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 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.

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Voucher schemes partner with Amateur Gardening: QV, which supplies voucher schemes to garden centres, has partnered... http://bit.ly/4o6Vdt
gargening_101 (sandy richardson) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:49:53 -0000
Voucher schemes partner with Amateur Gardening: QV, which supplies voucher schemes to garden centres, has partnered... http://bit.ly/4o6Vdt
Voucher schemes partner with Amateur Gardening http://bit.ly/5H41mx
gardening44 (Rene Rajotte) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:49:46 -0000
Voucher schemes partner with Amateur Gardening http://bit.ly/5H41mx
Voucher schemes partner with Amateur Gardening: QV, which supplies voucher schemes to garden centres, has partnered... http://bit.ly/6OD23Y
GardenStyle (Big Mamma) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:49:46 -0000
Voucher schemes partner with Amateur Gardening: QV, which supplies voucher schemes to garden centres, has partnered... http://bit.ly/6OD23Y
Voucher schemes partner with Amateur Gardening http://bit.ly/7akxbw
GrowSomeGrass (GrowSomeGrass) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:49:44 -0000
Voucher schemes partner with Amateur Gardening http://bit.ly/7akxbw
Voucher schemes partner with Amateur Gardening: QV, which supplies voucher schemes to garden centres, has partnered... http://bit.ly/4o6Vdt
Foreverfaces (Connie) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:49:44 -0000
Voucher schemes partner with Amateur Gardening: QV, which supplies voucher schemes to garden centres, has partnered... http://bit.ly/4o6Vdt
Now I see why the CW doesn't do much sports. This pregame just seems amateur.
GJones712 (George Jones) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:48:09 -0000
Now I see why the CW doesn't do much sports. This pregame just seems amateur.

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