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.

More on [ Amateur ]

Amateur - Twitter Search

Photo: http://www.amateur-blogs.com/ http://tumblr.com/xsb3vmmzx
graffuck (graffuck) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:55:16 -0000
Photo: http://www.amateur-blogs.com/ http://tumblr.com/xsb3vmmzx
RT @TheKinkLink: Amateur Anal Audition: Kaydence Katchings administers her own soapy enema http://bit.ly/1wNQ12
FetishCentral (Kay T) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:53:48 -0000
RT @TheKinkLink: Amateur Anal Audition: Kaydence Katchings administers her own soapy enema http://bit.ly/1wNQ12
My bf is a geek, but I'm still proud of him. He just took the amateur radio test and passed with honors. Geek.
sublyme (Christine ) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:50:39 -0000
My bf is a geek, but I'm still proud of him. He just took the amateur radio test and passed with honors. Geek.
Love the L'ecole No 41 bc it's very light, a bit bitter but not overwhelming. perfect for my amateur taste. #20wine
girlsguide206 (girl's guide to 206) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:47:06 -0000
Love the L'ecole No 41 bc it's very light, a bit bitter but not overwhelming. perfect for my amateur taste. #20wine
German amateur couple getting it on http://bit.ly/1mzbMp #xxx #videos
prontube (Sheila Franco) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:45:25 -0000
German amateur couple getting it on http://bit.ly/1mzbMp #xxx #videos
amateur!
imjoshuasimpson (Joshua H. Simpson) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:44:05 -0000
amateur!

Subscribe to Amateur RSS feed