to think that the word 'unprofessional' is often used incorrectly?

[OrmIrian]

"adjective below or contrary to the standards expected in a particular profession"

But it is always being used in situations where there is no profession as such. IE a shop manager or a florist for example cannot officially be unprofessional for example. But more importantly (and less pedantically) than that, it seems to have been extended to cover anything that the user of the word doesn't happen to like. For example a shop assistant who talks to someone else whilst serving a customer is 'unprofessional', whereast IMO the relevant and perfectly adequate word is 'rude'.

The one that comes with the mac cos I can cut and paste that. Can check the OED though if you'd prefer? Will have to type out though so clearly any typos are my own:

OED 'professional'
1 of or belonging to or connected with a profession.
2a having or showing the skill of a professional; competent
b worthy of a professional (professional conduct)
3 engaged in a specific activity as one's main paid occupation (cf AMATEUR) (a professional boxer)
4 derog. engaged in a specified habitual activity regarded with disfavour (a professional agitator)

So clearly you are a professional software developer - you are being paid for it as your main occupation, cf those who are amateur programmers who do it in their spare time as a hobby.

For the final nail in the coffin:

Institute of Customer Service - "The Institute of Customer Service is the professional body for customer service."

Hmmmm but you haven't answered the second thrust of my post:

"You might not act unprofessionally but you could act incompetently, inefficiently, rudely, corruptly, lazily, unpuntually.... there are hosts of ways in which you can act in a less than ideal manner is a job. Unprofessional is not neccessarily the word for all of those."

There is no need to use 'unprofessional' for all kinds of behaviour.

Why not? As you can see from the OED it can also mean 'competent'. Why do we use lots of different words for the same thing? It's all to do with the richness of language (and what thesauruses were invented for!)

She's right though.
It is overused by peopel with an inflated sense of self importance.

'I'm a professional!' they squeal as they wield their hole punch and place another invoice in a lever arch file.

But it's precisely to do with the richness of language and our constant attempts to impoverish it that I object to using a blanket weaselly term such as 'unprofessional' ! It's meaningless. There are many many terms to describe this - why stick to one that doesn't actually describe it.

Yes, yes, yes.

So basically, you want to use your own personal definition of the word means as a way to justify snobbery? Fine, just say so, but don't accuse people of using the english language incorrectly

FFS at the end of the day it's just a bloody job - I really don't give a rats arse whether you're a lawyer or a cleaner, can't get any bleeding job these days without a semblance of qualifications of some type and it makes sod all difference to me whether it's a vocation, and occupation, a profession - it's all just a bloody job

OrmIrian - Well maybe we need to tighten up the defintion of professional:-

"Practioner of an occupation that artificially restricts entry to that occupation in order to maintain higher wages for members of that occupation."

"So basically, you want to use your own personal definition of the word means as a way to justify snobbery"

Eh? How the hell did you get that from my last comment?

That was in response to Moondog, sorry - was a crosspost.

But I still don't think you can argue the use is outside the dictionary definition. YA still BU... NEXT!

well even Hairdressers have been able to be State Registered since 1964

and floristry even earlier in 1951

Well would you look at that!

"The Hairdressing Council advises consumers who are looking for hairdressers by the dozen" Who the hell looks for hairdressers by the dozen? Do you get a free one if you buy 12?

OK duck! I will concede that the term has been stretched and it is not incorrect. I still think it's lazy, boring, unimaginative use of language in most cases

I like this thread

Good

I am beginning to think I don't though,

Uh oh, she called me "duck".... gloves clearly off now

Apologies! I thought it was preferable to rubber.

Yawn

My twopennorth... Floristry training is long, hard and not very fun. You don't just get a job in a florists like in a cake shop, there are qualifications.
I went to hortic college and the floristry students were worked harder, longer and stricter than any other department. poor cows.

Lol, you're probably right