At 8:09 AM -0400 4/19/08, Urb LeJeune wrote:
So someone who has degrees in Computer Science has not undergone
"specialized study"?
Of course they do. We have things like "professional baseball players"
which to me is a joke. To me, and I'm only speaking for myself,
professionalism
also implies ongoing. Virtually all profession have a specified number of
required annual hours that must be spent on keeping current with the state-of-
the-art.
I'm not trying to be an elitist but rather a pragmatist. A
have a cousin
who drive an 18 wheeler for a living. He makes about $90K a year. Would
you consider him a professional? There are people in the construction
trades making over $100K a year, likewise, are they professionals? There
is an elusive ingredient in what most people consider professionalism.
Urb
Urb:
You started this thread by saying that programming and web design was
not a profession. Then you gave licensing as your main reason why.
The term "professional" in our language extends beyond the limitation
imposed by licensing. For example, while it is true there is no
licensing for athletes if an athlete earns money from his/her
ability, then they can't compete in the Olympics because they are
considered to be a "professional" athlete.
Then of course there's the "oldest profession", which there has never
been any licensing for except for an occasional health screening in
some areas -- and I am certain that profession started long before
licensing.
Now you say that truck drivers are not professional. But they are
required to licensed and it does require training. If you don't think
driving an 18 wheeler required specialized knowledge, then try
driving one. Oh I forgot, you wouldn't be allowed because you don't
have the license nor the experience to do so.
Your view on profession is limited and shortsighted. Now with the
global scope of Internet programming and communication technology
changing as fast as it is, there could never be any licensing
authority to set in judgement of this profession -- let alone to be
sanctioned by the global community. The point being that the term
"profession" has outgrown its definition.
As far as being an elitist or pragmatist, I really don't think your
words reflect a pragmatistic view.
Cheers,
tedd
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