Maverick
I have often said that a good engineer stands outside of other peoples’ boxes and looks into them with a exterior perspective to identify solutions that don’t just meet the needs of the problem, but provide a path for growth and maintainability. A really good engineer lives in that space. They walk through the world differently and change it as they the move through it.
I try to be that person. I don’t defer to authority framed in social position, political power, or financial standing; as far as I’m concerned, authority is a two-way street. One carries exactly as much authority as one is ceded. If my knowledge, expertise, experience and/or competence in a specific context is greater than yours, I’m not going to cede you any authority at all in that context, no matter who you are. This isn’t me being arrogant; this is me being practical. Misinformation and misexecution are always damaging and often dangerous. If I can spare the world that damage, I will.
I don’t put a lot of value in social norms and expectations. Social norms and expectations are default behaviors defined by tradition, by expedience, by convenience, by behavioral fashion, and to a certain degree informed by morals and ethics – although, at that macro scale, morals and ethics are often driven by sometimes arbitrary or obsolete legal definition and/or assumed religious constraint. While I don’t have much of an issue with the most fundamental moral and ethical constructs – e.g., the general protection of person and property against damage and destruction – much of the rest is varying flavors of tedious horseshit.
I grew up on a farm.
I know how to shovel shit.
I also know how to tell when shit is being shoveled at me.
I throw shit back; I have enough of my own, thank you.
