Dear Andrew, I like Tom's answer, but I'd rather be called Dennis. Seriously, Tom I think Tom has the right idea. Dennis Moir >From: "Andrew K. Rindsberg" <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Private collectors >Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 17:47:47 -0500 > >We had a discussion awhile back on what to call the person who collects >shells without having a degree or license to do so. They aren't >'professional malacologists' and they aren't 'shell dealers'. We used to >call them 'amateur collectors' but for some reason that term is going out >of >favor these days. 'Hobbyist' is inadequate to describe some of these >people, >who may be extremely knowledgeable and sometimes have very large >collections. 'Conchologist' may be uncomfortably formal for collectors at >the other end of the spectrum, who may be very un-knowledgeable and have no >desire to study (ology) their shells (conch). 'Non-professional' is >negative >and sounds like an insult ('unprofessional'). > >Paleontologist Earl Manning (Tulane University) suggests the phrase >'private >collector' as a generic term. That is apt, since there are private art >collectors, and they buy and sell art occasionally like most shell >collectors without losing their 'amateur' status. Once in a long while, >indeed, an art collector is admiringly called an 'amaTEUR' with the >cultivated French pronunciation emphasizing the original meaning, 'lover >(of >the arts)', but no one considers this an insult. Flattery, perhaps. > >So, how about it, Conchlers? Would you like to be called 'private >collectors', and occasionally, if you're really good at it, 'amaTEURS'? > >Andrew K. Rindsberg >Geological Survey of Alabama [log in to unmask] ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com