Perhaps the term 'recreational' works in this context?
For instance, I'm a recreational swimmer. I could probably be a *really* good swimmer and compete in masters level meets if I put the time in. But. For me, it's fun, good exercise, occasionally social, and that's as far as I want to take it. Improvement is good if it doesn't take too much effort! know people who *are* hardcore masters swimmers, who *do* put that time in. And sure, they'll probably never set any Olympic or world records, but they are pushing themselves to be the best swimmer possible. But that's not me :-)
And I think that there are definitely 'recreational' writers in fandom--people who maybe want to improve a bit, but aren't all that interested in getting hardcore about it. Then there are people who *are* trying to improve and be the best amateur they can be, even if they never make the Olympic team, but they're in the pool doing serious workouts and intervals and going to workshops and such to improve their strokes. And then, there are the hardcore folks who train 10 hours a day hoping to get the world record. Different goals, expectations, needs, and levels of committment and interest, but they all can swim in the same pool.
As you mentioned in an earlier post, it makes little sense to apply Olympic level crit to a swimmer like me who's just in it for the fun! And ditto for a person training for the Olympics to hear, "Oh cool! You're really good!" but not get ideas for improvement. :-)
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Date: 2005-01-20 02:30 pm (UTC)For instance, I'm a recreational swimmer. I could probably be a *really* good swimmer and compete in masters level meets if I put the time in. But. For me, it's fun, good exercise, occasionally social, and that's as far as I want to take it. Improvement is good if it doesn't take too much effort! know people who *are* hardcore masters swimmers, who *do* put that time in. And sure, they'll probably never set any Olympic or world records, but they are pushing themselves to be the best swimmer possible. But that's not me :-)
And I think that there are definitely 'recreational' writers in fandom--people who maybe want to improve a bit, but aren't all that interested in getting hardcore about it. Then there are people who *are* trying to improve and be the best amateur they can be, even if they never make the Olympic team, but they're in the pool doing serious workouts and intervals and going to workshops and such to improve their strokes. And then, there are the hardcore folks who train 10 hours a day hoping to get the world record. Different goals, expectations, needs, and levels of committment and interest, but they all can swim in the same pool.
As you mentioned in an earlier post, it makes little sense to apply Olympic level crit to a swimmer like me who's just in it for the fun! And ditto for a person training for the Olympics to hear, "Oh cool! You're really good!" but not get ideas for improvement. :-)