My opinions:
Reading through this thread I see multiple definitions of the word "engineer." I see the term defined as a profession, a hobby, and of course, the literal dictionary meaning. I think it's important to differentiate the use of the word with regards to a title or label. Unfortunately, (as the case may be with other words in the English language as well,) Engineer can be used in many different forms of context, some of which may be offensive to others.
I see an Engineer, as one who works in the profession of engineering (be it electrical, mechanical, aerospace, or what have you). No doubt respected individuals, in accomplishment and education, as well as spirit and passion for what they do. A professional engineer performs (or performed at one time,) engineering related tasks: designing, manufacturing, testing, tweaking, fabricating, etc. as part of an every day, full time job.
I also see hobbyist engineers, or those who perform engineering tasks on occasion, on their own time. In this instance the term is synonymous with other activity-related titles, like a kid who plays on a little-league baseball team is a baseball player. Someone who plays the piano in their spare time is a pianist. Not by profession, but by actively involving themselves in some aspect of the function. So kids involved in FIRST can call themselves engineers, although that's
not to say they are
professional engineers. That is still a very important distinction. But again, because the term "engineer" can be used multiple ways, it can still indicate someone who spends time engineering something, even it not professionally. Just like a little league player is not a
professional baseball player, it does not mean they aren't any less of a baseball player in general.
And of course, the literal definition, which supports both of my arguments-
The first entry for "engineer" from dictionary.com-
Quote:
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Originally Posted by dictionary.com
"One who is trained or professionally engaged in a branch of engineering."
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But further down the page, as one of the alternate definitions-
Quote:
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Originally Posted by dictionary.com
"A person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems."
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The first definition supports the professional nature of the term, and the second seems to include students involved in the engineering aspects of FIRST, as indeed, any FIRST student capable of designing and building any mechanism would fall into the category of "using scientific knowledge to solve practical problems."
Multiple meanings- just one of those nice little features of the English language
