Feminist Pub XVIII, in which the Bluestocking greets the first signs of spring with a glass of something soothing

Hello! May a long-time lurker get a drink (half pint cider?) in the lovely new pub, please?

R.e. "Dr" - was a bit distressed by a comment on another thread that PhDs using the title outside of their work was pretentious. Some days the thought of having "Dr" on correspondence from my bank is the only thing that keeps me going it's been a long week.

I can't remember if I asked for it to be added (my passport expires next year, so I've had it a while). DH's passport also has the same statement (although he is Doctor HisName of course). He once got an airline to allow him to take his dissection kit on a flight in his hand luggage because his passport said he was a doctor

You must presumably have asked for that to be added?Maybe part of a visa? That page is blank on my son's and mine says " there are no official observations " . Looks as if UK passport office isn't fussed about titles either.

My passport has a note in it that says 'the holder is Doctor Oubliette Bravo' (on the page reserved for official observations)

I think DS GETS child trust fund post to Master Screwdriver.

Titles annoy me. I'm a Ms, but I'm also a teacher and pupils have to write my name on the front of their ecercise books/ exam papers, so I get a random selection of Miss/Mrs with only the odd one remembering that it's Ms. I wish we could just do away with titles completely, and they could just call me by my first name, or an initial with my surname if necessary.

My school is enthusiastic about the solar eclipse. We're all (about 2000 of us) going out with colanders to view it. I'm really looking forward to it not just the numpties who think they have to wear the colanders on their heads

My passport doesn't have a title at all - which I am actually most happy about. Down with titles!

Do any UK passports? Neither mine nor my son's have although they do distinguish F and M. I don't imagine either of us made a fuss when we applied beyond ticking Ms or possibly Miss for me and Mr for him. The default passport must therefore be no title.

DD has a special assembly tomorrow morning. They've made pinhole cameras in DT so that they can view it.

Whereas my manager has scheduled a meeting with me from 09:30 to 10:30

Does any one use "master " to mean a boy under 18? I can't recall ever coming across it outside of fiction referring to "the young master "

It does not appear as an option on a UK passport application although I suppose you could use it as "other title " if you felt strongly about it.

School is not enthusiastic about the solar eclipse. What is wrong with people?

I think I've also learned how I should behave in certain social situations. This means I can manage to appear relatively 'normal' for short periods of socialising (but it takes a lot of effort, and I feel knackered afterwards). I'm much more eloquent in writing than in person. I find phone conversations very difficult - without visual cues I really can't pick up context very well. I'd much rather go and see someone than pick up the phone and call them.

So many things you've all said up thread resonate with me. I don't have many close friends in RL - maybe 3 (or 4 if you include DH). I'm quite happy spending time on my own. In fact DH, DD and DS are all going to be away for 2 days in the week before Easter (they are all in separate places) and I'm really looking forward to a couple of quiet evenings.

Well here I am masquerading as a tree surgeon with my tree surgeon's (gender neutral) title

drspouse - Sera is in itself a title. Like Ms. So I'm either Ms or Sera Falfurrias.

Wotcha Yonic.

My passport doesn't have a title at all - which I am actually most happy about. Down with titles!

Well done Ms Seria!
On the GirlGuIding data system all girl members suddenly had Miss added to their entry a while back (previously they had no title, while adult volunteers had the one they'd chosen). I felt a bit odd about that too...

Hello Sera!

drspouse - my DD1, who I am raising to be a mighty feminist, has recently declared that she would be like to be a Ms, even though I have no trouble with female children being Miss in the same way that male children are Master. But she's determined to start using Ms at age 9, and who I am to say no?

Slightly behind, but felt a bit odd when DH put "Miss" on DD's passport application. Not sure why. I am pretty sure DS had Master. If so, I think I'm happy with these titles being reserved for under-18s.
I have also chickened out of telling the cleaning company that I'm not Mrs Myname, that's my mum...

I tried Serrano legacy and it does indeed have strong female characters, but I can't stand hunting. She did go on and on about hunting. yuck. I read the other series years ago I think, back in my teens or tweens. I have a 'maybe' relationship with fantasy, depends on the writing, though I don't really go out of my way looking for it anymore - prefer the science-y stuff. Most Eddings and the idea of most of the Robert Jordan stuff is ok (definitely well-served by the 'new' writer). Still like Tolkien even though he was of his time in gender areas. I like Mary Gentle too, not sure where you would put her except in category 'great'.

Speed of Dark actually troubled me, because although it was well written, writing from the perspective of an autistic person when she isn't made me uncomfortable. Although perhaps that was the point, and of course it's about time that a protagonist of a book wasn't NT.

But mostly, as a huge fan of old-fashioned space opera, I love her Serrano Legacy series. A huge expansive space opera over multiple volumes with the most kick-ass female characters.

I really need to read her Paksenarrion series too, as I am also a great fan of fantasy. I'm holding off in case I'm disappointed, but I don't now why I think I would be since I love all her other work.

I see what you mean now, I am rather less wise!

Well you answered Buffy in it Sera Falfurrias. The book is 'Remnant population' and it is very good. I only ever found one other of hers I liked, Speed of Dark I think it was called.

Thank you, Buffy. Though credit must go to the ever-awesome Ms Elizabeth Moon.

Hooray, first go of my new name and you know who I am, Flapdoodle. It's my favourite book ever. A might feminist "fuck you", but in the most restrained and gentle of ways.