/. - Engineers have a Terrorist Mindset?

[Pavan Dave]

Link to Slashdot Article.

Originally Posted by /.

"Do engineers have a way of looking at the world not all that different from terrorists? According to an article in the EE Times, they do. The story cites 'Engineers of Jihad,' a paper (pdf download) by two Oxford University sociologists, who found that graduates in science, engineering, and medicine are strongly overrepresented among Islamist movements. The paper also found that engineers are 'over-represented' among graduates who gravitate to violent groups. Authors Diego Gambetta and Steffen Hertog chalk this all up to what they call the 'engineering mindset,' which they define as 'a mindset that inclines them to take more extreme conservative and religious positions.' Is this just pop psychology masquerading as science?"

Interesting article. Enjoy!

[dlavery]

Great. Just what we need. DHS showing up at all the regional competitions.



-dave



.

[Graham Donaldson]

Call me naive, but DHS? What's that?

[MikeDubreuil]

Originally Posted by robotcanuck1676

Call me naive, but DHS? What's that?

Department of Homeland Security

[Zyik]

I don't know... I don't think many terrorists practice Gracious Professionalism. Should only take them a couple of regionals to figure that out. At least, I hope they can figure that out...

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Zyik

I don't know... I don't think many terrorists practice Gracious Professionalism. Should only take them a couple of regionals to figure that out. At least, I hope they can figure that out...

How do you Graciously Professionally blow up a building?

[Zyik]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

How do you Graciously Professionally blow up a building?

I don't think you can, or at least I can't think of how. The "they" I was talking about was the DHS.

[JaneYoung]

First of all, I really do not like the title of this thread.
For a number of reasons.
Just one:
This is ChiefDelphi. This is place where engineers of FIRST teams gather to exchange ideas and information regarding robotics. By being a member of a FIRST team means they have been exposed to and often understand the vision, the mission, and the lingo of FIRST, including Gracious Professionalism. That doesn't fit with this title well.

--
Regarding the subject matter of students in universities seeking degrees in science, engineering, and medicine.

I've worked in a university environment for a good part of 25 years and if you pay attention, you can see that often the global issues and concerns of the times are reflected in the learning cultures of universities and ebb and flow, depending on what is going on in the world. An example of what's going on right now is global warming. That is a current topic that is studied, discussed, explored.

As underdeveloped countries and communities find the means to enroll students in schools and universities, they will seek knowledge in how to help the country develop in areas of building, water systems, communications, transportation, health systems.

There are many underdeveloped countries who seek knowledge and training in these areas. They send their students to the universities, many with expectations that the students will return to the communities/countries with their degrees. If you study history and sociology as well as the arts, you can follow the development of peoples and countries through time. Some struggles are longer and take more time to achieve the goals of stability and growth. Engineers and scientists have been important throughout history in achieving these goals.

Knowledge can be used wisely and safely or it can be misused and cause harm. Sharing information that is useful and helpful is always good. Asking if engineers have this type of mindset in the title, does not lead me to think it wise or helpful.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by dlavery

Great. Just what we need. DHS showing up at all the regional competitions.
.

For some reason, when I read this, I saw "DHL showing up..." and thought Mr. Lavery was worrying about a fight between FedEx and their competitors.

I need some sleep.

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

How do you Graciously Professionally blow up a building?

The same way you Graciously Accept

[GaryVoshol]

I think the cause and effect is backwards here. More likely terrorist organizations covet engineers who can help their causes through the diabolical and evil use of technology.

[Andy A.]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

How do you Graciously Professionally blow up a building?

Like this!

Joking aside, I have no idea why there is any correlation between degree and terrorism.

[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

I think the cause and effect is backwards here. More likely terrorist organizations covet engineers who can help their causes through the diabolical and evil use of technology.

I agree. If I were a terrorist organization, I would recruit three types of college grads: chemists, engineers, and communications majors. Engineers can design things and figure out potential failure modes; if your goal is to cause terror, what would advance your cause better than destroying something that people think of as strong and undestroyable? Chemists can obviously make explosives/chemical weapons and communications types know how to get your message out and magnify the terror caused by their actions. So, I think what the terrorists need is scientists and engineers; thus, they recruit them. The lack of communications types and the presence of doctors puzzles me though.

[4throck]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

How do you Graciously Professionally blow up a building?

Call and warn people beforehand, Weathermen style? Blow it up in such a way that it doesn't damage other buildings?

[zim2411]

Originally Posted by robotcanuck1676

Call me naive, but DHS? What's that?

Also Dulaney High School.