'Amateur' oughtn't be scare-quoted because it's not a slur, many of the finest programmers were amateurs for many years before they were old enough to be given a job in the profession.
> borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, "one who loves, lover," borrowed from Latin amātor "lover, enthusiastic admirer, devotee," from amāre "to have affection for, love, be in love, make love to" (of uncertain origin) + -tōr-, -tor, agent suffix https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amateur#etymology...
changes the feeling of it all when you get that context, someone who loves a subject pretty much--no qualifications skill wise or regarding depth but they love it and should presumably take things seriously to some degree as any lover would.