It’s not the only valuable subject. But define ‘value’? My comment was not rubbish either. If for example you do PhD in Art or Literature what do you do with it other than teach students? It’s not as if it generates any research that helps medicine, neuroscience, psychiatry, telecommunications, physics, engineering or contributes to the eco-friendly quest?
I’m just a bit puzzled as to what the point of writing an arts-based thesis is, if it’s only of interest to the university and others in that particular field, and doesn’t contribute to the wider world/society in any way.
This is a really sad way of viewing education. What you're essentially saying is that higher level study is only valuable if it contributes to the scientific arena. Saying 'what's the point of an arts based thesis' is very dismissive and insulting. The world would be a pretty boring place if we didn't have people who had a passion for the arts.
My thesis was in no way scientific but was still a valuable piece of research both in academic terms but across my profession.
Medical Doctors have a higher than average social standing (I guess because people see them as healers, helpers and brimming with medical knowledge that saves lives. And maybe because they undergo continuous intensive training before becoming high earners as they progress up the ranks?) Continued professional development for doctors is quite brutal and unrelenting especially the first 3 years.
Again, the medical profession doesn't have the monopoly on this.
Calling yourself Dr by title is like telling people ‘I’m a doctor’ and of course their first thought is medical doctor
But it's not onerous or difficult to explain that's not the case. .
I remember a cousin of mine announcing she was ‘marrying a doctor’ and we all said ‘ooh congratulations, which field is he in?’ (we have a lot of medics in the family).
She looked a bit uncomfortable and replied ‘he’s a doctor of English Literature’. There was an awkward silence then her younger sister burst out laughing and said ‘stop telling people he’s a doctor, just say he’s a lecturer. You can mention the PhD thing later.’
Your family don't come out too well in that story.
So yes, unfortunately using the title when you’re not a medical doctor can be confusing and come across as a bit pompous. Being a doctor isn’t your profession just because you have a PhD, so implying otherwise can lead to a lot of confusion! Only if you're hard of understanding.
Anyway, it's not been used as a job title in this situation. It's a title - just like miss or mrs.
A title you're legitimately allowed to use if you've completed your doctorate.