Person who who relentlessly fails to figure out what they “want to do with their life” and thus flits from interest to interest like a hummingbird among lilies. Often well-meaning, empathetic, and creative, the dilettante shoots him/herself in the foot over and over again by forsaking specific skills and knowledge and starting from scratch.
Traditionally, only royalty and aristocrats could play at dilettantism, but the type has proliferated since since mid-century prosperity in North America, Europe, and elsewhere has expanded the middle- and, especially, upper-middle class. The dilettante has reached its apotheosis in contemporary millennials, especially college-educated ones. They tend to feel alienated by corporate culture and spurned by the economic crisis, and postpone taking on family responsibility, which usually ends dilettantism, until later than previous generations.
The dilettante is an easy target for scorn, but essentially tragic, often overwrought, full of angst, sometimes tormented by the “grass is greener” fantasy. Most dilettantes eventually grow out of their dilettantism—making it a phase disease—and settle into something that provides constancy and direction to their lives.
Traditionally, only royalty and aristocrats could play at dilettantism, but the type has proliferated since since mid-century prosperity in North America, Europe, and elsewhere has expanded the middle- and, especially, upper-middle class. The dilettante has reached its apotheosis in contemporary millennials, especially college-educated ones. They tend to feel alienated by corporate culture and spurned by the economic crisis, and postpone taking on family responsibility, which usually ends dilettantism, until later than previous generations.
The dilettante is an easy target for scorn, but essentially tragic, often overwrought, full of angst, sometimes tormented by the “grass is greener” fantasy. Most dilettantes eventually grow out of their dilettantism—making it a phase disease—and settle into something that provides constancy and direction to their lives.
Jenna: So, what do you do?
Dillon: Well, I studied business. Then I worked at a bank. But I hated it. So I traveled around the world for a while. Then I worked on an organic farm, in Montana, where I took up landscape painting. But somehow I still felt incomplete, so I moved to the city and I'm thinking about next steps.
Jenna: Wow, that's a lot...
Dillon: Yeah, I'm such a dilettante.
Dillon: Well, I studied business. Then I worked at a bank. But I hated it. So I traveled around the world for a while. Then I worked on an organic farm, in Montana, where I took up landscape painting. But somehow I still felt incomplete, so I moved to the city and I'm thinking about next steps.
Jenna: Wow, that's a lot...
Dillon: Yeah, I'm such a dilettante.
by gallimaufabout August 4, 2016
Get the dilettante mug.by pankerdilerana January 25, 2021
Get the pankeri dileri mug.The difficulty choosing whether to finish your last line of speed, or keep it for a later time at the party.
Usually involves a fear of sadness of having no amphetamine left.
Usually involves a fear of sadness of having no amphetamine left.
Man: Are you going to finish your last line of speed?
Woman: I don't know, I'm in an amphetamine dilemma
Woman: I don't know, I'm in an amphetamine dilemma
by Spaghetamine Regretamine January 9, 2017
Get the Amphetamine Dilemma mug.The dilemma in which a stoner finds him or herself having to choose between staying reclined/lying/sitting comfortably and getting up to acquire food/drink/other amenities.
Can also be "The Drinker's Dilemma"
Can also be "The Drinker's Dilemma"
"damn the stoner's dilemma! i want cheetos, but they're all the way in the kitchen!"
or
"Dude, I had a total drinkers dilemma yesterday. I sat in my bed for ten minutes trying to decide if I should go get some food to feed my drunchies."
or
"Dude, I had a total drinkers dilemma yesterday. I sat in my bed for ten minutes trying to decide if I should go get some food to feed my drunchies."
by ImaginePeace September 14, 2009
Get the The Stoner's Dilemma mug.A person prone to become mildly involved with or superficially interested in various subjects instead of developing any specific skill or knowledge to its fullest. Often used to describe amateur or wanna-be artists.
John, a dilettante who played seven muscial instruments, couldn't get a spot in the school band because he didn't play any single instrument well.
by Luke August 23, 2004
Get the dilettante mug.When you are invited to more than one party on the same night and you don't know which party to attend.
Bob is invited to Corey's birthday party and to Eddie's graduation party tonight. Bob is facing a true Hilmarsson's Dilemma.
by LeatherBeast November 7, 2008
Get the Hilmarsson's Dilemma mug.A problem faced by a person with specialized expertise in any area, in which the implications of the opinion are unpopular and likely to be rejected by those who need that expertise. For example, economists may be likely to know that, in some cases, a "market solution" is inherently impossible, but proposing an alternative is an exercise not merely in futility, but career suicide among those who employ economists. It arises because the expert knows more about the field than her employers.
The statistician was asked by his boss to make a case for risk homeostasis, but knowing better, he faced an expert's dilemma: telling the truth would get him tarred as a 'socialist.'
by abu yahya June 23, 2008
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