The Porn Dude

Profession or Occupation

treveller

Member
Sep 22, 2008
627
7
18
Another thread raised the issue of what it means to be "a professional". I am not talking about whether or not a person "is professional" in how they do things, if you see the difference.

I am interested in whether sex work should be refered to as a profession or an occupation. My understanding is that it is a profession when someone determines their own working conditions and is responsible for most aspects of their workplace while it is an occupation when someone earns income as an employee in someone elses workplace.

It seems that independant work is best referred to as a profession while agency work is best referred to as an occupation. I expect in any case which term works best will depend on the context. It will always be "the oldest profession" in any case.

Any comments?
 

bcneil

I am from BC
Aug 24, 2007
2,099
0
0
Seems to me that juniper was in a trollish mood and acted like an ass?
Derailing a normal thread.

So lets start a new one!
 

DinosaurBill

New member
Mar 24, 2011
29
0
0
A profession is generally regulated or governed by a governing body such as a professional association or a "college". ie: College of Teachers; College of Physicians, etc.
The governing body allows people to call themselves by a title and disciplines those who do not follow the rules of the profession.
An occupation is a general description of a person's livelyhood.
That's my 2 cents worth anyway.
 

HankQuinlan

I dont re Member
Sep 7, 2002
1,744
6
0
victoria
A profession is generally regulated or governed by a governing body such as a professional association or a "college". ie: College of Teachers; College of Physicians, etc.
The governing body allows people to call themselves by a title and disciplines those who do not follow the rules of the profession.
An occupation is a general description of a person's livelyhood.
That's my 2 cents worth anyway.
True, but "professionalism" is also commonly applied to anyone who does their job well, whether they are a plumber, teacher, or anyone else -- regardless of their educational qualifications or membership in an overseeing board. The poster referred to was unnecessarily snippy in his comments, which showed disdain for those whose profession this board is primarily about.
 

Webster

Member
Oct 4, 2004
316
0
16
True, but "professionalism" is also commonly applied to anyone who does their job well, whether they are a plumber, teacher, or anyone else -- regardless of their educational qualifications or membership in an overseeing board.
Right. There is no reason at all to complain if someone is overheard referring to any worker as a professional. English being what it is, there is no one definition for the word that has to be adhered to anyway. Sticklers take note.
 

markjacob

Banned
Apr 6, 2011
71
0
0
Right. There is no reason at all to complain if someone is overheard referring to any worker as a professional. English being what it is, there is no one definition for the word that has to be adhered to anyway. Sticklers take note.
That's ridiculous. Even though a language has more than one definition to a word, the impetus to any language has always been toward more precision, not less. Otherwise, why bother with having a greater vocabulary if not to distinguish meaning from each word?

My understanding is that it is a profession when someone determines their own working conditions and is responsible for most aspects of their workplace
That means a housewife is also a professional. That makes no sense.

A professional is someone whose vocation is regulated by their peers and a governing body. A professional typically earns a designation that signifies a warranty as to the quality of their vocation and has oversight over their conduct. Doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, psychiatrists, psychologists, etc., would fit the definition. When the person no longer fits within the regulations and conduct, their designation may be revoked by the governing body.

However, people are under the mistaken impression that being a "professional" necessarily means the person is of a higher caliber. That is not necessarily so. For example, professional bodies play political games to make membership more exclusive, such as requiring higher fees, or requiring ever-greater obstacles to membership with ridiculous exams, etc., that do not produce better "professionals". Also, some of the greatest accomplishments by society are done by amateurs.

For example, in the area of athletics, amateur athletes push the boundaries of human performance in the Olympics and other amateur competitions. In software, some of the greatest products ever produced were made by amateurs (ie: Apache server, Postgresql database server, Unix, Linux) while some of the worst products ever produced were made by "professional" companies (ie: Windows, Outlook). In engineering, new inventions are routinely created by engineers long before they receive their designations as professionals, ie: the telephone, the electric light bulb, the personal computer, etc.

Only in vocations bereft of individuals who can't act normally, ie: flakes and losers, such as in the sex trade, is there such a big push to call oneself a "professional". All anyone really expects is for these people to conduct themselves in a sensible and business-like manner, just like anyone else who provides a product or service.

What picks my ass is that people throw around the word "professional" and they have no idea what it means, and what it means to be not.
 

treveller

Member
Sep 22, 2008
627
7
18
Maybe not a big issue but maybe important to some SPs and maybe important if you want to make a public statement of some sort and you want to use the best language.
 

Pillowtalk

Banned
Feb 11, 2010
1,038
3
0
Interesting. I thought a review board might be considered a "governing" body, and that an sp may indeed receive a designation (label), including WOT, WOM, or gem.

If we are having a discussion on a review site which also has advertising, and which also has conditions and rules about posting or how one is posted about, at what point are you planning to draw the line?


I think anyone with a bit of experience seeking sps knows that they are much more likely to have a good experience with someone who is acting like a professional over someone who is treating it like a job (or a joke). So for the purposes of discussion on an escort review board with ladies who spend a great deal of money and effort on their business, and clients who spend a great deal of effort and money on choosing who to see, I can see many having a difficult time not using the word "professional" vs the alternatives. If it isn't a profession, then it shouldn't be any problem at all if an sp is described as just "doing her job".

sps aren't called "pros" for no reason, also lol

In regards to regulations, or accredition, or peer driven organization, what exactly do you think "spoc" stands for in www.spoc.ca? lol


And while there is a bold statement on it, there is no explanation or reason to support the implication that housewives cannot possibly be considered professionals. I think you should explain exactly why not.

Here are the dictionary definitions for professional (adjective and noun) I have bolded the obvious ones that apply:

pro·fes·sion·al   
–adjective
1. following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain: a professional builder.
2. of, pertaining to, or connected with a profession: professional studies.
3. appropriate to a profession: professional objectivity.
EXPAND
4. engaged in one of the learned professions: A lawyer is a professional person.
5. following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged in as a pastime: a professional golfer.
6. making a business or constant practice of something not properly to be regarded as a business: “A salesman,” he said, “is a professional optimist.”

7. undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain: professional baseball.
8. of or for a professional person or his or her place of business or work: a professional apartment; professional equipment.
9. done by a professional; expert: professional car repairs.

–noun
10. a person who belongs to one of the professions, especially one of the learned professions.
11. a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs: a golf professional.
12. an expert player, as of golf or tennis, serving as a teacher, consultant, performer, or contestant; pro.
 
Last edited:

sweetiepie1

New member
Jun 12, 2010
49
0
0
Profession as a noun usually refers to a higher end occupation with a professional governing body. As an adjective it can refer to anyone who makes a living at what they do, as in professional vs. amateur athletes. It can also be used as an adjective to a job well done (the implication being that it was of the quality one would expect from a person who makes has made a career out of doing that thing).
 

uncleg

Well-known member
Jul 25, 2006
5,461
591
113
My comment is why split hairs? There's no right or wrong answer.....the real question is why do people need to sweat the small stuff?



Well, you'd be the expert on sweating the small stuff..............................



..................though it is a moot point. Though from my point of view I would rather visit an SP that sees herself as a professional, rather then as somebody for whom it just a job / occupation till something better comes along.
 

Harmony-bc

Brains and Beauty
Sep 28, 2008
1,321
29
0
Joyce
www.harmonybc.myescortpage.com
I looked up the definition of profession, professional, and occupation :) So here are the findings. personally, I don't care what you refer me to me as, as long as you're not disrespectful. This is a review board, after all. Its quite the patriarchal place for a little feminist like me to hang out, lol. The majority of the people on this board are really great men, fun, easy going, and sweet. The jerks seem to have the loudest voices, but that's true anywhere. Anyways onto my findings, lol

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/profession

pro·fes·sion
   [pruh-fesh-uhn] Show IPA
–noun
1.a vocation requiring knowledge of some department of learning or science: the profession of teaching. Compare learned profession.
2.any vocation or business.
3.the body of persons engaged in an occupation or calling: to be respected by the Medical profession.
4.the act of professing; avowal; a declaration, whether true or false: professions of dedication.
5.the declaration of belief in or acceptance of religion or a faith: the profession of christianity.
6.a religion or faith professed.
7.the declaration made on entering into membership of a church or religious order.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/professional

pro·fes·sion·al
   [pruh-fesh-uh-nl] Show IPA
–adjective
1.following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain: a professional builder.
2.of, pertaining to, or connected with a profession: professional studies.
3.appropriate to a profession: professional objectivity.
4.engaged in one of the learned professions: A lawyer is a professional person.
5.following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged in as a pastime: a professional golfer.
6.making a business or constant practice of something not properly to be regarded as a business: “A salesman,” he said, “is a professional optimist.”
7.undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain: professional baseball.
8.of or for a professional person or his or her place of business or work: a professional apartment; professional equipment.
9.done by a professional; expert: professional car repairs.

So far according to my findings, prostitution can be a profession, seeing as how it is a business. ;)

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/occupation
oc·cu·pa·tion
   [ok-yuh-pey-shuhn] Show IPA
–noun
1.a person's usual or principal work or business, especially as a means of earning a living; vocation: Her occupation was dentistry.
2.any activity in which a person is engaged.
3.possession, settlement, or use of land or property.
4.the act of occupying.
5.the state of being occupied.
6.the seizure and control of an area by military forces, especially foreign territory.
7.the term of control of a territory by foreign military forces: Danish resistance during the German occupation.
8.tenure or the holding of an office or official function: during his occupation of the vice presidency.

I hope this settles the matter :D
 

juniper

New member
Apr 11, 2006
407
2
0
I refer to SPs as businesswomen. If they call themselves "professional" that either means that they treat their businesses in a "professional" manner, i.e., in an upstanding and reliable manner, or that they mistakenly refer to themselves as members of a "profession." In the latter case, the SP would be mistaken as a professional (in our current sopciety) must be a member of a College (physicians, psychologists) or a Bar (lawyers). These professionals are licensed to carry out certain tasks by the particular body which regulates them. A physician, for instance, may prescribe drugs whereas, in most jurisdictions, no one other than a physician may do so. The professional body has jurisdiction over certain acts and activities. The professional body is accredited through the authority of the jurisdiction in which it resides, i.e., a province or state. The professional body is also allowed to designate specialty activities within the College which other members of the profession are not allowed to perform. The professional body is also required to investigate and evaluate members' actions if it receives a public complaint or if, in fact, the regulatory body itself believes an infraction may have occurred. The professional body, and only that body, is able to impose a sanction if it finds that one of its members has acted "unprofessionally". The professional body may even revoke a member's license as a means of discipline if it finds a member incapacitated or sufficiently guilty of a serious infraction. To become a member of a profession, entrance requirements include a certain level of formal education and certain formal acceptable degrees are required. In addition, the member must pass a written exam in his/her field of endeavor, i.e., medicine, as well as an oral examination evaluated and judged by a designated group of his/her (future) peers. Examinations usually take place only after a period of successful internship (one year in the case of physicians) or, in the case of lawyers, an articling year (the length depending on the particular jurisdiction).

I will leave it to the Reader as to whether SPs should be designated as "professionals" alongside bonafide engineers, lawyers, physicians or psychologists, etc.
 

badbadboy

Well-known member
Nov 2, 2006
9,576
277
83
In Lust Mostly
Without going into a long description of what I think; isn't it still called "The Oldest Profession"?


Just sayin . . ...

Given how great I feel afterwards, I know I have been in the hands of a true professional who know me, my likes, my body and what makes me come back almost every week.

Some things can only be left up to a true professional :D
 

laurel love

New member
Dec 2, 2010
258
0
0
www.wix.com
Good job harmony, and well said!

When, as a musician, I received my first 'pay for play' I was considered professional and not allowed to compete in certain competitions where awards were handed out. I did study music at the college level.

I studied biology and psychology at the university level so perhaps that lends some professional legitimacy to my current situation.

I have to agree that it matters little in the great scheme of things.

When persons who operate trains can call themselves 'engineers' instead of 'enginemen' it only matters to those who know the difference. If you point it out to the general public they will shrug and say "WHO CARES?"
 

storm rider

Banned
Dec 6, 2008
2,545
6
0
Calgary
No quotes....no harms and no fouls


I saw Yoko's thread derailed and I thought it was total BS.....Yoko's intent was a bout a sounding board to improve service/communication IMO and was not intended as a means of venting in anger.

IMO....a "professional" SP is the gal who provides honest pictures and an up front attititude with regards to service with no BS of upcharging....she is a gal who appreciates that confidentiality is first and foremost in this pastime (I refuse to call it a hobby as a hobby is constructive)....she is a gal who takes the good with the bad...meaning that she has to have sex with a fat douchebag who she finds repulsive......yet she does it.....that takes a lot of heart IMO.....that same gal makes sure she is fresh and clean for every client even though some of those clients are not.

I salute Yoko and I really HOPE she will visit Calgary.

With regards to Juniper who got his balls in a twist over the word "professional".......well I hope he sees a few crack smoking SW's that rob him or worse...then he may begin to appreciate decent "professional" SP's


From what I have read I know who is a "professional".....and that is Juniper......he is a"professional" to be sure......a "professional" DOUCHEBAG.....that is just my opinion mind you.....I am not calling him a DOUCHEBAG....just my opinion

First time for me responding to something like this......I am totally pro-micro....but Yoko is so sweet and she is asian so it angried me up.....that and juniper was such a DOUCHEBAG(in my opinion)


Come to Calgary Yoko......the city is 95% DOUCHEBAG FREE

SR
 

Webster

Member
Oct 4, 2004
316
0
16
That's ridiculous. Even though a language has more than one definition to a word, the impetus to any language has always been toward more precision, not less.
Well that's nice to think, but wrong. Look the word up. I'd like "enormity" to mean what I think it means and not "really big" but I don't get a say in the matter.
 
Vancouver Escorts