[BNM] [OT] Amateur vs Professional

[matt zb]

I was listening to a Radio 4 podcast[1] this morning featuring the author DJ
Taylor promoting his book "On The Corinthian Spirit"[2], which is in part
aiming to reclaim the meaning of the word "Amateur".

Once upon a time an "amateur" was a participant who did something primarily
for the love of it (from the French "amator" - "lover"[3]), rather than
"professionally" which was purely for the money. It also implies, as DJ
Taylor argues, an "effortless superiority" in a particular field and a
genuine enthusiasm for it, as opposed to the rigorous training and financial
motivation professionalism required.

So, I put it you - a list mostly consisting of New Media 'Professionals' -
are any of you secretly New Media Amateurs, but afraid to say it?


matt zb



[1] 
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/downloadtrial/radio4/starttheweek/rss.xml
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/downloadtrial/radio4/starttheweek/startthe
week_20060509-1200_40_pc.mp3

[2] http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0224075853/

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateurism