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mahatmakanejeeves

(57,378 posts)
13. A Priest, a Doctor, and an Engineer are playing golf
Fri Jun 22, 2018, 04:18 PM
Jun 2018
A Priest, a Doctor, and an Engineer are playing golf

An engineer, a priest, and a doctor are trying to enjoying a round of golf. Ahead of them is a group playing so slowly and inexpertly that in frustration the three ask the greenkeeper for an explanation. “That’s a group of blind firefighters,” they are told. “They lost their sight saving our clubhouse last year, so we let them play for free.”

The priest says, “I will say a prayer for them tonight.”

The doctor says, “Let me ask my ophthalmologist colleagues if anything can be done for them.”

And the engineer says, “Why can’t they play at night?”

Shamelessly taken from Malcolm Gladwell

Here is the explanation, from the article:

Dept. of Transportation May 4, 2015 Issue

The Engineer’s Lament: Two ways of thinking about automotive safety.

By Malcolm Gladwell
....

There is an old joke about an engineer, a priest, and a doctor enjoying a round of golf. Ahead of them is a group playing so slowly and inexpertly that in frustration the three ask the greenkeeper for an explanation. “That’s a group of blind firefighters,” they are told. “They lost their sight saving our clubhouse last year, so we let them play for free.”

The priest says, “I will say a prayer for them tonight.”

The doctor says, “Let me ask my ophthalmologist colleagues if anything can be done for them.”

And the engineer says, “Why can’t they play at night?”

The greenkeeper explains the behavior of the firefighters. The priest empathizes; the doctor offers care. All three address the social context of the situation: the fact that the firefighters’ disability has inadvertently created conflict on the golf course. Only the engineer tries to solve the problem.

Almost all engineering jokes—and there are many—are versions of this belief: that the habits of mind formed by the profession enable engineers to see things differently from the rest of us. “A pessimist sees the glass as half empty. An optimist sees the glass as half full. The engineer sees the glass as twice the size it needs to be.” To the others, the glass is a metaphor. Nonsense, the engineer says. The specifications are off. He doesn’t give free rein to temperament; he assesses the object. These jokes, like many of the jokes people tell about themselves, are grievances. The engineer doesn’t understand why the rest of us can’t make sense of the world the way he does.
A Priest, a Rabbi and an Irishman walk into a bar htuttle Jun 2018 #1
Cute. sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #10
The pollen is SO bad this year... pnwest Jun 2018 #2
That's funny. Thanks. NT mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2018 #3
Thanks. sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #9
where can I get some? I can't find any Sudafed rurallib Jun 2018 #33
Need some George... pbmus Jun 2018 #4
The past, the present & the future walked into a bar. CrispyQ Jun 2018 #5
Cute. sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #8
Did you hear about the two TV antennae that got married? Coventina Jun 2018 #6
Thanks. sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #7
My Wife... she likes to talk during sex. Vinnie From Indy Jun 2018 #11
That got a smile. sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #12
How dirty do you want it? Vinnie From Indy Jun 2018 #32
A Priest, a Doctor, and an Engineer are playing golf mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2018 #13
Thanks sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #15
What do Engineers use for birth control? Turbineguy Jun 2018 #29
You'll appreciate this: CrispyQ Jun 2018 #31
Wife: you haven't listened to a thing I've said. You just tone me out all the time. underpants Jun 2018 #14
Crazy sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #16
A woman walks into a pharmacy, asks for a large dose of cyanide DFW Jun 2018 #17
Good one. Made me smile. sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #18
A rabbi walks into a bar with a frog on his shoulder red dog 1 Jun 2018 #19
That's bad. sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #20
Well, they can't all be gems! red dog 1 Jun 2018 #22
An Ollie joke red dog 1 Jun 2018 #21
Groan sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #24
Two buddies are out hunting, and one grabs his chest and collapses. SeattleVet Jun 2018 #23
Another crazy one. sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #25
I roared on that one rurallib Jun 2018 #34
SIRI SAID ... samnsara Jun 2018 #26
Cute. But president would do. sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #27
A man waalks into a bar. Turbineguy Jun 2018 #28
Sick sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #30
The pilot test jmowreader Jun 2018 #35
Thanks sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #40
A pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel sticking out of his groin Ron Obvious Jun 2018 #36
I like this one. sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #41
Avoid eating three square meals a day Generic Brad Jun 2018 #37
Sick sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #42
Old and corny....but I've always liked it.... Xolodno Jun 2018 #38
You're right...corny. sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #43
Why can you never trust an atom? OilemFirchen Jun 2018 #39
Cute. sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #44
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