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Engineers like woodworking because they spend so much time often building intangible things (like software engineers), that it satisfies an unmet need to hold,
by sbf501 4y ago
Engineers like woodworking because they spend so much time often building intangible things (like software engineers), that it satisfies an unmet need to hold, feel, or experience their creations in a tactile way.
Thus said a therapist I had ages ago.
- peter422 4y agoAnother key difference is that software is never finished, you can always fix a bug or add a feature or tinker with it. When you build a piece of furniture for yourself or especially somebody else, when you finish it, it's done. All the little mistakes and imperfections are just part of it, and there is nothing you can do about it. Just accept and be proud of it and move on to the next project. It seems odd but it's a very nice feeling for somebody who mostly deals in abstract, perpetually updating software.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- _carbyau_ 4y agoI do not think of wood like that. I see wood as a great material for shaping, adjusting, bolting news onto etc. If I ever got actually good at making stuff I would never be able to stop tinkering. Fortunately, I am not good (and need to make money) so it remains an aside - a nice way to fail better.
- sprior 4y agoAt one point as a programmer at IBM, me, my manager and his manager were all woodworkers. Same explanation you gave.
- agumonkey 4y agoThe material and sensitive aspect are important but I'd add another factor: physical geometry. Real objects can't be coupled virtually like bits. They interlock in simpler ways.. it creates hard constraints too but I think our brains often prefer them. Unlike a video game, most objects can traverse each others (well to an extent).
- mono_tagic 4y agoI say this in my woodworking classes to my fellow SWE classmates. It's so rewarding to have something you can hold, and people like looking at wood a lot more than they do code.
- midoridensha 4y agoAnother factor I'll add is that anything you build yourself like this is actually a completed project that you can use. When you look back at your career, how many projects did you complete which were actually used by someone? And how many were just canceled, or failed in the market?
- FunnyLookinHat 4y agoThis is exactly why I enjoy cooking so much. It produces something of value from raw materials, and, if I do everything well enough, other people get to derive joy from my effort. :-)
- sbf501 4y agoSame here! I started cooking like an adult around age 30, and then really got into it around 35, but didn't feel confident enough to feed large groups until my late 40's. Now I'm in my 50's and love throwing parties and cooking days in advance. My next house needs a dining room that can seat at least 14 or I won't be happy.
- fassssst 4y agoAlso why I like playing instruments and drawing with pen and paper and sculpting with clay. After awhile I just got so tired of screens and living in essentially virtual reality.
- moonchrome 4y agoI got into software because I loved making stuff, I got my computer as a gift at 12 and I was consumed - I could make stuff and the only limit was my knowledge - not materials or tools - 20 something years after I'm still doing it. Woodworking, metalworking, electronics, 3D modeling, CAD - just different ways to thinker with stuff.
- sbf501 4y agoTotally. A computer is worth tens of thousands of board feet of wood. Until I could afford a house and woodworking tools, this (and music) were my two primary creative outlets.