3 ms·

That is but one definition and it's American-English, not English. The more complete definition from the OED says: A. adj. †I. Senses relating to a professi

by sbuk 4y ago

That is but one definition and it's American-English, not English. The more complete definition from the OED says: A. adj. †I. Senses relating to a profession or vow. 1. Relating to or marking the occasion of entrance into a religious order. Cf. profession-ring n. at profession n. Compounds. Obsolete. rare. 2. Of or relating to a profession or declaration; that is avowedly (but sometimes falsely) the thing specified; professed. Obsolete. II. Senses relating to or derived from (the conduct of) a profession or occupation. 3. a. Of a person or persons: that engages in a specified occupation or activity for money or as a means of earning a living, rather than as a pastime. Contrasted with amateur. Sometimes applied disparagingly to a person who makes a trade or profession of something usually associated with higher motives. b. Of an event, activity, occupation, etc. (now esp. a sport): undertaken or engaged in for money; engaged in by professionals (as distinct from non-professionals or amateurs). c. In humorous or derogatory use. Of a person: habitually making a feature of a particular activity or attribute, esp. one that is generally regarded with disfavour; inveterate. 4. Of, belonging to, or proper to a profession. a. Relating to, connected with, or befitting a (particular) profession or calling; preliminary or necessary to the practice of a profession. professional examination. b. Engaged in a profession, esp. one requiring special skill or training; belonging to the professional classes. c. Characteristic of or suitable for a professional person; (now esp. of equipment) of a type used by professionals. d. That has or displays the skill, knowledge, experience, standards, or expertise of a professional; competent, efficient. 5. That has knowledge of the theoretical or scientific parts of a trade or occupation, as distinct from its practical or mechanical aspects; that raises a trade to a learned profession. Now rare except as merged with senses at A. 4. 6. Physiology. Designating or relating to a cell which is specialized for the ingestion of particles by phagocytosis, such as a macrophage or neutrophil (as distinct from a cell capable of occasional phagocytosis). III. Senses related to the office of professor. 7. = professorial adj.Now rare. B. n. 1. a. A person who engages in a specified activity, especially a sport, as a paid occupation. Frequently opposed to amateur. b. Chiefly colloquial. A prostitute. 2. A person engaged in a profession, esp. one requiring special skill or training; a professional person, or a member of the professional classes. 3. Scottish University slang. Short for ‘professional examination’ 4. A person who does something with a high level of competence, commitment, or expertise. ----- So the use in this case can be construed to be entirely correct, c.f. Sense II §4 and Sense III §2 and §4

lettergram 4y ago
Lmao now this is like reading email debates in the FOSS community! I think when you get down to debating definitions you’ve probably lost some of that professionalism. As a manager I probably would be reprimanding people debating definitions like this. We should be asking: “do we understand each other?” The point of this entire argument is Stallman isn’t paid, dedicates his life to this work, probably is overworked and runs his org and does so completely openly (ie you’re likely to see lots of good and some bad). He’s not a professional; he’s a passionate, often crazed and zealous leader of an organization with an extreme position (free software being the exception not the rule). I frankly wouldn’t expect anything from Stallman. Manners, personal relationship, etc.
- sbuk 4y ago
  That I can agree with. I posted this to highlight the absurdity of the original posting of another definition. I perhaps could have been more explicit, but I thought that my tongue being in my cheek was established by making the point that the original excerpt was taken from an American-English dictionary. Should've started with "Akshually..."
- plywoodtrees 4y ago
  “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” - Bertrand Russell Yes, perhaps this pattern of behavior is to be expected from someone who's staked out such an uncompromising position and stuck to it for ~30 years. But it's also really sad that, in acting this way, he undermines his own goals.
- cxr 4y ago
  > does so completely openly Not so. This is partly where the "Cathedral" nomenclature came from.
raverbashing 4y ago
Thanks, that was a very professional comment! OED really goes all the way into their words

by sbuk 4y ago

lettergram 4y ago

Lmao now this is like reading email debates in the FOSS community! I think when you get down to debating definitions you’ve probably lost some of that professionalism. As a manager I probably would be reprimanding people debating definitions like this. We should be asking: “do we understand each other?” The point of this entire argument is Stallman isn’t paid, dedicates his life to this work, probably is overworked and runs his org and does so completely openly (ie you’re likely to see lots of good and some bad). He’s not a professional; he’s a passionate, often crazed and zealous leader of an organization with an extreme position (free software being the exception not the rule). I frankly wouldn’t expect anything from Stallman. Manners, personal relationship, etc.

sbuk 4y ago
That I can agree with. I posted this to highlight the absurdity of the original posting of another definition. I perhaps could have been more explicit, but I thought that my tongue being in my cheek was established by making the point that the original excerpt was taken from an American-English dictionary. Should've started with "Akshually..."
plywoodtrees 4y ago
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” - Bertrand Russell Yes, perhaps this pattern of behavior is to be expected from someone who's staked out such an uncompromising position and stuck to it for ~30 years. But it's also really sad that, in acting this way, he undermines his own goals.
cxr 4y ago
> does so completely openly Not so. This is partly where the "Cathedral" nomenclature came from.

raverbashing 4y ago

Thanks, that was a very professional comment! OED really goes all the way into their words