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Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz
This could be harmful to teams who need a firm and accurate answer from a knowledgeable source. Although many students know the correct answer, the first one to post may not be right. Anyone who posts here with a question directed at a engineer should get an engineer's response.
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That's what I was going for. If someone is seeking professional advice, non-professionals should either say nothing or make it clear that they aren't professionals.
I do some photography and, on occasion, people talk to me about it. To Average Joe, the equipment I carry around looks pro. I say that I am a photographer. If they start asking questions about professional photographers, I make it clear that it's just a hobby for me. While being a pro photographer doesn't come with the same responsibility as a pro engineer or doctor, there is some training involved. Actually, I think that being a good pro photographer (or many other forms of art) may require a creativity that can't be taught. I'm sure that they would also take offense to amateurs posing as pros as the engineers here seem to be.
My point is that I don't see any problem with people calling themselves engineers as long as they are not posing as professionals when professional advice is sought.