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Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

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Re: Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

#72

Post by loufe »

Underground mining engineer, working in the Canadian far north. I've always been a computer geek, even did some internships as a developer, but I realized needed a career that would pull me out of screens.

Still a hobby programmer and love tech. The tech industry has a dynamism and pace that contrasts even modern mining sharply.

I'm not sure when I stumbled upon HN but I was hooked immediately. Also helps that HN is very data-light so I can load it reliably via our old satellite connection on-site.

Re: Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

#74

Post by fattybob »

Geologist, these days mostly involved in team and operations management, but it’s helpful to have familiarity with a wide range of technologies from networks to cutting edge technology for analyzing formations (usually in extreme environments- a few km deep at high temps). Familiarity in tech is very helpful, but certainly not essential.

Re: Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

#75

Post by cull »

I’m a cultural historian and professor. My early work was on the development of video synthesizers by artists, engineers, educators, and technologists—mainly for non-commercial and artistic purposes. I visited HN for a decade before creating an account. Now, I find thoughtful and engaging conversations on HN. It reminds me that while many of us do not work in the same profession/field, the inquisitive nature of the posts and comments speak to our common interests and curiosity. I also get to learn from amazing people who have played a part in pioneering their fields respectively.

Re: Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

#76

Post by technological »

loufe wrote: post #72

Underground mining engineer, working in the Canadian far north. I've always been a computer geek, even did some internships as a developer, but I realized needed a career that would pull me out of screens. Still a hobby programmer and love tech. The tech industry has a dynamism and pace that contrasts even modern mining sharply. I'm not sure when I stumbled upon HN but I was hooked immediately. Also helps that HN is…

Wow that’s awesome. Is there any blog which you have where I can learn more about your work and experiences

Re: Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

#77

Post by 1ibsq »

Student in civil engineering. It's been several years now and still no end in sight. My decision on this profession wasn't very well thought out because I wasn't able to back then. Right now I'm in the position of a gambler who invested a lot and can't really jump of the train.

I want to learn coding, but haven't been able to start for quite some time now. But I have interests in tech stuff and that's why it's interesting to read HN nevertheless.

Anyways, every time I start talking about myself I feel like self pity is taking over and I hate that.

Re: Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

#79

Post by civeng »

I_complete_me wrote: post #56

Civil Engineer here. I found HN after coming across an article by a programmer who had found a way to crack a captcha to access something called "Silk Road" using a Ruby script. I found that fascinating and followed a trail that led here. I like the community. Maybe I picked the wrong profession!

Cool! And another civil engineer here, specifically structures. Lurked in HN for at least 5 years, I appreciate the perspectives in comments and articles. There seems to be a very high talent density here. I love to dabble writing code and hire coders for special projects, it's part of the secret sauce of a successful small business. The other part is culture which always comes up here. Keep it coming!

Re: Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

#80

Post by amcoastal »

1ibsq wrote: post #77

Student in civil engineering. It's been several years now and still no end in sight. My decision on this profession wasn't very well thought out because I wasn't able to back then. Right now I'm in the position of a gambler who invested a lot and can't really jump of the train. I want to learn coding, but haven't been able to start for quite some time now. But I have interests in tech stuff and that's why it's intere…

If it's an undergraduate degree just get it done, you can do all kinds of things with a civil engineering undergraduate degree. It seems you might imply you picked your major when you were young and had no idea what you actually wanted. The same thing happened to me, and from the UG student perspective it seems like your degree type will define you, but reality is with something as broad as civil it won't. You could get into graduate schools for basically whatever you'd want to do. From marine science to graphical design to creative writing, and of course engineering.
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