[taurath]

> Since I've returned to working as a programmer, I've noticed this kind of thing rearing its ugly head more and more. The idea of being a "professional" has changed quite a bit.

I'd argue that especially in the culture of HN and startups that the term "professional" only means your ability to interface between people in actual lines of work. A "professional" programmer is more akin to "professional" musician than a "professional" Dentist.

There's an overall lessening of professional employment almost everywhere - at a certain point teachers would always have suits and tie's and parents would have to dress up to go see them the same as they would a Judge or Congressperson. Nowadays the only professionals anyone actually interfaces with are doctors, and maybe lawyers.