[vinceguidry]

As a web developer, I don't think of myself as an engineer. I think of myself as a craftsman. An engineer learns to manipulate the rules of nature and does so in repeatable ways to make things that are primarily functional. A craftsman learns the rules of his tools and uses them to make things of beauty rather than of function.

I would be bored to tears with engineering, web work offers me an outlet for my creativity.

[dikdik]

I have a few friends that are civil engineers. "being technicians with the tools we're given" is exactly there job title. They aren't coming up with insane new concepts for bridges or new mixtures for concrete to improve roads, they're just doing what they are told with the tools they are given.

ie Design a road that is x feet long, has proper water drainage for the area, and meets safety standards for typical vehicle weight, etc, etc. Yes, SOME civil engineers are probably pushing the limits, most just design standard parts that fit into the required schematics.

[vinceguidry]

> They aren't coming up with insane new concepts for bridges or new mixtures for concrete to improve roads, they're just doing what they are told with the tools they are given.

Coming up with new concepts is the domain of the architect, which lies square in the middle of the engineering / craft spectrum.

Otherwise you are just reiterating the basic idea I tried to articulate using different words. You can't engineer or craft without tools. The difference is in the focus. Engineers, because they are building primarily for function, need to know the invariant rules of nature so they can design the most economical solution. They may not need or use them frequently, like your friends, but you need to know them to be an engineer.