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Why do engineers shake their legs behind a desk??

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Why do engineers shake their legs behind a desk??

#51

Post by fakeer »

skopp wrote: post #47
fakeer wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's an art. You are either born with or have to learn it "the hard way". ;-)

Kinda like spitting (with high initial thrust and decent precision). Or doing a double-snap thingy with your thumb or other extremity. I was born capable of all three. I still wonder if I'm destined for Great things, or just a freak

Either way you must have made a name for yourself in your circle and more. I envy you for the 'snapping' prowess. However, as far as spitting goes I might qualify to be a master spiter(please read as in sniper).

By the way, just high initial thrust and precision are not enough you have to got to use the ammo in the right amount w.r.t. distance and all. Not to mention you have to mind wind conditions, otherwise the drop might land at someone standing/sitting/moving near by.

Re: Why do engineers shake their legs behind a desk??

#52

Post by moron4hire »

DrinkWater wrote: post #34
moron4hire wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uh, engineers are just people. They aren't any different from other people in the wild.

That was sarcasm. I know we are just regular people. But the question implies we are aliens.

ah. sorry.

Re: Why do engineers shake their legs behind a desk??

#53

Post by jstelly »

Maven911 wrote: post #6

Some people have restless leg syndrome, some are more productive this way (think of a clicking pen for some), some have anxiety and need to diffuse it

Restless leg syndrome has some correlation with caffeine as well. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001810/

Re: Why do engineers shake their legs behind a desk??

#54

Post by jonvideo »

Their brains work at a high rate and it puts the brain on an additional task to slow their processing rate as not to cause a jam up in the firing of the neurons. They would shake their hands (and some do tap) but they use them for writing. This is not a joke, this is why some of them do this.

Re: Why do engineers shake their legs behind a desk??

#56

Post by ddmf »

techdmn wrote: post #22

I think leg shaking is mostly harmless, the habits I worry about are: 1) Constant muttering stream of expletives. 2) Unconsciously drumming along on my desk to whichever song I happen to be listening to while waiting for code to compile / servers to start / etc. I don't think I actually do either very often, but I worry about it. ;)

I find that the first option mixed with an extreme amount of self deprecation is like taking a riding crop to the part of my brain that works really well. Unlike the rest which is a procrastitative mess.

Re: Why do engineers shake their legs behind a desk??

#57

Post by skopp »

fakeer wrote: post #51
skopp wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kinda like spitting (with high initial thrust and decent precision). Or doing a double-snap thingy with your thumb or other extremity. I was born capable of all three. I still wonder if I'm destined for Great things, or just a freak

Either way you must have made a name for yourself in your circle and more. I envy you for the 'snapping' prowess. However, as far as spitting goes I might qualify to be a master spiter (please read as in sniper ). By the way, just high initial thrust and precision are not enough you have to got to use the ammo in the right amount w.r.t. distance and all. Not to mention you have to mind wind conditions, otherwise the…

" Not to mention you have to mind wind conditions..." I can calculate the vector angle, wind considered, to almost 0.99% accuracy. Zero dot nine nine, my friend. While driving on the freeway.

"...otherwise the drop might land at someone standing/sitting/moving near by." But then there's no reason to spit in the first place, is there?

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