🚀 go-pugleaf

On Sun, 14 Apr 1996, ac865@FREENET.HAMILTON.ON.CA wrote:
>--
>A consortium of elites in this society will eventually succeed in imposing
>"professional" membership on those of us who practise in some area of
>computer technology: this particular nonsense is one of the rising tides
>in this country.

Rising tide of WHAT, pray tell?  The desire to get a quality job done by a
qualified professional?  No wonder you did not sign your name!

>Nevertheless, I think one is morally obliged to
>question many of the articles of faith of those who would do this to us,
>with or without our consent.
>

In principle, I agree.  That's why we have CIPS-L. Free speech has always been
a part of CIPS AFAIK.  Heck, I've been known to run at a few sacred cows
myself! But what exactly are you saying here -- is  it the articles, the faith
or the individuals (or all three?) that you think need to be questioned?

>Let me comment concerning just one of these articles of faith here.
>
>The CIPS President speaks of taking individual, personal responsibility
>for one's own continuing education and training. Admittedly this is very
>difficult, or at least I find it to be so.

For the life of me I can not understand how you can say this is "difficult".
In what way?  Shirking personal responsibility seems to be a far more
dangerous "rising tide" than professionalism (IMNSHO).  Good grief,
anonymous-poster person, you can advance your training and education is a
myriad of ways (and not all cost a lot of money -- or even ANY $$$).
Subscribe to the dozens (and I mean DOZENS !) of totally  FREE
computer-related magazines (PC Week, Business Geographics, heck, even
Computing Canada <smile>) and read them on the way to work or in the can or
whereever!  Attend a free seminar at your local college or university.  Sign
up for a  free new systems seminar at the local convention centre.  Call a
local software vendor and  ask them to take you out to lunch to describe their
latest innovations (you'll even save on your grocery bills).

>However, when "professionalism"
>is imposed this aspect of our lives will not be made easier. In fact, in
>order to maintain one's "professional" certification one will be required
>to complete formal courses regularly, and to pay for them.

So how exactly is this bad?   Maybe a better trained IS person will wrote some
better software.  Maybe, just maybe we'll get a better society for it.  Maybe
we can get a tax deduction for some of them?

>One will not be
>taking individual, personal responsibility. That will actually devolve to
>the so-called professional organisation which will compile a list of
>"acceptable" courses. Each of us will have about as
>much say as to the direction that is taken as we now have when it comes
>to, say, school boards--none.
>

Surely there is enough lattitude to fit just about any IS professionals needs.
 There are literally hundreds of acceptable areas, methinks. Most, if not all
professional organizations have a list of relevant courses. Besides, if you
don't like the list, un-lurk and participate in your local CIPS section.  Just
like you can do if you are not happy with your local school board!


>Thinks about it.
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
A Yam, what a yam -- Hey... maybe Popeye wrote this? <g>
>
==============================================================
   Tom Ruta, ISP                     "Nunc hoc in marmore
   Manager, Information Services       non est incision"
   Tarragon Oil and Gas Limited
   FAX:   (403)262-5324
   PHONE: (403)974-7690          Email: rutat@cadvision.com

     WWW ---> http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~rutat/togl.html
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