I feel your pain - one way to view this is that you make it look easy, and that is a big compliment for you.

I myself have lately been trying to develop my right brain, after years spent developing my left brain. I believe that the right brain has to be developed and nourished because it is the wellspring of creativity and inspiration that feeds the logical and technical side, in my case.

As a USCG Licensed Engineering Officer serving aboard ships, I have what might be a unique perspective. A lot of mates (USCG Licensed Deck Officers) like to say, when we come out of the engineroom all hot, sweaty and grimy, "When I was at (pick the Maritime College/Academy of your choice) school, I checked the "Mate" box. Well, that is all well and good, but my reply to them is "During my 5 years (double engineering major, and wife had a hysterectomy halfway through my sophomore year--till then it was 21 credits per semester) I must have seen at least 30 engineering majors transfer to marine transportation--because the engineering curriculum was too difficult; not once did I see a marine transportation major shift to engineering. Additionally, I point out to them that deck officers SAY "Make it happen," while engineering officers MAKE IT HAPPEN.

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Mahalo and Aloha,
S. L. "Red" Pike, Naval Architect/Marine Engineer, USCG Licensed Chief Engineer (Steam, Motor, and Gas Turbine)
Former nuc bubblehead (boomers)
"Sustained superior performance through continuous incremental improvement."

1987 300SDL White w/ Gray Leather interior, 160K (mine)
2009 Nissan Murano (leased - wife's)

because often times people who work with their hands aren't educated more than a 12 year school, and are stereotypically labelled as ignorant, stupid, or inept.

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1982 240D.
My name is Michael, and I am an 18 year old binge-drinkin', cigar-smokin', novel-writin', all around unsavory and unnattractive guy. I tell long-winded stories, and I only shave once a week, although I've had to do it every day since I was 16.

Sorry, had to laugh, I thought you typed engineering gynecologist.... Too much coffee today.

Just realize that those nontechnical people are paying a lot of technical people to maintain/repair there stuff because they can't. I have worked all my life in a field where many times those nontechs try to tell me how to do something they know nothing about. I have even at times handed them my tools and asked them to show me how to do it their way so I will know in the future, then listened to there coworkers laugh at them when they break something. I have also discovered that a lot of the nontechs make less than I do.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

Some are ignorant, stupid, or inept; but the same has been said of Postal workers, Air traffic controllers, Doctors, Lawyers, etc, etc, etc...

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ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

You know, I realize I wasn't there, so forgive my guesswork here, but maybe he meant that because you were a techie, you are better able to deal with "the issue". What was "the issue" A tough concept? a policy that affects others?

For me personally, as a nontechie, I really admire folks who "know their stuff" and can apply it, because that is not always a skill I have. Basically, a lack of respect for others and what they do is not limited to any category of occupation. Usually, it's related to ignorance of the job performed, rather than some personal disrespect of the person's abilities.

Most of the prior post's have been equally guilty of categorizing people by job occupation, rather than by an inherent skill set, which is what the first post complained about (I think). Anyway, I'm losing track here. . .

Just ask the manager dude if he meant it the way you took it. He'll probably clarify and/or apologize.

I don't like sterotypes. I feel just a comfortable changing a timing chain, as writing an english paper.

Personaly I prefer work that is more mental then hands on, ie selling, putting together people to create deals ect. I enjoy working on cars and boats but only as a hobby, I would get bored if I fixed cars everyday. I have done the boat thing, I love the marine industry but I would rather be on the owner side. I have done the working side for the past 6 years, working on boats is getting a little old.

However if something breaks I am going to fix it I don't care what it is, if I don't know how I'll learn. But when it comes down to it I'd rather sell the boat then fix it when it breaks.

I know several extremly smart people that enjoy relaxing by wrenching.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Techs are looked down apon until someone is stuck somehow/somewhere, feeling desparate, then we kindly offer help, getting them out of that "nightmare situation", from which we become transformed into intelligent, wonderful beings.
You get the idea.

Our skill isn't easy. We repair stuff that we neither designed, built, operate, or maintain. It usually comes to us with vague details as to what happened before it's demise, or the details are what they think is wrong with it, and what should be done to fix it. I'd much rather know Mr. Smith changed his oil, forgot to put the filter on and ran it dry, than to have the engine come in stuck, full of oil, new filter, etc., then try to figure out what happened.

Just my 25 years experience viewpoint.

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1991 GMC Sonoma Ext Cab w/Isuzu diesel (converted March Mar 2003) - sold
1994 S10 Ext Cab w/Isuzu diesel (converted Mar 2008)
1998 Toyota Sienna XLE
B6100HST Kubota CUT DIESEL

1994 S10 with Isuzu diesel and 5spd
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...S15/SigPic.jpg

construction mangager and real estate developer, all on smallish scales, i have to work with owners, contractors, tenants and people who work for me.

we all have our stereotypes to live up to or live down. the stereotype for an architect is that we draw pretty pictures but dont understand how things are built and dont know how to work within a budget. these reputations are sometimes true, sometimes not.

all i know is that i was taught to respect folks and not be intimidated by anybody. sometimes this means explaining to a overly ecucated client the difference between silicone (caulking material) and silicon (a electronic part). other times it might mean explaining to a carpenter how to do something that he doesnt already know. if a person can enlighten another without offending their self respect you will earn their respect and friendship.

i work with clients that are worth a lot more money than i am, and some who are worth less. same goes for folks in the construction business. always there needs to be respect. you arent going to be talking to them about doing work unless they have a skill that you need. and the same goes for the clients toward you. without respect there is only money. making money doing work for someone who has no respect is not worth it. after ten years you won't remember how much money you made on a job, it will all be long spent. but you will remember what type of person they were to work with.

client or construction person, if they do what they say they will you will want to work with them again.

so dont let them bother you. if they didnt need you you wouldnt be talking to them. demand respect, not in words, but in demeanor.

who cares if someone thinks you are a nerd.... look at bill gates. bet he was always considered a nerd. on the other hand look at donald trump. bet he always worried that folks thought he was a nerd.

tom w
nerdy architect, diesel lover, car crazy, straight laced husband, grandfather

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Bingo. How you say it determines whether you treated as all knowing god or the crud they just scraped off their shoe. I'm 17 and I already know this. I am a technical consultant to a real estate office and get incredible amounts of respect because I can explain what they are doing wrong in ways they understand AND not humiliate them. It is this ability that makes a tech better than a geek or nerd. Geeks and nerds have no social skills and that is why while people may be envious of their skills they still believe themselves to be better and rightfully so. Arrogance is another thing that most technical people have in abundance (myself included) and those who do not adequately hide it find only loathing from those around them. People skills and management tactics mesh well with technical ability, having both will make you more successful.

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'84 190d 2.2 - Silver
Converted to 5-Speed
'84 190d 2.2 - Blue
Factory 5-Speed

'76 300D (W115)
Sold, found again in less auspicious circumstances

I'm missing the manager's insult here. ... I guess he must've been saying that since you're a "technical person" you couldn't be expected to understand or comprehend something else, something interpersonal, or managerial, or whatever?

I agree with the other person earlier who seemed to suggest that maybe what was said was really a clumsy compliment. ... That's the first thing I thought: "Because you're a technical person, you can do this, no sweat; whereas it would be hard for me, a not-very-technical person."

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-- 1983 300D, acquired 10/19/2005 at 215,000+ turbodiesel miles ... engine croaked almost immediately ... back on the road at 217,210 with a 144K turbo motor from a donor '85. ... May 2007, replaced radiator. ... Now (2/28/08) about 240K miles and dead due to battery?

I don't put it together that way at all. Didn't seem to be a compliment anywhere in there.

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PagodaLOVER
1967 230SL, manual
1959 180D, manual

Very well said - respect is the key ingredient. We all have our own "hand of cards" of life skills, and everyone has a unique role to play. But the ultimate basis for respect is simply that everyone is a human being.

however, I would say "command respect" rather than "demand respect".

Commanding respect however, does not always come easy, because it depends on the pre-conceived notions of others, based on your physical appearance, and how you assert yourself. For example, a big guy will almost always command respect more easily than a small guy. Even race and diction influences credibility and respect (at least, in first impressions).

Some people then ask about your training/educational background to size you up even more. I tell them only as much as they need to know and check to see if that influences how they treat me. I quietly assert myself and see if they respond. I am also checking to see if they are worthy of my respect based on how they treat me (an innocuous-looking person).

It seems that if one has a healthy level of self-esteem, one will naturally exude confidence and (ultimately) command respect from others.

As an aside, a Benz does wonders in commanding respect, never mind that it is a 16-yr old car.

I never really care what the non-technical type think. Trying to argue with an "average" person about something like the way turbocharging a diesel works is next to impossible.

I'm not all high-and-mighty. I always want to learn something new. If someone would step forward and show me how to forge a nice sword or teach me to shoot a bow, I'd be delighted.

I'm always happy to help. But if somebody intentionally blows me off or gets on my bad side... Luck be on their side if they need my help again!

At 20 years old, I make more $ than both my parents. They are proud that I'm happy being a mechanic, even if they wanted a doctor or an IT-tech.