The Pro-Am Revolution

[anotheranon]

Found through Slashdot: From astronomy to activism, from surfing to saving lives, Pro-Ams - people pursuing amateur activities to professional standards - are an increasingly important part of our society and economy.

Despite the tormented classification of "pro-am", I think the researchers might be on to something here. Though the press release seems to focus mainly on amateur astronomers and open source programmers (which are laudable efforts, don't get me wrong), but I also note there are numerous "pro-ams" in the historic costume "hobbyist" community - some of the best regarded researchers out there don't have the "official" training but out of love and fascination have done their work and ultimately lectured/published papers and otherwise been recognized by professional historians/academics.

I aspire to be a costuming/textile "pro-am"; I'm not there yet because there is so much left to learn. No one topic has obsessed me enough to really delve, but hope springs eternal that one day The One will come for me :)

Comments

Re: GO HOBBYISTS!!!!!!!

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

So true! Also thinking of people like Ben Franklin and Leonardo da Vinci, but those are all historical examples.

The press release points out that the increasing affordability/availability of profesisonal equipment (be it cameras, hiking equipment, computer memory cards, etc.) has made it easier for amateurs to get the technology they need to pursue their interests. I'm also thinking that the more access to higher education (at least in Britian, where this study was done and where [I think] college is less expensive than here) has something to do with the rise of extremely professional hobbyists.

Re: GO HOBBYISTS!!!!!!!

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Yes, 'tis true, in many European countries, post-secondary education is far more accessible.

But, if you take a browse through any history of inventions/discoveries, you'll find that a large chunk of even the twentieth century's more useful accomplishments were born from hobby/interest/practical application rather than from professional research. :-)))