Name a profession...

[tikay]

They would be an artist

Some might say......

[RED-DOG]

They would be an artist

Would they be a professional artist?

[outragous76]

They would be an artist

Would they be a professional artist?

maybe, but it isn't their profession

[david3103]

They would be an artist

Would they be a professional artist?

All sorts of people can be professional. It's frequently used as a compliment, and more frequently used as a marketing tool ie.
http://www.gailspooner.co.uk/
http://thepartybelles.co.uk/
http://www.uglypugly.co.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Kendall_(poker_player)

[Tal]

I think it's been covered now in the twelve or so pages since I went to bed.

A professional is generally demonstrated by someone who is a member of a profession:

Solicitor
Barrister
Doctor
Surgeon
Dentist
Accountant
Surveyor
Actuary
And so on

These are the people who can sign your passport photo.

However, the definition isn't exclusive, so it can be more broadly interpreted (which I have no doubt is what was intended by OP) to include any primary source of income (i.e., a pursuit by which someone is a professional)

Seems like the mother of all digressions to me.

So an artist - you know, paints pictures & stuff - would not be a profession. What would they be - manual workers?

They could be:

a) professional artists ("what do you do for a living?" "I'm a professional artist"); or
b) within the everyday - broader - meaning of working in the profession of being an artist.

We use all sorts of terms more broadly because of the passage of time than was intended:

-Esquire (Joe Bloggs, Esq.) should technically be reserved for a specific group of people, but it's used commonly in some circles instead of Mr.

- a Legend technically can never have existed.

- to describe something as fantastic would historically have been taken to be an insult; you're living in a dream world!

It's all fine, so long as we - and those we are communicating with - know what we are on about.

There's also a difference between:

A church - a cross-shaped building with a pointy hat;
A/the church - the congregation, parish or community; and
The Church (note the capital letter) - all of the followers of that religion.

Gotta run, but hope this helps

[outragous76]

I think it's been covered now in the twelve or so pages since I went to bed.

A professional is generally demonstrated by someone who is a member of a profession:

Solicitor
Barrister
Doctor
Surgeon
Dentist
Accountant
Surveyor
Actuary
And so on

These are the people who can sign your passport photo.

However, the definition isn't exclusive, so it can be more broadly interpreted (which I have no doubt is what was intended by OP) to include any primary source of income (i.e., a pursuit by which someone is a professional)

Seems like the mother of all digressions to me.

So an artist - you know, paints pictures & stuff - would not be a profession. What would they be - manual workers?

- a Legend technically can never have existed.

not even at the bottom of a drawing?

[tikay]

I think it's been covered now in the twelve or so pages since I went to bed.

A professional is generally demonstrated by someone who is a member of a profession:

Solicitor
Barrister
Doctor
Surgeon
Dentist
Accountant
Surveyor
Actuary
And so on

These are the people who can sign your passport photo.

However, the definition isn't exclusive, so it can be more broadly interpreted (which I have no doubt is what was intended by OP) to include any primary source of income (i.e., a pursuit by which someone is a professional)

Seems like the mother of all digressions to me.

So an artist - you know, paints pictures & stuff - would not be a profession. What would they be - manual workers?

- a Legend technically can never have existed.

not even at the bottom of a drawing?

BOOM!

Construction speak itt.

[RedFox]

I used to live in a town with two superb golf courses, both establised over 100 years ago - one was termed as being created for the gentry and professionals, probs solicitors and the like and the other came about to enable the local 'artisans' ( a word I love) meaning tradesmen, craftsmen and 'shopkeepers'.




 

[MintTrav]

To be a professional, a tradesman or to claim you have a job you need to provide something that is of value to other people, ie contribute something to society. A poker dealer, prostitute, or artist falls within this definition, as does a paid sportsman and possibly also a drug dealer. I cannot see how a poker player does.

A lot of wishful thinking ITT imo.

[Fish]

go into any casino and there will be unemployed people playing poker with all the money they have still thinking they are pros

[outragous76]

ie contribute something to society. A poker dealer,  falls within this definition,

 I cannot see how a poker player does.

orly?

[AlexMartin]

just a fun scene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI6sARmxEuc

[kinboshi]

To be a professional, a tradesman or to claim you have a job you need to provide something that is of value to other people, ie contribute something to society. A poker dealer, prostitute, or artist falls within this definition, as does a paid sportsman and possibly also a drug dealer. I cannot see how a poker player does.

A lot of wishful thinking ITT imo.

So what's the difference between a rugby league player and a poker player in terms of the rugby player having a 'profession' and the poker player not?

[DaveShoelace]

To be a professional, a tradesman or to claim you have a job you need to provide something that is of value to other people, ie contribute something to society. A poker dealer, prostitute, or artist falls within this definition, as does a paid sportsman and possibly also a drug dealer. I cannot see how a poker player does.

A lot of wishful thinking ITT imo.

So what's the difference between a rugby league player and a poker player in terms of the rugby player having a 'profession' and the poker player not?

People like watching rugby league, hence something has been contributed to society?

[MintTrav]

To be a professional, a tradesman or to claim you have a job you need to provide something that is of value to other people, ie contribute something to society. A poker dealer, prostitute, or artist falls within this definition, as does a paid sportsman and possibly also a drug dealer. I cannot see how a poker player does.

A lot of wishful thinking ITT imo.

So what's the difference between a rugby league player and a poker player in terms of the rugby player having a 'profession' and the poker player not?

People like watching rugby league, hence something has been contributed to society?

Exactly. They have provided entertainment for other people.