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?

yep, only use it at work though, for signing reports and stuff. I work in schools mostly, and I feel a bit daft introducing myself to primary teachers as Dr Sharkie.

What is it if it isn't a DPhil, PhD, DLitt, DD or whatever other Ds there are? Or is it a courtesy title like with medics etc?

"A right to use" Dr or Mrs
I don't condone the use of either title
both request different treatment contingent on marital or academic status

Maybe to book flight seats in the hope of an upgrade (which has never happened).

Surely it is possible to use 'Dr' in a wankerish way - we've had a few examples on here, such as thinking it entitles you to park in the 'doctor only' parking spaces at the hospital or if you insist that people call you 'Dr Smith' at social occasions. However, generally I don't see the problem with using it, especially in a academic or work context when appropriate. I certainly intend to use it when filling in forms because it will be my title, why shouldn't I use it? And as others have already said, I really am looking forward to using it to avoid the whole horrid Miss/Ms/Mrs dilemma.

There's an Ed Doc grumpy - which is a professional doctorate usually taken p/t by senior school management team types (heads and deputies) which is a taught doctorate - i.e. not a huge piece of individual research, a smaller thesis and a number of taught courses, but higher level than masters. I have a couple of friends with them (and yes, they use the title) - I think there might be professional doctorates in other areas too ( I know there was talk of one in social work).

I think the question about why some people think "Mrs" is OK (I caught a man?) but "Dr" (I am intelligent and work very hard) isn't - is a really good question.

Thank you catsrus, never heard of that one.

So, EFA, what title do you use?

well I sometimes use it and mostly I don't because to me there is an element of showing off in pointing it out to people. Just how I see it. Not everyone has the opportunity to study or to study further than a first degree. They are not less intelligent or less hard-working than you maybe, perhaps they had no opportunity to study the way you did. No need to rub it in anyone's face IMO. I wouldn't use an aristocratic title in the same way (not that I have one). There are situations and people with whom it feels appropriate but on the whole, who needs to know you have a phD?

Well, technically, RevoltingPeasant, you are a "proper" Doctor but medical doctor only bear the title honorifically.

EssentialFattyAcid, relating to your last post, so then all the things you've said on this thread about people with PhD's who refer to themselves as Dr's apply equally to married women who refer to themselves as Mrs?

I would argue that marital status and academic status are different.

Citizen EFA?

I wouldn't mind that to much, just to shut up Americans who persist in the outdated belief that Brits are subjects.

Because men don't have the opportunity to change their title when married.

It's the twats who ask women for their titles that cause the bloody problems.

....fair does they are- but why are you a wanker for using a title conferred by one but not the other- they are both acquired titles?

this thread just gets better, as well as how pretentious anyone with a PhD who uses the title a PhD confers we also have poor men who aren't able to change their title? (apologies linerunner if I've missed your point). My point was that, for women, Mrs and Dr are both acquired titles, so why is the use of one aquired title but not the other so wankerish?

Wotinger I agree with you totally - I seem to be talking myself into some kind of miasma here - I'm getting a drink.

Wottinger, You make an excellent point that remains unanswered. I am opposed to EFA's position because I don't see the parity that she sees in her argument about 'special treatment' for 'Mrs' and 'Dr'.

I hate the title 'Mrs' precisely because men don't have to face using it or rejecting it.

romantic novels?

In Germany iti s not that wives can use their dh's title but (more in the past) a woman was defined by what her dh did, since for the most part women did not have any job with status - same as the UK

That'll do for me.

ExH uses it when he's being pretentious. He's a wanker. HTH

I think it depends on how and when you use your title. For example, I would never dream of answering my phone at work with "Mrs Maisie", and so I find it unusual that anyone would answer the phone with "Dr X" - to me, titles (earned or bestowed or otherwise) are unimportant.

However, I do completely get why you may, on occasion, be forced to provide a title - and in which case, if you feel your Phd on turkey behaviour (see my earlier post!) warrants Dr, then on you go Personally I prefer to alter my title depending on the choice available, and throw a little spanner in the workings of the system - I have, on occasion, been Professor, Lady, Captain and Vice Admiral, as well as plain old Ms or Mrs. Quite frankly, it's no-one's business what I am, as it's all an utter nonsense (imo)