I. Introduction: A Profession at War With Itself
Surveying has always been a profession that demands precision, attention to detail, and a willingness to stand your ground when the data says youāre right. After all, when it comes to boundary lines, inches matter, and thereās no prize for being close enough. But somewhere along the way, that necessary professional skepticismāthe instinct to double-check, to challenge assumptionsāturned inward. Instead of fighting for the integrity of the craft, surveyors started fighting each other.
Spend a day inside any online surveying groupāwhether on Facebook, LinkedIn, or some crowded forumāand youāll see it firsthand. A young surveyor posts a question. Maybe itās about GPS drift. Maybe itās about interpreting a confusing easement. Maybe theyāre new, or maybe theyāre just trying to learn. The first answer is helpful. The second is condescending. By the fifth reply, someoneās insulting someone elseās competence, regional knowledge, or accusing them