I took their picture anyway.

By disassociating profession or skill I do not struggle through any of the mental conflict this post is potraying.

Again, context is key. What do i work as? What is my profession? i am a software developer, an IT consultant. If I were not, I would not answer so. Yet at the same time I do a lot of other things and I will also answer i am a World of Warcraft player, i am an inline skater, etc. Because those are the activities i do and close to my heart, what i practise regularly, spend much of my time on. These form what is my _personality_ , defines my _identity_, who I am. (watch the presentation http://identity20.com/media/OSCON2005/)

Since i do not draw or play badminton often, I _would_not_ call myself a drawer or a badminton player then. But, at the point of time when i pick up the pencil and start sketching on paper, or accompany friends on a workout in the badminton court, I become that via virtue of activity at that moment. Whether I am good at it or choose to make it a regular hobby is another matter. If I discontinue the activity, then I essentially discontinue the title; because they are not close to my heart and I do not care.

What do you call all those people walking around the golf course and smacking the ball with their clubs? If they are not called golfers i do not know what to call them. Now, are they _regular_ golfers? I do not know. Can they qualify for PGA tournament, I do not know.

“Hey! This year’s D & D is asking for any musicians in the company to form a band and play during the party.”

“Cool! I haven’t played in awhile. would love to pick up my rusting guitar before it really falls apart.”

“Fantastic. Since Henry only knows electric guitar, Karen can you be the bassist?”

“Fine by me.”

“Lovely. Nicholas I know you play the keyboard better but you are the only drummer we know in the company. Have to make do with _me_ as keyboardist. We’ll play simple songs so you know how much i suck LOL”

“So…. who’s gonna be our vocalist?”

“Our CEO loves karaoke….”

Now let me highlight once more my point of reference is the dictionary to tell me whether a term is tied to activity or occupation. Many terms may add “especially one who is professional, skilled, etc” but the keyword is “especially” and not “only”.

Am i a photographer? yes i am. a _beginner_ photographer. If I am being coached by someone i could label myself a student photographer. There is nothing to suggest i am claiming expert level, or even to to claim I am “serious”. If I feel the need to boast then I’d probably describe myself a “damn good photographer who knows how to capture beautiful artistic photos”, because that would be entirely explicit and remove all doubts for everybody. Now at the same time, I know I am not a _casual_ photographer, which is probably the phrase you are looking for folks who own cameras just to capture moments without bothering what they are doing.

No! Not at all! Like I said in an earlier comment to you: And none of this has anything to do with being paid, by the way. From your example, I would not immediately call the players on the pitch “footballers”. They are playing football, yes, but they’re not necessarily footballers in my eyes.

I am a hobbyist photographer. I am a hobbyist inline skater. I am a hobbyist snowboarder. I am a hobbyist computer gamer. I am a hobbyist bike rider. I am a hobbyist drawer. I am a hobbyist wakeboarder. I am a hobbyist manga drawer.

There, i listed some things i like to do, and differentiated myself from those who are truly professional at each activity and industry.

I guess it stems from your perception of a conversation scenario?

“what do you do for a living?”

“i am a fisherman.”

From that angle, certainly yes one cannot answer such unless s/he really works in the fishing business.

However, from the angle of the observer, watching a casual football match happening at the neighbourhood field. It is absolutely ok to call them footballers because that is exactly what they are doing at the moment – playing football.

I think context plays an important factor when or when not to apply a term.

Bet you’re excited about it now… almost makes you want to go?

I don’t think “we have an inflated image of ourselves” (and by “we”, you mean “me”, I presume ); rather I think the world has a deflated view of certain artists.