interesting topic and musing -my 2 cents

I tend to think that words are used in a very 'inflated' way in the US, with the idea that everyone can be anything they want as long as they made the effort, regardless of how much invested effort.   There is another categoy of 'amateur' that everyone who so wishes can fit easily into, with few criteria and less debate.  For example, I am an amateur of drawing.   I think that anyone who qualifies as an 'artist' or '家‘ needs to have recognition and appreciation from a CRITICAL MASS of the artistic profession, and the society at some point in time.  One may call himself anything, but if no one concurs, he's merely amusing himself.  There is nothing wrong in that, of course.  That's called joie de vivre (enjoyment of life).