On a train to a large computer convention there were a bunch ofcomputer programmers and a bunch of computer engineers. Each of theprogrammers had a train ticket. The group of engineers had only ONEticket for all of them. The programmers started laughing, figuringthe engineers were going to get caught and thrown off the train.

When one of the engineers, the lookout, said "here comes theconductor", all of the engineers went into the bathroom. Theprogrammers were puzzled.

The conductor came aboard, said "tickets please" and got tickets fromall the computer programmers. He then went to the bathroom andknocked on the door and said "ticket please". The engineers stuck theticket under the door. The conductor took it and moved on. A fewminutes later the engineers came out of the bathroom. The computerprogrammers felt really stupid.

On the way back from the convention, the group of programmers decidedthat they would try that method, too. They bought one ticket for thewhole group. They met up with the engineers in the same car.

Again, the programmers started snickering at the engineers. This timeNONE of the engineers had tickets. When the lookout said "Conductorcoming!", all the engineers went to one bathroom and all the computerprogrammers went to the other bathroom.

Before the conductor came on board, one of the engineers left theirbathroom, knocked on the programmers bathroom, and said "ticketplease."