Posted by pignc on August 24, 1998 at 16:33:48:
A Programmer and an Engineer are sitting next to each other on a long
flight from LA to NY. The Programmer leans over to the Engineer and
asks if he would like to play a fun game. The Engineer just wants to
take a nap, so he politely declines and rolls over to the window to
catch a few winks.
The Programmer persists and explains that the game is real easy and a
lotta fun. He explains "I ask you a question, and if you don't know
the answer, you pay me $5. Then you ask me a question, and if I don't
know the answer, I'll pay you $5."
Again, the Engineer politely declines and tries to get to sleep. The
Programmer, now somewhat agitated, says, "Ok, if you don't know the
answer you pay me $5, and if I don't know the answer, I'll pay you
$50!"
This catches the Engineers attention, and he sees no end to this
torment unless he plays, so he agrees to the game. The Programmer
askes the first question. "What's the distance from the earth to the
moon?" The
Engineer doesn't say a word, but reaches into his wallet, pulls out a
five dollar bill and hands it to the Programmer."
Now, it's the Engineer's turn. He asks the Programmer, "What goes up
hill with three legs and comes down on four?" The Programmer looks up
at him with a puzzled look. He takes ouut his laptop computer and
searches all of his references. He taps into the Airphone with his
modem and searches the net and the Libary of Congress.
Frustrated, he sends e-mail to his co-workers --all to no avail. After
about an hour, he wakes the Engineer and hands him $50. The Engineer
politely takes the $50 and turns away to try to get back to sleep. The
Programmer, more than a little miffed, shakes the Engineer and asks,
"Well, so what's the answer?"
Without a word, the Engineer reaches into his wallet, hands the
Programmmer $5, and turns away to get back to sleep.