I think robots can be a good object to illustrate things. Dave, you may not have a degree in engineering while I do. But anyone can easily see that your robots are the better engineered machines, and that not just down to you having access to a greater range of tools.

I'm going to be honest and say that, although I've signed the petition, I'm not 100% sure where I stand on the issue. I've signed the petition for the benefit of the 'proper' engineers out there and, while I could possibly argue that I could be called an engineer, I never really think of myself as a proper engineer.

However, I think moves for 'engineer' to be made a protected title have been accelerated by general over-use of the term. While I don't think it's right to exclude someone from being called an engineer just because they don't have a degree in the subject, notices saying 'an engineer has been called to fix the water dispenser/photocopier/printer' are prime examples of incorrect use. A more appropriate term (and the one for 'someone who fixes stuff') would be technician.

But at the end of the day, I'm not that fussed how the term is used. It doesn't affect what I do in my job or in my life; there are other things in the world that are more deserving of these levels of attention. God, I'm sounding horribly philosophical as I get older :shock: