Professional or not?

Dewey2Me1MoThyme · Post by **Dewey2Me1MoThyme** » Sun May 04, 2008 12:29 pm

Lucy X's artical in this forum about writing brought up a question I have asked, and been asked, many thymes. I guess we all have our own opinions since I get as many varied replies as the people I ask. I used to have a bluegrass band in Nova Scotia for several years, and on one occasion I mentioned that " I had only played professionally for X number of year. Someone listening asked how I considered I was a professional? I don't believe it was in anyway an attack on me so much as it was a debate on the term. So, how dew you see it. I think what makes one a professional is their attitude toward the job they dew. Give us your take on it!

Dew

"Anything worth dewing is worth dewing well"

Richard Bell · Post by **Richard Bell** » Sun May 04, 2008 7:56 pm

It's simple.

If you were paid for a performance, you are a professional.

If you are not compensated for your work, you are an amateur.

Dewey2Me1MoThyme · Post by **Dewey2Me1MoThyme** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:47 pm

but is it really that simple? If you don't care about how well you perform and still get paid, are you still a professional? Just asking! I think your attitude has a great deal to dew with it but I may be wrong, JMO!:-3

Dew

"Anything worth dewing is worth dewing well"

libertine · Post by **libertine** » Sun May 04, 2008 10:05 pm

Actually, it IS a matter of semantics. If you're paid, you're professional, BUT 'paid' needs definition. The Olympic athletes must be amateur BUT many are compensated in some way for being athletes if not strictly for their performances. I'd say IF you're paid for your work, whatever it is, you are a professional in most peoples' eyes. However, to someone in the same profession your definition of actions and ethics may fit better. It depends on the Point of view, in other words.

Richard Bell · Post by **Richard Bell** » Mon May 05, 2008 9:06 am

Dewey2Me1MoThyme;856628 wrote: If you don't care about how well you perform and still get paid, are you still a professional?

Yes.

A mechanic who does a shoddy job on repairing your car and collects a paycheque for it is a professional.

If you have a friend that is an accountant, yet knows a lot about cars, and performs the same repair as a no cost favour to you, and does an outstanding job in the process; that person is an amateur mechanic.

The quality of the work has nothing to do with being a professional or amateur.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Mon May 12, 2008 5:26 am

libertine;856631 wrote: Actually, it IS a matter of semantics. If you're paid, you're professional, BUT 'paid' needs definition. The Olympic athletes must be amateur BUT many are compensated in some way for being athletes if not strictly for their performances. I'd say IF you're paid for your work, whatever it is, you are a professional in most peoples' eyes. However, to someone in the same profession your definition of actions and ethics may fit better. It depends on the Point of view, in other words.

Which brings me back to the dream team basketball games during the Olympics several yrs ago.

I still dont get why they were allowed to compete.

In my opinion that soiled the integrity of the games.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Mon May 12, 2008 5:28 am

Also...

A professional is a worker required to possess a large body of knowledge derived from extensive academic or hands on study.