What is a "professional"?

[Muncle]

In a recent post when I probably went off the deep end a bit too quickly (be doin' that a lot lately), one of the things that set me off was the blogger's claim to be a 30 something professional. I don't really care how old he is, but his claim to be a professional got me thinking. What qualifies a person as a professional? I assume it is one's job. I guess technically a professional is anyone who is paid to work as opposed to an amateur. But generally one thought of professionals as being practitioners of special vocations. When we were growing up, professional seemed to be restricted to doctors and lawyers. Teachers/professors wanted to be professionals, but weren't. The same with technical types, whether they were PhDs or lab assistants. Not even the clergy qualified. And business people? A guy might be CEO of a Fortune 500 firm or an ultra successful banker or stock broker, but he didn't qualify as the big "P".

Now, of course, everyone is a professional. The damned clerk at the coffee shop -- oops, excuse me, the barista is now a professional. When did it change, and does the title/adjective have any meaning whatsoever today? What makes this blogger a professional rather than just a guy sitting in his parent's basement in his underwear typing on his computer?

[redwitch]

Given your criteria (doctors/lawyers), maybe a "professional" is an individual who practices his/her trade.

According to Miriam-Webster, a professional is:
1 a: of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession b: engaged in one of the learned professions c (1): characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession (2): exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace
2 a: participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs <a professional golfer> b: having a particular profession as a permanent career <a professional soldier> c: engaged in by persons receiving financial return <professional football>
3: following a line of conduct as though it were a profession

Maybe the guide should be someone who has to follow a code of ethics? Certainly broadens the field.

Personally, I prefer to think it of someone who works in a field (any field that requires some type of skill specific to that field) that does their work knowedgeably, efficiently and above normal standards. Thus, a barrista who truly goes above and beyond would be a professional to me. So would a waitress; a secretary; yeah, even a lawyer or two. I don't think someone learning their job is a professional. I don't think someone who is happy just "getting by" is a professional. To me, there has to be a pride in the job that is obvious to others and a talent to do it better than most.

[SteveFromNY]

I've always made the somewhat loose distinction that if you get paid, you're a professional.
But that context is mostly from sports where there are amateurs and professionals, and only the pros get paid (well, maybe except for the Olympic teams from everywhere but here are the exception).
As far as being just a "professional", well that is kind of crossing a line. I believe it is an adjective, which means you have to be a professional something or other. You can't just be a professional. That's an incomplete sentence, like "look at the blue..." or "isn't he a nice..." So if that's your context for going off the deep end, I see your point (to a point), if not, maybe you should relax a little more?
(only kidding of course)
;D

[Boomer]

Munc,

I really like your question/statement.

I think you may have hit it on the head. You are hitting it though from the perspective of our generation, the front end of which were the last to escape the "let's all feel good about ourselves" philosophy.

Something tells me that you got a little discipline when you were in school. I know I did. I got sent out into the hall quite often for talking with the people sitting around me. (Imagine that.) I did not care though because out in the hall there were more intersting people to talk to. And then there was that time I got sent to the principal's office because when my teacher came into the room, I was pounding some guy over the head with my science book. (Hey, the poundee was a jerk and he was picking on somebody and I disapproved.)

But through all that, I knew that the universe did not revolve around me. And when I got a good grade, I knew that it was mine. And when I didn't, I knew that was my fault.

Then things changed. And we will forever find ourselves in the wake of so many feeling so entitled to feel so good about whatever they are doing. So it's really all about perspective.

I think it was Stephen Crane who wrote,

"A man said to the universe, 'Sir, I exist!'

'However,' replied the universe, 'the fact has not created in me,
A sense of obligation.'"

I think he said that somewhere around 1900. Nobody hears him anymore.

I need to get out of here for now, but I love discussions like this. About the evolution of the language. I also like to talk about the evolution of slang. And I really like to talk about euphemisms.

But for now, I have to leave.

Rock on, Muncle. (Whatever that means to us early boomers at this point.)

Boomer

btw, just for the record. I know that Boomer is not a professional writer. I know that Boomer gives it away. Oh, and I also know that Boomer insists upon writing sometimes in short, choppy, incomplete sentences.

[njgranny]

Muncle,

Good question. We have a friend who claims to be a professional just about anything. Only he calls himself a "Master." He's a master gardener, a master chef, on and on ad naseum. He's a nice person, but I'm sure he's driven more than one person bonkers. He used to talk about his prowess on the baseball field until he found out that our son was on his team when he played. I guess he knew we would find out the truth. :) :) :)

[JohnnyM]

Hey Muncle, just between us normal earthlings I consider a "professional" someone who could do something better than me. If my faucet is dripping, I could probably fix it but I would rather call a professional so I know the job is done right. Kind of a simplistic way of thinking but one which makes me feel better about myself. "I keep myself on the edge of professionalism in everything I do except when I know it has to be done professionally".
I don't know what the hell I just said :dontknow: But is sounded good....Johnny

[MMC24]

Where I come from a "professional" is a lady of ill repute!!! It is a term known around the world and in many languages. Means the same in Tokyo as it does in the Bronx.

[Just Susan]

A "Professional" is someone from out of town with a briefcase.

[renielarson]

Professional is opposite of confessional...

Pro (in favor of something) fess (to admit) ion (act of) al (have the nature of) = Acting and having the nature of admitting to something that one is in favor of

Con (not in favor of something) fess (to admit) ion (act of) al (have the nature of) = Acting and having the nature of admitting to something that one is NOT in favor of

So there you have it in a nutshell....case closed!

BTW...sometimes people have shortened my brightspot nickname to BS....I wonder why ??? ???

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Susan I thought that was a Carpet ******.

HB

[Sidney Lanier]

Interesting question? So is "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" Maybe it's best to determine professional whatever (I agree best used as an adjective rather than a noun in this context) by "the eye of the beholder," no matter what anyone calls him or herself. The guy sitting in his underwear in his parents' basement typing on his computer may think of himself as a professional though he may not be one; then again, maybe he is.... In other words, let's just judge for ourselves.

[Boomer]

Munc,

I just wanted you to know that since you started this thread a few days ago, my ear has been tuned to the word "professional." It's not like I tuned it in on purpose; it's just that it has been tuned in. You know how that goes.

Anyway, just yesterday, I was talking to a member of the clergy that I have known for a long time. He has been in the biz for probably 40 years. We were just talking about stuff in general and about how things overall have sure changed.

He said to me, "You know, when I became a pastor, it was a calling. Now "they" all want to be "professional."

You mentioned clergy at the start of this. And the topic showed up in a totally unrelated to TOTV conversation. I am sure I am now forever, or at least for awhile, tuned in to the word "professional" and its evolution.

Interesting.

Boomer

[nONIE]

Bright,

Dont feel to badly about those initials, my hubby's initials really are B.S and boy has he lived up to them!( hope he doesnt see this post) 1rnfl

[chelsea24]

Nonie, that's toooo funny! 1rnfl


In my old neighborhood, the "Professionals" worked the corner of 49th and Cicero Ave.! :o

[Lil Dancer]

The following short quiz consists of 4 questions and will tell you whether you are qualified to be a "professional."

Scroll down for each answer. The questions are NOT that difficult.

1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?

The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator put in the giraffe and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.

2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?

Open the refrigerator put in the elephant and close the refrigerator. Wrong Answer!

Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.

3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend except one. Which animal does not attend?

Correct Answer: The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. This tests your memory.

OK, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.

4. There is a river you must cross. But it is inhabited by crocodiles. How do you manage it?

Correct Answer: You swim across. All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.

According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the professionals they tested got all questions wrong. But many preschoolers got several correct answers. Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four year old.

[The Great Fumar]

Professional

Well lets see now, there was TEMPEST STORM , CANDI BARR , LIDIA PINKTUM , LILLY ST, CYR , etc, etc,