibilities. There is also a discussion about the relevance of job titles in different contexts, such as academia versus industry, and the implications of using titles like "engineer" or "physicist" without formal credentials. The thread highlights the complexities of identity and professional titles in the scientific community, emphasizing that the definition of a physicist can vary based on individual perspectives and experiences.
  • #101
I am talking about the contextual use, not the definition of an engineer. The popular meaning of what makes person (insert said field). The root meaning was overridden by the singularity of the widespread use of what makes a physicist, therapist, and soldier. As, if you don't have the degree you won't be known as an engineer.

A person skilled in the principles and practice of any branch of engineering.

That heavily implies it.

As I stated earlier, until graduation I refuse to call myself an engineer. But that is simply because until then I won't consider myself to have the knowledge required to do the job of one. Even then I think I would want some experience which is what my one year placement is for.

So you basically agree with me, right? It's just that you disagree with my notion of what makes an actual engineer?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #102
jarednjames said:
As I stated earlier, until graduation I refuse to call myself an engineer. But that is simply because until then I won't consider myself to have the knowledge required to do the job of one. Even then I think I would want some experience which is what my one year placement is for.

So, you can graduate and then work at McDonald's afterwards but still call yourself an "engineer"?

That makes no sense to me.
 
  • #103
rootX said:
For engineers, I think it started because of a Canadian bridge collapse which was due to negligence. Before that everyone could call him/herself engineer but they made a law after that incident. I don't think there's any law for England even now.

No, we don't have any rules on it. That is why someone who fixes household appliances can call themselves an engineer. In any other profession they would be a technician / service person, but no we have people calling themselves engineers. This is why no one understands how difficult my degree actually is and when I do show them the maths work involved whether it is pure, stats or thermodynamics etc. they are shocked.
 
  • #104
jarednjames said:
No, we don't have any rules on it. That is why someone who fixes household appliances can call themselves an engineer. In any other profession they would be a technician / service person, but no we have people calling themselves engineers. This is why no one understands how difficult my degree actually is and when I do show them the maths work involved whether it is pure, stats or thermodynamics etc. they are shocked.

Well, they are idiots.
 
  • #105
//:phoenix:\\ said:
I am talking about the contextual use, not the definition of an engineer. The popular meaning of what makes person (insert said field). The root meaning was overridden by the singularity of the widespread use of what makes a physicist, therapist, and soldier. As, if you don't have the degree you won't be known as an engineer.

That heavily implies it.

So you basically agree with me, right? It's just that you disagree with my notion of what makes an actual engineer?

I meant it in the sense that I will not have the skill set to do an engineers job until I graduate. But if someone develops the skills required without doing a degree course, it does not mean they are any less of an engineer. It just means they cannot become chartered. If you ask me, these days the only way to get the skills to do an engineering job is to do a degree, but just because you don't do a degree doesn't mean you are less of an engineer than someone with one.
 
Last edited:
  • #106
JasonRox said:
So, you can graduate and then work at McDonald's afterwards but still call yourself an "engineer"?

That makes no sense to me.

No, with todays 'employee management' I'd probably be a 'food technician' or some bull like that. But anyway, regardless of the job I do I still retain the knowledge gained and so could certainly call myself it.

But to me, the job also plays a part in determining what you call yourself. If I work in an engineering role, whether I have a degree or not, as long as the knowledge and skills are there I am considered and engineer.

If you have the knowledge required and perform a job in the role of an engineer, then you are an engineer.

So what you guys are saying is, if a person without a degree applies for a job as an engineer, proves he has the ability to do it and gets it, because he lacks that piece of paper the role suddenly becomes something else and not an engineering one? The person is not considered an engineer despite doing the same work as a person with a degree?
 
Last edited:
  • #107
jarednjames said:
No, we don't have any rules on it. That is why someone who fixes household appliances can call themselves an engineer. In any other profession they would be a technician / service person, but no we have people calling themselves engineers. This is why no one understands how difficult my degree actually is and when I do show them the maths work involved whether it is pure, stats or thermodynamics etc. they are shocked.

I will never believe this. Call me whatever you want but if someone only knows how to fix household appliances but not exactly the mathematics behind it, then they aren't engineers. They are skilled-workers.
So what you guys are saying is, if a person without a degree applies for a job as an engineer, proves he has the ability to do it and gets it, because he lacks that piece of paper the role suddenly becomes something else and not an engineering one? The person is not considered an engineer despite doing the same work as a person with a degree?

I would guess the person wouldn't have the knowledge I've acquired through school so, no I would not call him/her an engineer. I can't speak for the other guy but that is just my view on it.
 
  • #108
//:phoenix:\\ said:
I will never believe this. Call me whatever you want but if someone only knows how to fix household appliances but not exactly the mathematics behind it, then they aren't engineers. They are skilled-workers.
Tell that to british gas:
"Smell gas, give us a ring and we'll have an engineer round to you ASAP." That so called engineer doesn't know the mathematics of how boilers work, most are simply gas fitters who are corgi registered, no degree required there.
//:phoenix:\\ said:
I would guess the person wouldn't have the knowledge I've acquired through school so, no I would not call him/her an engineer. I can't speak for the other guy but that is just my view on it.
Well there's your problem. You guess/assume. You fresh out of uni with no industrial experience are not going to beat an experienced person with a long resume of career successes in the engineering field just because they lack a piece of paper.
 
  • #109
jarednjames said:
You fresh out of uni with no industrial experience are not going to beat an experienced person with a long resume of career successes in the engineering field just because they lack a piece of paper.

Lets remove all the restrictions and let everyone work as a engineer who wants to. Why we even have restrictions for doctors or policemen then? Let's also remove their restrictions too...

If tomorrow something wrong happens, don't go look for Engineering regulation body .. (or a body that maintains the profession)
 
  • #110
Let's all stop for a moment and reflect on this thread and ask ourselves.

Why the hell does this really matter? I mean, honestly? Do you really need to call yourself x,y,z so you can feel good and sleep at night? If so, seek help.

How about you let your work speak for you - which is what I've been saying all along.
 
  • #111
rootX said:
Lets remove all the restrictions and let everyone work as a engineer who wants to. Why we even have restrictions for doctors or policemen then? Let's also remove their restrictions too...

If tomorrow something wrong happens, don't go look for Engineering regulation body .. (or a body that maintains the profession)

Let's make good posts. I already explained this.

I hereby revoke your title of Dr.
 
  • #112
Cyrus said:
Why the hell does this really matter? I mean, honestly? Do you really need to call yourself x,y,z so you can feel good and sleep at night? If so, seek help.

It's not about about the titles/names but the about legal/ethical accountability. I am only going for having legal restrictions for particular professions like engineers/police/doctors I don't care about the titles itself.

These (legal) names/title were made to prevent mistakes not just because of some irrational reason.
 
  • #113
Cyrus said:
Why the hell does this really matter? I mean, honestly? Do you really need to call yourself x,y,z so you can feel good and sleep at night?

Yes.

Cyrus said:
If so, seek help.

No.

This thread is hilarious.
 
  • #114
rootX said:
It's not about about the titles/names but the about legal/ethical accountability. I only going for having legal restrictions for particular professions like engineers/police/doctors I don't care about the titles itself.

These (legal) names/title were made to prevent mistakes not just because of some irrational reason.

I *already* EXPLAINED what the legal implications are, mannnnnnnnnn.

<This thread annoys me because people don't *LISTEN*>
 
  • #115
rootX said:
Lets remove all the restrictions and let everyone work as a engineer who wants to. Why we even have restrictions for doctors or policemen then? Let's also remove their restrictions too...

Policemen don't have degrees. It isn't required. They train to be proficient at the job.

The only way to get experience as a doctor is to do a degree and then work as an intern in a hospital.

Cut the crap, now you are clutching at straws.

To be a chef you either go to college and then work under a head chef. Or you start at the bottom in a kitchen and work your way up. Still considered a chef either way.
 
  • #116
Pengwuino said:
Yes.
No.

This thread is hilarious.

I hereby make you Dr. for not being annoying.
 
  • #117
http://ui08.gamespot.com/1735/failed_2.jpg

Ahhh, it had to be done folks. It had to be done.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #118
I find it strange pheonix that under your view of this, you would consider a person who learns to pass the exams to get a degree yet retains no knowledge/skills, to be an engineer, but would take a person who is highly skilled and holds a huge knowledge of engineering principles and cast them aside as a nothing simply because they have no degree.
 
  • #119
Cyrus said:
Ahhh, it had to be done folks. It had to be done.

Yes Cyrus, YES IT DID!
 
  • #120
Degrees, titles, even academic positions have little to do with being a physicist, a musician, a painter, a hunter, a pilot, a fireman, a thief or a murderer. A piece of paper does not change your personality. If you are passionate for something and live every day with this passion, who cares what other people call you ?

The profession does not honor the man, it is the man who honors the profession.
(Victor Hugo, poorly translated)
 
  • #121
humanino said:
Degrees, titles, even academic positions have little to do with being a physicist, a musician, a painter, a hunter, a pilot, a fireman, a thief or a murderer. A piece of paper does not change your personality. If you are passionate for something and live every day with this passion, who cares what other people call you ?

The profession does not honor the man, it is the man who honors the profession.
(Victor Hugo, poorly translated)

You already have a PhD, or I'd give you one too.
 
  • #122
jarednjames said:
I find it strange pheonix that under your view of this, you would consider a person who learns to pass the exams to get a degree yet retains no knowledge/skills, to be an engineer, but would take a person who is highly skilled and holds a huge knowledge of engineering principles and cast them aside as a nothing simply because they have no degree.

Straw man.
 
  • #123
Pengwuino said:
Straw man.

What? Can't say I understand.
 
  • #124
jarednjames said:
What? Can't say I understand.

Straw man argument.
 
  • #125
Pengwuino said:
Straw man argument.

Cardboard box.
 
  • #126
In what sense? He says he only accepts an engineer is a person with an engineering degree. And has stated himself, no matter what a person knows about engineering, no matter how good they are at an engineering job, if they don't have a degree to him they are not an engineer.

To be the straw man argument I would have had to state this and then attack it, and then claim his original statement is false because of my presented argument of my statement. Whereas Pheonix has actually stated he only accepts a person with a degree as an engineer and that anyone without is not one.
 
Last edited:
  • #127
jarednjames said:
I suggest you look up what a straw man argument is defined as like I just have.

What?

Furthermore, you claim someone with a degree only knows how to take exams and knows no real knowledge and someone whos been in the industry for a long time always has a wealth of knowledge and understanding. It's silly.
 
  • #128
Thank you Cyrus I just googled to find what a Cardboard Box argument is! Feel like a right plonker now.
 
  • #129
Pengwuino said:
What?

Furthermore, you claim someone with a degree only knows how to take exams and knows no real knowledge and someone whos been in the industry for a long time always has a wealth of knowledge and understanding. It's silly.

I didn't claim anything of the sort. I simply pointed out that some people who do the degree are like that. At NO POINT did I say ALL people who do degrees simply learn to pass exams. Please do not take posts out of context like that, in my book you are seriously discredited because of it.
 
Last edited:
  • #130
I'm thick so I'm a thicksisist.
 
  • #131
I can't believe I sat and read all of this. What a waste of time.
 
  • #132
What else can you do when you are enduser ?
 
  • #133
Stop this absurd thread. Flatmaster checked out at post 9. NINE! He began with a fairly benign question, and it doesn't appear that an answer either way was going to define anything or anybody, yet it devolved into a mini war, a flame-p!$$!ng contest. I appreciate our "edgy" (dammit, is there another word?) members and the humor they bring, but...

what is this, Youtube?
 
  • #134
Locked pending moderation. :rolleyes:
 
Back
Top