Academics using 'Dr' - wankerish?

[RevoltingPeasant]

On the day I got my PhD, the first thing my mum said to me when I rang to say I'd passed was, 'Oh, I do hope you won't call yourself Dr, it's so pretentious...

...and congratulations!'

Anywho, I never get called Dr except on my office door and in rejection letters from journals. But I think most academics do use it in civilian life. I kinda want to. Does this make me a smug git, especially because my subject specialism is in something entirely useless to humanity literature?

I have a friend who has a PhD in marine biology but is now a SAHM while her dh has a big impressive career earning loadsamoney. I do occasionallly press her to start using 'Dr' and threaten to address Christmas cards to them as Dr and Mr - becuase her dh gets all the status which does not seem fair at all (he's a managment consultant, fgs, and although he's lovely and I'm sure he works jolly hard, it is somehow Not Fair that the world treats him as Mr Important and her as Mrs Nobody).

at the uni where I did my Masters, I was taught by a Dr E. Doctor.

I was told that far more women with PhDs don't use them than men with PhDs. It makes me want to get one and use it for that reason alone.

Out of interest (given the debate about medical doctors), when medical doctors retire, are they commonly still called "dr"? Can't think of any examples either way. If a graduate medic hasn't got their first job, surely they can't use dr as a title.

Will one of you good doctors please please tell me why it's important for hotel bookings? Do you get an extra sausage in the morning? Seriously though, why should a title make a difference? By the way, not having a go at anyone who uses theirs for whatever reason.

I think you get to be Dr when you've completed a specific bit of your course? I seem to remember that from my SIL.

My old GP is still 'Dr' to everyone we know, but that may be because we're all too set in our ways to change now he's retired.

I know a Dr Blood and a Dr Brain.

Use it. It's not pretentious. Anybody who thinks it is is just wrong.

at Jareth. I know a Dr Todd ... Dr Death in German!

not my cuppa tea - don't do it but CONGRATULATIONS!!!

"If I had a PhD, I would use the title Dr. If I was a Professor, I would use the title Professor, If I had a knighthood, I would use the title Sir. If I was a Dame, I would use the title Dame. If I was awarded an OBE I would damn well put the letters after my name! "

Ahh... but what title do you go by if you are both a Professor and a Knight?

Will one of you good doctors please please tell me why it's important for hotel bookings
Dunno, never use it for that. Hotel staff aren't patronizing gits.

There is a dr fullalove at our local hospital, and he is lovely, and gorgeous..

It is mightily pretentious to use it as a (school) teacher I think. Or indeed to use it to a teacher. I am unimpressed either way frankly.

LRD - totally about less women using their title.

FGS. Men would never do this crap.. yes OP - use your very well deserved title and the people who think it's pretentious can fuck ogg!

Aggg... fuck oFF, obviously. I don't think Nanny Ogg would be too pleased at my last post!

i had school teachers called Dr.

My DP has a phd and doesnt use it, except on job applications and the like. I would, if i were him, but im a show off.

Ooh I don't know, she might be up for it.

Yeah, so basically I've decided I am naturally a wanker, after all.

Dr Wanker to you, though.

I don't know ... we had a teacher when I was at secondary school who was doing a MA part time - she used to come in and tell us about her studies and we were quite proud of her (she was really nice). If she'd been doing a PhD (which I think she eventually did), I'd hope she used the title. She was very inspirational to me.

Ahh... but what title do you go by if you are both a Professor and a Knight?

Jareth - the one example I know of is Professor Sir Tom Blundell. I crossed his paths many moons ago when I was postgrad, before his knighthood - IIRC he was just called 'God' then

Jareth - apparently it's not even a slight difference, it's huge. Can't remember the figures though, annoyingly.

Well, I tell my students about previous existence as an actual scientist too, but I don't need to call myself Dr to do that.

at grimma.

fallen - I didn't mean that though. It was more that because she did it while she was teaching us, she made us feel as if we were sort of part of it all - I really appreciate her doing that. I know looking back she was being nice to us but she'd make us feel as if we were helping.

I didn't feel the same about the teacher who'd been dr for years though, so I know it does vary.

Re hotel bookings, I'll use it anywhere outside the UK to chance a better room.

Well, I have to get some small pleasure in life