16 ms·

Nothing destroys your love of a hobby, even one that you are passionately (or even obsessively) dedicated to, like making it your job. I LOVE riding bikes but a

by skeeter2020 3y ago

Nothing destroys your love of a hobby, even one that you are passionately (or even obsessively) dedicated to, like making it your job. I LOVE riding bikes but all the BS of working in software is preferable to trying to support my love of bikes within the broader industry of bikes. The word "amateur" has negative connotations, but should really be interpreted as "not your primary pay cheque", not that you suck.

isametry 3y ago
Isn’t “hobbyist” the exact word you’re looking for?
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- randomdata 3y ago
  A hobbyist is an amateur who enjoys the activity. It adds some precision to to what he is looking for, but is still dependent on what you take amateur to mean. Someone "who sucks", but at least enjoys it, is not what he is trying to convey.
- deathanatos 3y ago
  Well, amateur is the word. It's literal meaning is only that you're not a professional, i.e., one whose profession is that: > A person attached to a particular pursuit, study, science, or art (such as music or painting), especially one who cultivates any study, interest, taste, or attachment without engaging in it professionally. (Wiktionary.) It just also can be used to derogatorily refer to a "low" skill level (Someone who is unqualified or insufficiently skillful., same), but the non-ad hominem definition doesn't have that connotation. E.g., in the ballroom dance community, the "amateur" category is filled with people incredibly talented, I'd estimate with like 8-10+ years of experience. They're amazing to watch.
throw0101b 3y ago
> The word "amateur" has negative connotations, but should really be interpreted as "not your primary pay cheque", not that you suck. The negative connotations is a more recent development: > The meaning "one who cultivates and participates (in something) but does not pursue it professionally or with an eye to gain" (as opposed to professional) is from 1786; often with disparaging suggestions of "dabbler, dilettante," but not in athletics, where the disparagement shaded the professional, at least formerly. As an adjective, by 1838. * https://www.etymonline.com/word/amateur https://www.etymonline.com/word/amateur It comes from the from the Latin amatorem, "lover": someone who does something not for any practical reason, but simply for the enjoyment / love of the activity. How well one does it does not necessarily come into consideration, as long as there is enjoyment.
- lolinder 3y ago
  > How well one does it does not necessarily come into consideration, as long as there is enjoyment. Indeed, the Olympics is technically supposed to be an event for amateurs, while also being generally perceived as the peak of competition for each relevant sport.
  - hervature 3y ago
    The Olympics were originally meant to be an event for amateurs but that shift happened a long time ago. The IOC in 1986 let the individual sports federations make a ruling on whether pros were allowed. I think the only sports left for amateurs are wrestling and boxing.
    - throw0101b 3y ago
      > The IOC in 1986 let the individual sports federations make a ruling on whether pros were allowed. And then you have NBA players on the Olympic team: * https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/lebron-curry-durant-embiid-headline-star-studded-2024-us-olympic-mens-basketball-roster https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/lebron-curry-durant-embiid-... See also NHL/MLB players.
deleted 3y ago
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svilen_dobrev 3y ago
"connoiseur" :) sometimes much-much more involved - paycheck-less - than just "next pro"

isametry 3y ago

Isn’t “hobbyist” the exact word you’re looking for?

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
randomdata 3y ago
A hobbyist is an amateur who enjoys the activity. It adds some precision to to what he is looking for, but is still dependent on what you take amateur to mean. Someone "who sucks", but at least enjoys it, is not what he is trying to convey.
deathanatos 3y ago
Well, amateur is the word. It's literal meaning is only that you're not a professional, i.e., one whose profession is that: > A person attached to a particular pursuit, study, science, or art (such as music or painting), especially one who cultivates any study, interest, taste, or attachment without engaging in it professionally. (Wiktionary.) It just also can be used to derogatorily refer to a "low" skill level (Someone who is unqualified or insufficiently skillful., same), but the non-ad hominem definition doesn't have that connotation. E.g., in the ballroom dance community, the "amateur" category is filled with people incredibly talented, I'd estimate with like 8-10+ years of experience. They're amazing to watch.

throw0101b 3y ago

> The word "amateur" has negative connotations, but should really be interpreted as "not your primary pay cheque", not that you suck. The negative connotations is a more recent development: > The meaning "one who cultivates and participates (in something) but does not pursue it professionally or with an eye to gain" (as opposed to professional) is from 1786; often with disparaging suggestions of "dabbler, dilettante," but not in athletics, where the disparagement shaded the professional, at least formerly. As an adjective, by 1838. * https://www.etymonline.com/word/amateur https://www.etymonline.com/word/amateur It comes from the from the Latin amatorem, "lover": someone who does something not for any practical reason, but simply for the enjoyment / love of the activity. How well one does it does not necessarily come into consideration, as long as there is enjoyment.

lolinder 3y ago
> How well one does it does not necessarily come into consideration, as long as there is enjoyment. Indeed, the Olympics is technically supposed to be an event for amateurs, while also being generally perceived as the peak of competition for each relevant sport.
- hervature 3y ago
  The Olympics were originally meant to be an event for amateurs but that shift happened a long time ago. The IOC in 1986 let the individual sports federations make a ruling on whether pros were allowed. I think the only sports left for amateurs are wrestling and boxing.
  - throw0101b 3y ago
    > The IOC in 1986 let the individual sports federations make a ruling on whether pros were allowed. And then you have NBA players on the Olympic team: * https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/lebron-curry-durant-embiid-headline-star-studded-2024-us-olympic-mens-basketball-roster https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/lebron-curry-durant-embiid-... See also NHL/MLB players.

deleted 3y ago

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svilen_dobrev 3y ago

"connoiseur" :) sometimes much-much more involved - paycheck-less - than just "next pro"