Although I hold several tertiary qualifications I can certainly relate to the sentiments below. The problem with university is that many people spend more time drinking and socialising (not that I have a problem with that
) then learning their craft. It is not uncommon for graduates to leave with a pass average and very little knowledge let alone practical application skills in their area of study. Still many seem to complete the unofficial unit A101 "how to be an arrogant obnoxious sod" with honours and will use any opportunity to exert their superior intellect on other lesser beings.
To me "amature" means to do something you love without expectation of payment. An "astronomer" is someone who studies the stars. So an amature astronomer is someone who studies the stars for the love of it. Fairly simple I would have thought. Perhaps it would be better not to elevate amature astronmers to the unobtainable but rather elevate those gifted individuals who carry out real research along side the professionals to the status of semi proffessional astronomers. I for one will continue to call myself an amature astronomer as I am still paying for the pleasure, I love star gazing and have so much more to learn.
Cheers Mark