Dear EmperorJulian,

Maybe you could be so kind as to tell all of us about what subjects engineers are knowledgeable about?

What are engineers knowledgeable about? For openers, the genius behind every structure on the face of the earth, every machine, every transport system, every city. They are even more knowledgeable than most of us about what could have, and what couldn't have, brought down the Twin Towers.

Dear EmperorJulian,

You give engineers too much credit. Transport systems, cities, and virtually every project that engineers are connected with are the product of a collaboration of workers from hundreds of fields. An engineer is only a small part in the overall economic process.

Want I am asking from you is that you tell us what subjects (e.g.. geology, cosmology, sociology, philosophy, etc.) that engineers are knowledgeable in. Can you give us a list?

Different engineers are knowledgeable in different subjects. There are some subjects (such as geology) that many engineers are knowledgeable in, and some that few engineers know much about, but there's nothing that no engineers are knowledgeable in. And there's a reason for that: engineers are people. People have interests. Engineers have the intelligence to pursue those interests, and usually also have the resources to do so.

And engineers are a huge part in the overall economic process, because engineers are the ones who know what can be done and how to do it.

Dear Aidan,

What a load of crap!

You want people to believe that engineers are knowledgeable in a wide range of subjects because you are an engineer yourself and you want to be admired by others for being an engineer. For you it's all about social status: It's about how you see yourself vis-a-vis others and how you think others see you vis-a-vis themselves.

When I refer to someone being knowledgeable on a subject I mean people who have specialised training in that subject. And for me that usually means having the training and expertise that comes from years of study.

I have studied engineering and the only subjects I would say engineers are knowledgeable in are mathematics, physics, and chemistry. And even that is only to a limited level, definitely not the level a scientist or mathematician would be expected to know. The rest of engineering is just a lot of sub-branches of these subjects which deal with trades-like practical applications for design and construction practices.

If you (or anyone else) think I'm wrong then give us a list of the subjects you think engineers are knowledgeable in. I've given three subjects to start with so let's see what you can add to the list.

While we're waiting for Aidan to enlighten us on the greatness of engineers have a look at this news just put on the web:

http://www.smh.com.au/world/court-verdict-looms-in-philippines-v-china-dispute-in-south-china-sea-20160302-gn8i4n.html

According to Suseonline and others of that ilk - who criticise me for being racist and paranoid when it comes to China - the Filipinos in this news report would also be racists and paranoid when it comes to China.

Well at least I'm not alone. I bet anything you like that China won't abide by the court decision unless it is favourable to its position. But Suseonline and the others will still continue supporting China at any cost. They must be in line for one of those free fake $40K Rolexes that were snatched up by the LNP stalwarts.