amateur

someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime an athlete who does not play for pay engaged in as a pastime

"an amateur painter"

"gained valuable experience in amateur theatricals"

"recreational golfers"

"reading matter that is both recreational and mentally stimulating"

"unpaid extras in the documentary" lacking professional skill or expertise

"a very amateurish job"

"inexpert but conscientious efforts"

"an unskilled painting"

The word amateur has at least two connotations. In the first, more widely used manner, it means someone performing some task without pay, in contrast to a "professional" who would be paid for the same task. In this sense, labeling someone an "amateur" can have a negative connotation. For example, amateur athletes in sports such as basketball or Football gamesfootball would not be regarded as having ability on par with professional athletes in those sports.Where this can be interesting is in the case of the Olympic Games. Most Olympic events required that the athletes be amateurs, or non-professionals. To receive pay to perform the sport could have disqualified an athlete from an event, as in the case of Jim Thorpe. Such regulations are now nonexistent for all Olympic sports with the exception of boxing.Also in the areas of computer programming and open source, as well as astronomy and ornithology, many amateurs make very meaningful contributions equivalent to or exceeding those of the professionals. To many, description as an amateur is losing its negative meaning, and actually carries a badge of honor. The other, perhaps somewhat obsolescent usage, stems from the French form of the Latin root of the word meaning a "lover of". (''See amateurism''.) In this sense, retaining its French inflexion ("am-a-tEUR"), an amateur may be as competent as a paid professional, yet is motivated by a love or passion for the activity, like a ''connoisseur''. In the 17th century17th and 18th century18th centuries ''virtuoso'' had similar connotations of passionate involvement.Indeed, another thriving example of such work is Amateur Dramatics - whether plays or musical theater. Often performed to high standards (but lacking the budgets of the professional West End theatre/Broadway theatreversions) and with an intense passion for the scene.It has been suggested that the crude, all or nothing categories of professional or amateur should be reconsidered. A historical shift is occurring with the rise of Pro-Ams, a new category of people that are pursuing amateur activities to professional standards.See also hobby, particularly for Amateur Radio (also known as ''ham radio''.)

See also -

!volunteercategory:occupationsd a:Amatørde:Amateures:Amateurf r:Amateurnl:Amateurja:アマ� �ュアno:Amatørsv:Amatör

Auntie Bob's Amateur Gay Videos
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Johnsonian Designs
Manufacturer of highly portable collapsable Dobsonian telescopes and equatorial tracking platforms.
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Sandown Sociedad Beach Soccer Club
Sandown Sociedad Beach Soccer Club, located on the Golden sands of Sandown (on the south side of the Isle of Wight) Are the United Kingdoms Biggest Beach Soccer Club and play in the FTP Beach Soccer Championships and various other Beach Soccer events around the world. You can find them in the summer months playing on the golden Beach's of Appley in Ryde.
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Kremlins
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CyberSky
CyberSky is an exciting, entertaining, and educational astronomy program that transforms your personal computer into your personal planetarium. CyberSky provides an excellent way to learn about astronomy and to explore the wonders of the sky visible in the distant past, the present, and the far-off future.
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Huronia Players
Amatuer Community Theatre Group in Midland Ontario.
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IIX Equipmment Ltd.
Mfg of radio tower/antenna mounts and vehicle radio mounts
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Tonouchi Land
This site introduces my hobby, history and culture of my hometown and Japan, etc.
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Online catalogs of boat plans and supplies, how-to articles and news letters, thousands of builder photos, boat builder forum.
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Well of Souls
An art site featuring illustrations and online comics by several artists.
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DL7VOGs Ham Radio Page
Can be used as a source for accomodation, ham radio license applications or simply to enjoy travel reports and pictures of the Caribbean.
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WELSH WARRIORS
Welsh boxing greats of the past and pesent; fron Jimmy Wilde to Joe Calzaghe. Profiles, records, video and much more..............
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The American Radio Relay League
Membership service organization headquartered in Newington, serving amateur radio operators, enthusiasts, experimenters and hobbyists nationwide.
http://www.arrl.org/

Eskimo North
Provides dial-in and remote access Internet accounts, web hosting and virtual domain services, Frame Relay, T1 connections, and NNTP/UUCP accounts.
http://www.eskimo.com/

Amateur Electronic Supply
Amateur radio equipment dealer. Product comparisons, downloadable catalog, propogation forecast, mailing list, and links.
http://www.aesham.com/

Tucson Amateur Packet Radio
TAPR is an international non-profit educational research and development organization focused on the issues of amateur radio wireless digital communications.
http://www.tapr.org/