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mcpPLATINUM Member
Flying Water Muppet
5,276 posts
Location: Edin-borrow., United Kingdom


Posted:
https://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/03/how_to_be_an_ex.html

&&

https://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?article...r=1&catID=2

"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade

I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.


Fire_MooseSILVER Member
Elusive and Bearded
3,597 posts
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA


Posted:
I think expertise comes down to passion. If someone has a passion for something not only will they (in most cases) practise more but be able to feel it more. And while practicing it wont seem like practicing, it feels like yer just having fun so you dedicate more time to it.

About the chess one, it really isn't that hard to play multiple games of chess, each board will show you what has been done and yer current situation. I'm not saying it isnt impressive the guy won 100 some games in a row but the act of playign 28 game at once is not that hard. Nice reads Meg.

O.B.E.S.E.

Owned by Mynci!


NYCNYC
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA


Posted:

Non-Https Image Link


Guess that does prove my theory that you can either be an expert or have a life.

Whenever I've spoken to the best of the best they've almost always seemed that way.

Jugglers, Atheletes, even Teachers...

-Happily Amateur

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]


_Clare_BRONZE Member
Still wiggling
5,967 posts
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK)


Posted:
?

I think you can do things really well and still have a life..

It's just a different life from the one you have chosen biggrin

x

Getting to the other side smile


pkBRONZE Member
Lambretta Fanatic
4,999 posts
Location: United Kingdom


Posted:
Depends on how many things that you like playing with though doesn't it.

If like me... you probably end up happily average in most things... and very rarely reach expert wink oh well.

Neon_ShaolinGOLD Member
hehe, 'Member' huhuh
6,120 posts
Location: Behind you. With Jam


Posted:
At which point we start the debate of "what does 'having a life' entail?"

Can 'doing things really well' be accepted as being someone's life?

Should we judge those who CHOOSE to do nothing but watch TV if that's what they want to do?

"I used to want to change the world, now I just wanna leave the room with a little dignity..." - Lotus Weinstock


Fire_MooseSILVER Member
Elusive and Bearded
3,597 posts
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA


Posted:
Tomorrow.

No.

Yes.

O.B.E.S.E.

Owned by Mynci!


NYCNYC
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA


Posted:
 Written by: _Clare_


?

I think you can do things really well and still have a life..

It's just a different life from the one you have chosen biggrin

x



Yes, but this is the internet and my point of view is the Only True One.

wink hug

I'm clearly defining 'having a life' as some kind of balanced well rounded existance. Something that I often enjoy departing from myself. smile

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]


_khan_SILVER Member
old hand
768 posts
Location: San Francisco, California, USA


Posted:
 Written by: PK_


Depends on how many things that you like playing with though doesn't it.

If like me... you probably end up happily average in most things... and very rarely reach expert wink oh well.



This is so true! Some of the hoopers I've recently seen have inspired me to up my game on that front -- and I realize the only way I can do it is to sacrifice something in order to have the time, as well as focus the time better.

Personally, I think practicing a lot and going to meet-ups and geeking out with your friends who play with the same or other toys makes for a pretty rich life.

taken out of context i must seem so strange
~ ani di franco


pkBRONZE Member
Lambretta Fanatic
4,999 posts
Location: United Kingdom


Posted:
I used to play:

street/freestyle uni to level 6
poi
staff
3,4,5 ball juggling
3 club juggling

including past-times on Hop and other net thingies and chatting to friends... how can you push so many hobbies?... you cant.. some thing has to give or dividing time equally, but then friends start passing you and you start wanting to learn what their learning and cant get there as quick as they can because you have so much other stuff to be thinking about with the other hobbies.

These days.. i find it hard enough to sleep.. let alone thinking about doing things..

I can just about manage to juggle these days and go kiting... but then i need to finish my Lambretta which is my main interest right now.

I've always found it difficult to organise hobbies and life... hobbies can take over very easily, those and hop can stand in the way of a lot of things.

hug

_Clare_BRONZE Member
Still wiggling
5,967 posts
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK)


Posted:
smile

Sorry NYC... forgot about that whole Only True Way thing...

rolleyes

Bah

smile

Getting to the other side smile


PyrolificBRONZE Member
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia


Posted:
eh I've got a jaded view of this...


expert - someone who tells other people how to do it
amateur - someone who does it.

whats a professional?

who is more skilled at the actual thing they are doing? The expert or the amateur - you cant tell for sure - especially when it comes to these hobby arts.

MCP I think the generally recognised def of expert is someone with a well recognised body of experience and deep understanding in a defined area of practise.

--
Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!


Mint SauceBRONZE Member
veteran
1,453 posts
Location: Lancs England


Posted:
I'm an enthusiastic armature smile

before i met those lot i thought they'd be a bunch of dreadlocked hippies that smoked, set things on fire ,and drank a lot of tea but then when i met them....oh wait (PyroWill)


StoutBRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
1,872 posts
Location: Canada


Posted:
A professional is someone who derives their MAIN source of income from a given activity. For instance, I get paid as a fire performer, but if I used that as my main source of income I'd be living in a cardboard box and eating leaves.

So I can't call myself a professional fire spinner. I am, however, a paid amateur.

Couldn't it be said that an expert inspires amateur ? Without the converse being true.

TheBovrilMonkeySILVER Member
Liquid Cow
2,629 posts
Location: High Wycombe, England


Posted:
 Written by: Stout


Couldn't it be said that an expert inspires amateur ? Without the converse being true.



Not always - sometimes it needs a fresh pair of eyes to look at something and say 'that's cool, what happens if we do this?'

I reckon it's not just drive that'll push someone through the kickass threshold - it's a mix of drive and inspiration, and that inspiration could come from amateurs just as easily as other experts.

But there's no sense crying over every mistake. You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.


StoneGOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
Q. What’s the difference between experts and amateurs?


A. About ten years practice.


wink

If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh


Rouge DragonBRONZE Member
Insert Champagne Here
13,215 posts
Location: without class distinction, Australia


Posted:
I agree with Stout about a professional being someone who earns their living off the activity. But I'm not sure about the idea of a "paid-amateur" because to me that's an oxymoron because i thought that amateurs were, by definition, unpaid. Similarly, I see an amateur as someone who does something for love alone (ie: not for money).

I see amateur and professional as opposites, not amateur and expert and I think many people confuse expert and professional because in the modern world there seems to be a mindset that unless you make money from something, you can't be very good.

When I think of the amateur and professional concepts I think of sport, and then I usually think of tennis. I'm going to guess that most people on here aren't old enough to remember when tennis became professional and all the controvery surrounding that (I only know it because my parents are both tennis people). And at the time, the only difference between the amateurs and the professionals was the money; they were both "experts" and both won Wimbledon!

The first article seems to say there is a difference in how good people are, and that amateurs aren't good because they don't try hard enough. I completely disagree there. Many sports people are only amateurs but it doesn't mean they don't strive to always improve themselves at their sport, it just means that they don't seek professionalism.

Take sports coaching for example. There are professional coaches and there are amateur coaches. I know people in both categories. And of those two groups I know that both contain very good coaches; both groups can contain "experts".

So what's an expert? I'd say an expert can be both professional and an amateur and is a person who knows all there is to know (or maybe just a shyte of a lot) about their field.

i would have changed ***** to phallus, and claire to petey Petey

Rougie: but that's what I'm doing here
Arnwyn: what letting me adjust myself in your room?..don't you dare quote that on HoP...


Invader XanSILVER Member
Your friendly neighbourhood mad scientist
479 posts
Location: Over the hills and far away, United Kingdom


Posted:
K, my opinion of this is heavily slanted -- I'm a graphic designer out in the real world, and in this profession, you meet a lot of amateurs (some of whom do make money through it). Ask any designer out there, and they'll happily rant about the amateurs who got a copy of Corel Draw at Christmas and now think they know how to do design work.
In graphics, an amateur is someone who makes stupid mistakes, uses font and colour combinations that make your eyes hurt and ignores advice like "If you want it to look good, don't do this...".


So, skill toys or otherwise, my opinion would be...

An amateur is someone who tells people how good they are, even if they're not really.

An expert is someone who always tells people what they could do better, no matter how many people admire their skills.

"Love the art in yourself and not yourself in the art."
--Konstantin Stanislavisky


mcpPLATINUM Member
Flying Water Muppet
5,276 posts
Location: Edin-borrow., United Kingdom


Posted:
I like the olympics, most of the athletes in the minority sports are semi-professionals. Managing their training and a day-job.

Anyway tis not about pro's vs amateurs... tis about the mindset for becoming an expert.

"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade

I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.


Rouge DragonBRONZE Member
Insert Champagne Here
13,215 posts
Location: without class distinction, Australia


Posted:
 Written by: Invader Xan


An amateur is someone who tells people how good they are, even if they're not really.

An expert is someone who always tells people what they could do better, no matter how many people admire their skills.



I find it interesting you mention that, because something I have often said (in relation to the sporting scene) is that the people who are almost there -but not quite there yet- are the cocky wankers who tell everyone how good they are. But the people who are there are the people who are much more quiet and you'd never know they were good until you saw them in action.

i would have changed ***** to phallus, and claire to petey Petey

Rougie: but that's what I'm doing here
Arnwyn: what letting me adjust myself in your room?..don't you dare quote that on HoP...


Invader XanSILVER Member
Your friendly neighbourhood mad scientist
479 posts
Location: Over the hills and far away, United Kingdom


Posted:
Yeah, too right... I guess it's the same, whatever skill you're into.

"Love the art in yourself and not yourself in the art."
--Konstantin Stanislavisky


newgabeSILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia


Posted:
Expert (someone having a great deal of knowledge and skill) and amateur (someone who does it for love, not money) are not opposites. They are different types of classification. The opposite of amateur is professional. Their isn't a clear term for the person who is the an 'expert'> An inexpert?



There are many amateur experts in many areas of life. There are also professionals who are not experts: they don't know a lot or aren't very good. Maybe they are just starting out in their profession: maybe they are generalists who dabble in a lot of things without gaining expertise in any, maybe they just not very good!



In some areas of life (eg medicine) licensing laws etc make sure that expertise (which can only be gained through experience) can only belong to professionals.

In many other areas amateurs can become experts. Spinning is clearly one of these. Many of the Uberteachers and crew I engage at Circadia are experts in their particular niche but do not perform or work professionally.



Other personality traits like cockiness etc that people have described here are not relevant to a definition, but fair enough to have a slag off of others I guess.

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....


KyrianDreamer
4,308 posts
Location: York, England


Posted:
Ah, rougie and newgabe have prevented me from having to write anything.

This distinction is made by most announcers at some point during badminton or the rolex kentucky or both, because most equestrians at the top of their sport are paid because its very expensive to fund yourself. But its amateurs vs professionals, an amateur can be an expert as well...

I always find it odd that they never mention a professional could love what they do too, they don't have to, but they'll generally be better if they do...

Keep your dream alive
Dreamin is still how the strong survive

Shalom VeAhavah

New Hampshire has a point....


PeleBRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA


Posted:
I disagree with professional meaning "only source of income" since I know several people I would concider professional at things where it is not their only money source.
Professional encompasses much more than money, or even a skill set. It is about using that skill set enough to make it a commodity, something others want to hire, want to pay for. No matter what it is. I can work somewhere, have it be my only source of income but not be a professional. Unless my skills are actually *wanted* it does not set me to that level. Career (doing something for money) does not, imo, make one professional.

Expert vs. amatuer. I feel it's subjective. If someone knows more than I, then I feel as if they are potentially an expert..until I am up to that level. Then they are on level with me, and I never concider myself an expert because there is always more to learn, to know, to try.

I agree whole heartedly with PK that hobbies can be quite overwhelming and demanding on time. Absolutely, but then you choose what to persue.

I'm interested in knowing what your definition of "having a life" is NYC. Isn't meeting people, being social, going out...all things commonly associated with these arts these days, concidered having a life? If a person stays in a room all day practicing, shrugging off all else and being anti-social, then I think I might agree with you. But I am acquainted with some of the most die hard, champion jugglers and "air sculptors" here in the Roc..it is what they live and breathe for. They get together with others 3-4 times a week to practice. They chat on our jug group, and others, they teach and share. They travel together to workshops and events. Many I would concider to absolutely be experts, mindblowing at that, and many I sometimes think might be limited in their scope of the world but they definately are living rich, active lives.

Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK


mcpPLATINUM Member
Flying Water Muppet
5,276 posts
Location: Edin-borrow., United Kingdom


Posted:
Well, what a waste of a thread.

I was trying to point out a method for becoming good at something. Possibly the only thing you'll need, along with a lot of practise. Feel free to ignore it thou and have a debate about semantics.

"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade

I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.


Rouge DragonBRONZE Member
Insert Champagne Here
13,215 posts
Location: without class distinction, Australia


Posted:
I think perhaps that your intention with what you wanted from the thread wasn't very clear. The title suggested a discussion about semantics and the two links could have easily been taken to mean that as well.

i would have changed ***** to phallus, and claire to petey Petey

Rougie: but that's what I'm doing here
Arnwyn: what letting me adjust myself in your room?..don't you dare quote that on HoP...


NYCNYC
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA


Posted:
Agreed.



Let us know in the future how a thread should progress so that we may meet your expectations.



wink



(Sarcastic For: You can never actually control which way a thread will go, I learned that long ago. It doesn't mean the thread was a waste to those that took part in it. Once you hit "Continue" the thread no longer becomes yours. I'm sure you've seen some of my threads that I've preemptively tried to keep on topic. The one's when I have 4 paragraphs of disclaimers explaining what the thread is and isn't about and what my thesis is and isn't and often uses bold and italics to distinguish the point and meaning of my thread. And even then people often go off. As rouge said, the title does make it seem like a symantics thread.



Also, I'm not sure if it's fair to get offended that we went off your intended topic since your first post had absolutely no words in it.)

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]


MynciBRONZE Member
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom


Posted:
clap
well done meg I understand the point to this thread and it's a very good one.

I was once an international athlete I pushed harder and harder and it was good biggrin I competed for my country and even attempted a new british high jump record for my age group went 2 seasons unbeaten and reached the absolute top. the mind set is definately important you need focus and you have to start out absolutely LOVING what your doing not just enjoying it.

However..

I'm no longer that person, that was when I was at school it wasn't my thing but I still have the mindset, I did miss out on some things but it was made up for in others. I have developed from it though a love of learning. just because you do several things doen't stop you being an expert, quite the opposite, who would you say wa the biggest expert at the olympic games? Carl Lewis excelled in several events but all were based on speed, look at the swimmers who take 10 gold medals the do different things expecially the medley. or the Decathletes who are at a very high level in 10 different events & pentathletes who compete in 5 VERY different events. horse riding, shooting, swimming, etc they could probably compete at the olympics in at least 1 of the disciplines they do.

being an expert is having the focus to push your limits and to learn and perfect, I started out at international level in 1 event and moved to national level in 10 now I try to atain a high level at anything I try if it doesn't work out so what I'll keep trying. I accept that family life has made it harder for me to get out and spin so I have redirected to stuff I can do at home. I think Meg has it exactly right Expertise is arived via a mindset be it in 1 discipline or many just because you do more than 1 thing ok rather than 1 thing exceptionally doen't exclude you from the strive for expertise, if you tail off maybe you just haven't found your application yet wink

hug 's

A couple of balls short of a full cascade... or maybe a few cards short of a deck... we'll see how this all fans out.


mcpPLATINUM Member
Flying Water Muppet
5,276 posts
Location: Edin-borrow., United Kingdom


Posted:
Thank you Mynci! hug

NYC: Here I was thinking people came to hop to learn about spinning and that's what their focus is. God, I'm so naive.

"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade

I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.


MynciBRONZE Member
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom


Posted:
you're welcome, I think people may have been confused by your accent *pouts* see , I'm still gorgeous AND focused ubblol

A couple of balls short of a full cascade... or maybe a few cards short of a deck... we'll see how this all fans out.


FireTomStargazer
6,650 posts

Posted:
The opposite of an expert is a layman (according to the german english dictionary)...

One get's money for it, another doesn't... that's the difference between professional and amateur. An expert can still be an amateur, just he doesn't get paid for the same job.

the best smiles are the ones you lead to wink


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