You have to laugh at engineers, who only know one way of doing things: the way that maximizes their pocketbooks.
Particularly when they say that something is the same as something that it is not, and is not a traditional engineering project. Of course, the fact that they have no training, experience, nor expertise in something, doesn't stop them from having an opinion. Oops, and "expert" opinion.
You can tell they are experts, because they are willing to put their names to their opinions, so you can actually check their credentials and licensing (if any).
Yeah, those goofy dumb engineers, making all the money when they design billion dollar water projects, bridges, buildings, the computer you are typing on, and the chair you are sitting on. These should all be designed by retired doctors willing to experiment with public safety.
Coincidentally, the seminal event that started registration of engineers was the St. Francis dam failure of 1928, killing 450 people in southern California. It became obvious that self-taught engineers could be a menace to society.
As for new ideas, Ken, read this thread and the one you started on solar energy. You'll see I'm fully supportive of new and progressive ideas and I've incorporated new thinking throughout my career. But I feel a need to speak up when someone makes unrealistic claims about generally good ideas. People need to understand the limits of those good ideas, not be misled by someone trying to force them as the best solution for every problem, even on the other side of the world without knowing any details.
I almost forgot to mention, Ken has been a strong advocate trying to prove that solar powered toilets can't work at Outpost Camp or Trail Camp, even though they work fine in Colorado at a higher elevation. He seems to have been involved in the process of removing the old toilets and implementing wag bags without completing the environmental process, which is why the NFS can't do anything legal to enforce this "great new idea" of wag bags.
Advocating new ideas in a field where you have no formal training is one thing, but when you insult the entire profession and then try to lecture them, that's another thing. Ken, if you want to practice engineering, get an engineering degree from an accredited university, work under a licensed engineer for at least 2 years, get 3 licensed engineers to sign your application, and then pass 16 hours of exams. You probably want to get a Master's degree as well. If you want to be Geotechnical or Structural Engineer, you need 4 more years of experience, more signatures, followed by even more difficult exams. If you want to lecture engineers, get a PhD and find a university to hire you.
As the saying goes, "A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing." Combine that with unbridled hubris, mix in public safety, and you're really asking for trouble.
