The Programmer vs. The Engineer
A programmer and an engineer are sitting next to each other
on a long flight from LA to NY. The programmer leans over to
the engineer and asks if he would like to play a fun game.
The engineer just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines
and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks. The
programmer persists and explains that the game is real easy
and a lotta fun. He explains "I ask you a question, and if
you don't know the answer, you pay me $5.00." Again, the
engineer politely declines and tries to get some sleep. The
programmer, now somewhat agitated, says, "OK, if you don't
know the answer you pay me $5.00, and if I don't know the
answer, I'll pay you $50.00!" This catches the engineer's
attention, and he sees no end to this torment unless he plays,
so he agrees to the game.
The programmer asks the first question. "What's the distance
from the earth to the moon?" The engineer doesn't say a word,
but reaches into his wallet, pulls out a five dollar bill and
hands it to the programmer. Now it's the engineers turn.
He asks the programmer "What goes up a hill with three legs,
and comes down on four?" The programmer looks up at him with
a puzzled look. He takes out his laptop computer and searches
all of his references. He taps into the Airphone with his
modem and searches the net and the Library of Congress.
Frustrated, he sends e-mail to his co-workers -- all to no
avail.
After about an hour, he wakes the engineer and hands him $50.
The engineer politely takes the $50 and turns away to try to
get back to sleep. The programmer, more than a little miffed,
shakes the engineer and asks, "Well, so what's the answer?"
Without a word, the engineer reaches into his wallet, hands
the programmer $5, and turns away to get back to sleep.
A programmer and an engineer are sitting next to each other
on a long flight from LA to NY. The programmer leans over to
the engineer and asks if he would like to play a fun game.
The engineer just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines
and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks. The
programmer persists and explains that the game is real easy
and a lotta fun. He explains "I ask you a question, and if
you don't know the answer, you pay me $5.00." Again, the
engineer politely declines and tries to get some sleep. The
programmer, now somewhat agitated, says, "OK, if you don't
know the answer you pay me $5.00, and if I don't know the
answer, I'll pay you $50.00!" This catches the engineer's
attention, and he sees no end to this torment unless he plays,
so he agrees to the game.
The programmer asks the first question. "What's the distance
from the earth to the moon?" The engineer doesn't say a word,
but reaches into his wallet, pulls out a five dollar bill and
hands it to the programmer. Now it's the engineers turn.
He asks the programmer "What goes up a hill with three legs,
and comes down on four?" The programmer looks up at him with
a puzzled look. He takes out his laptop computer and searches
all of his references. He taps into the Airphone with his
modem and searches the net and the Library of Congress.
Frustrated, he sends e-mail to his co-workers -- all to no
avail.
After about an hour, he wakes the engineer and hands him $50.
The engineer politely takes the $50 and turns away to try to
get back to sleep. The programmer, more than a little miffed,
shakes the engineer and asks, "Well, so what's the answer?"
Without a word, the engineer reaches into his wallet, hands
the programmer $5, and turns away to get back to sleep.
