To use my title

[ArtemisatBrauron]

I have a PhD and use my title - I was thinking of just using it at work but decided consistency was best and changed it with the bank etc as well. I've recently had several snide comments about it as well as a few family members and work colleagues who continue to address me/write to me as Mrs Brauron. I haven't corrected them because it seems rude, but it annoys me - AIBU?

[monkeysbignuts]

I love it when people call consultants Dr, I used to work in a hospital (a nurse) & they get so wound up by it.
We had one consultant who would say he worked too hard to be called Dr and we must refer to him as Mr? ! Wtaf?
Ewww I would hate for people to call me nurse monkey's lol

[badbride]

Goal I think folk are basically agreeing with you that formal use of the title is fine, but using it socially is daft. As in: " Hello, God. It's me...Dr Frasier Crane"

[bingodiva]

i dont use anyones titles on post as i sometimes dont know what their title is, first name and last name seems fine. if anyone told me to use their title they would get a swift two fingers shown to them for them being pretentious - at the end of the day we are all the same and im not going to be looked down upon by anyone.

[Casperthefriendlyspook]

I only ever use my Dr (PhD) on official stuff if it's work related. I work in HE, so loads of my colleagues have PhDs or MBCHBs, and are Professors. It's kind of 'normal'. :)
I don't ever use it when flying, so I don't get called for suspected heart attacks, etc. Also, my knowledge of Victorian literature probably wouldn't be much use!

[someoftheabove]

goal, hate to say this, but I think there's a bit of a chip on your shoulder. If you've got a PhD, your title is Dr - simple. Whether or where you use it is entirely up to the person with the PhD, but I don't think anyone was seriously suggesting their family suddenly started calling them Dr Something instead of their first name. I use Dr when someone asks for my title, as that's what my title is.
In Germany, where I used to live, having a PhD is far more common and people don't seem to get their knickers in a twist about it at all. Except that you have to preceded it with Herr or Frau to indicate your gender, which seems a bit naff.

[ArtemisatBrauron]

bingodiva first name last name is totally fine! I don't think people would be talking down to you though, if you used say Miss and they were a Mrs, just correcting you so that you knew for future reference.

[Teahouse]

On flights they request medical doctors not useless PhDs...having me of the later I feel I can say that ;0)
Use Dr on everything I can as I kept my married name after my divorce and it differentiates me from the boys step-mum. Plus, I love it when people say it that Mrs, Miss or Ms Surname, and I say Dr... Pretentious probably but I am an academic and it is just normal in my circle of acquaintances.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Ah yes. If a student says "is it true you're a doctor miss?", I generally reply "not a useful one..."

[Goal]

Ha ha at chip on my shoulder. Why should I or anyone be interested n others qualifications except in the workplace? Amongst my colleagues it is the "first in the family to go to university" brigade who make a big show of their "title" the rest of us don't really see it as relevant. The attitude that teahouse has is exactly the one I am talking about, very odd. I don't feel the need to advertise my academic status, any more than my marital status or my bank balance unless it is relevant to the situation.

[MechanicalTheatre]

Why should anyone feel the need to advertise their marital status?

Yes, I'm the first in my family to go to university, I went to a really good university and I am justly proud. Maybe to some who have had parents in education it doesn't seem like a big deal. My dad left school at 14 and in my family, it is a big deal.

[Trills]

I don't feel the need to advertise my academic status, any more than my marital status or my bank balance unless it is relevant to the situation.

When I am asked for a title on a form I have to choose to advertise either my academic status or my marital status+gender or just my gender. In most cases all three are entirely irrelevant.

[Goal]

Mechanical - do you think people will treat you differently?

[Callycat]

I use Dr on official forms; partly at least because it gets round the annoying Miss/Mrs thing. Never even considered that family would use it AT ALL, but that doesn't stop my mother sending birthday cards to Dr Callycat

I admit I do like the slightly subversive aspect of it, in that I don't look at all like a stereotypical academic. I've had lots of older male colleagues do a double take when they see "Dr Callycat" on forms, which always make me inwardly smile. I'm a sad bugger, I know.

[TheFallenMadonna]

"first in the family to go to university brigade"?

How very Alan Clark that sounds...

[MechanicalTheatre]

Differently to what? And when? If I use "doctor"? Or if I tell them I went to university?

Madonna, yes, quite.

[ArtemisatBrauron]

goal I assume then that you refuse to use any title at all, since you'd either be " advertising" your marital status, or your academic status...
I don't really see it as "advertising" at all - everyone has a title of some sort.

[Teahouse]

My doctorate defines me more than my marital status. It makes no difference whether I am married, divorced or single but I couldn't do my job without my Fud!
If a form asks for my title, I give it...stops me being defined by my lack of being married.

[Goal]

Mechanical- if you use doctor? Yes I do judge people, same as everyone else. The thing is that it seems that those wanting to advertise their academic status, think they are giving off one image but are in fact being perceived quite differently by some people.

[TheFallenMadonna]

I could do my job without it. As could the OP. Most people who do our job don't have a PhD (although an increasing number do, interesting...)

[badbride]

Interesting thread. Question: is the title "Dr" the only work-related title that attracts accusations of pretension? Do Reverends, Lieutenants, Justices, Constables and so on attract similar criticism?

Or the dislike of the PhD a relic of the old Town vs Gown wars?

[Goal]

I would feel the same about any of those you mentioned using the title on their bank cards for example. Would think it very odd

[MechanicalTheatre]

I couldn't give a shite about other people perceptions particularly if they're the sort of person who talks disparagingly about the "first in the family to go to university brigade" naysayers.

[TheFallenMadonna]

I do not address my friend's Christmas cards to Sqn Ldr Madonna'sFriend, no.

I put Mr. He has never asked me to use his rank. Is it a title?

[Goal]

I tend not to use one unless necessary I.e my bank card is initial and surname. I would not insist upon a title or change a suggested one that was in some way accurate I.e if someone used ms I wouldn't insist on either dr or mrs as ms is also true.

[Goal]

Of course you do mechanical that's why you do it!