cysgod-du (Grand Slam 2008) wrote (see)

Eh excuse me,

Where is the insult in that reference?

I have the greatest respect for the SJA, especially the excellent Rhayader Station in Powys who act as first responders for us.

The fact is they do not get paid and so are "hobbyists."

Please don't misjudge people's comments based on your own prejudices!

The St John's Ambulance can trace their heritage back to the Sovereign and Military Order of the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem.

I'd be quite happy for them to bandage my wounds, but I'd be wary of saying anything against them on account of their former military connections!

They've had a rough ride, by the way... expelled from Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta... trying to fight terrible wars and take care of sick people at the same time... then losing most of their property in various ways around Europe. Their English properties were lost in the Reformation, but in a rather convoluted way, the original outfit became the St John's Ambulance!

I thought "hobbyist" rather disrespectful.

St John's Ambulance volunteers are hardly in the same bracket as those who stuff toys, press flowers or make patchwork quilts.

Would Tony class MRT members as hobbyists?

Oh for goodness sake - some people

"Hobby =
An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure

Hobbyist =
A person who pursues an activity outside of their regular occupation and in their spare time."

i like "hobbyist". accurately used. has a nice ring to it. but then i'm easy to please.

i shall file the word away so that i may use in conversation more often.

<rifles in notepad, writes hobbyist under sub-heading "wind-up words without trying">

Parky Again wrote (see)

............................... "wind-up words without trying"................................

And yes, I would class MRT as "hobbyists," admittedly, just like the members of SJAB, they have turned thier "hobby" into a very useful and valued service to the public, but if they do not get paid as an occupation and if they participate in their spare time, then they fit the definition perfectly well.

I would have thought that anyone involved in such pursuits who took exception to the term are just feeding their own inferiority complex?

What I should add BTW is that we have two distinct groups of SJAB staff in our area, those who give first aid cover at events and some of them also "first respond" within thier communities on our behalf.

These we refer to as the "hobbyists" for clarity (without any "disrespectful" overtones intended) because we also use a second group of SJAB staff who are sub contracted to us on a semi professional basis, (they get paid) and they man vehicles and provide a "High dependency service" where we give them non emergency NON blue light GP urgent calls and non emergency hospital transfers and discharges, leaving our Paramedic and Technician crews free to deal with life threatening emergencies.

It is a system that works very well, and as I have personally provided training to some of the latter group and know them well, I have the greatest respect for them.

Speaking of the SJAB "hobbyists" group who provide community first response for us, once again I have the deepest admiration for their efforts, and frankly, I would rather we use people like them who have dedicated themselves to volunteering under a medical banner, than other less suited groups who just seek the perceived glory,

I think that given that background, you will see I hope that the use of the word is not intended as anything other than a descriptive term!

cysgod-du (Grand Slam 2008) wrote (see)

What I should add BTW is that we have two distinct groups of SJAB staff in our area, those who give first aid cover at events and some of them also "first respond" within thier communities on our behalf.

These we refer to as the "hobbyists" for clarity (without any "disrespectful" overtones intended) because we also use a second group of SJAB staff who are sub contracted to us on a semi professional basis, (they get paid) and they man vehicles and provide a "High dependency service" where we give them non emergency NON blue light GP urgent calls and non emergency hospital transfers and discharges, leaving our Paramedic and Technician crews free to deal with life threatening emergencies.

It is a system that works very well, and as I have personally provided training to some of the latter group and know them well, I have the greatest respect for them.

Speaking of the SJAB "hobbyists" group who provide community first response for us, once again I have the deepest admiration for their efforts, and frankly, I would rather we use people like them who have dedicated themselves to volunteering under a medical banner, than other less suited groups who just seek the perceived glory,

I think that given that background, you will see I hope that the use of the word is not intended as anything other than a descriptive term!

What an unusual use of language Tony. Do you use it to their faces?

I believe you mind,  but (and I'm trying to recall your out of work interests here so do forgive if I'm wrong) if I called you a "hobbyist " rugby ref or a "hobbyist" caving rescue leader would you take umbrage?

"amateurish" technically means like an amateur (someone unpaid for the pursuit) but the connotations extend beyond the definition.

> semi-proffesional hobbyists

Some of us are professional spelling pedants, too...

Are you a full time pedant? If not, you are not a professional, butan amateur, and a wannabe charlatan.

pedant? did someone call? (qualified, professional version. only ever hire qualified professionals)

pident? deed sum won cawl? (amateur version - see what you get when don't hire a qualified professional)

refs get paid.

Parky Again wrote (see)

refs get paid.

cysgod-du (Grand Slam 2008) wrote (see)

Oh for goodness sake - some people

"Hobby =
An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure

Hobbyist =
A person who pursues an activity outside of their regular occupation and in their spare time."

I don't see payment in the definitive definition Parky

well, since cysgod-du didn't mean to be offensive, yelling BAD BOY NOT ON THE CARPET won't help, especially since you'll make him cry, he'll slip on the tears, put his back out, and have to call the SJA out, with whom he will do a quick poll of offensive terms, and then get back to us imminently with the results.

emotional attributes to words are difficult to avoid - for ages i had tyro (respectable non-professional beginner at something) confused with both thieving and pyromania in the 'beginner' sense, which all sounded like a very exciting evening out.  i still think so even though now i know it's a fairly dull word, and one i would never NEVER apply to the SJA...