AIBU - use of ‘Dr’ title - is this normal?!

[Cheesecake45]

Just not sure if I need to get with the times or not - is it normal to go by the title ‘Dr’ simply for having a PhD, if you aren’t in the medical profession? I’m talking one of the easiest PhDs to get (comparatively speaking), nothing vaguely linked to medicine.

AIBU??
YES = this is totally normal get over yourself
NO = wouldn’t be caught dead calling myself a doctor unless I could be assistance in a medical emergency!

What do you think the D in PhD stands for…? If I had a PhD (there are no easy ones incidentally) I would use the title I had earned. As long as you’re not standing up when people say “is there a doctor on this plane?” I don’t see this issue.

Probably trying to secure funding to be able to complete the next phase of research needed to be able to competently substantiate the original opinion

Being a Dr and being an idiot parent are not mutually exclusive - they do frequently co-exist. Schools know this. How do you see declaring yourself as an Dr changing the way they respond to you if Blessedbethefruitz Jnr is being a little shit?

I have a family member with a Phd who, because they are a bit of a Physics egghead, their knowledge and world experience is so one track I doubt they know how to even boil an egg nevermind raise a child.

If I had a PhD I'd think nothing of using Dr as my title in any work related matters. In the rest of my life I'd probably still just go by Mrs. It's reflective of a specialism in a certain discipline which could be medical but also could be anything else. Another who's very keen to know what the easiest PhD is!

That's made my day

My title is Dr. I worked hard for my title, and I will damn well use it. It amuses me when the hard of thinking believe that medical doctors are the only ones deserving of the title, when they're the ones who actually use it as an honorary title.

I wonder what it is that bothers people when other people achieve something and then use the title that goes with it? Is it jealousy? Is it misogyny? Lack of intelligence or education?

I am a PhD. My employer uses my title even though I am not a medical doctor. I use ms. In my personal life, but think people can and should use whatever they want.

It's helpful to me when my clients use it cos then I know they're an arse. See also having their pronouns in their signature.

You believe all Drs are arses? How utterly bizarre. Do explain.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

An easy PhD! 💀

People who think it's wanky or pretentious to use Dr when you have a PhD are usually feeling inadequate in their own education/intelligence.

Based on successful outcomes about 45% of students alone pass one particular actuarial exam and whereas 54% of students get their PhD’s.

Most people taking those exams will be drawn from the same pool of university achievers eg high. 2:1 or firsts.

So I am happy to argue.

Also by the time someone has been in a professional job for 10 years they are highly knowledgeable.

Anyhow bring it on - the debate … (this could be a family debate).

Exactly! For medical Drs it is a courtesy title as they don’t (necessarily) have a DOCTORate

@WalkingonWheels I think Drs who require their estate agent to know they are a Dr are arses, yes.

I agree

I was about to type out my own reply to this thread but I don't need to now.
This ^. All of this. 👏

Unless you have a PHd why would a vet think they can be called Dr??

All of the above, @WalkingonWheels ! This thread has demonstrated them all in spades.
Women do not like sucessful women here

That's very odd. So you think people are arses simply for using their title. Interesting. Do you feel the same about men who use Mr? Sir? Women who use Mrs? Lady? Or is it just people who have earned their title that bother you?

Why does it bother you so much that you believe you can judge people for it, without even knowing them?

Actuaries do get letters after their name though, they aren't completely unrewarded (and they earn more than most PhDs!).

I don't think difficulty has anything to do with it really.

Independent research to extend knowledge in a particular field = PhD which comes with the title of doctor for historic academic reasons

Professional exams = post-nominal letters

I should have specified - of course I meant outside of the workplace, I use my title at work too. I wasn’t being derogatory, I realise all PhDs are an achievement however I wouldn’t class my PhD (in education) in the same league as a medical degree.

@Noras, I'm interested in why you're trying to pull people down (those with hard won PhDs), rather than raise people up (those with many years of experience) given your line of thought.

Unfortunately, I think that's the case. How sad.

Thankfully the people I associate with are proud of the achievers in our group of friends, be it a PhD or a baby, or anything else worth celebrating. When I got mine, my friends were the first to insist on using my title. That's what supportive women do.

Not sure the key issue here is knowledge, or even intelligence. A PhD requires making a significant original contribution to the field. Maybe actuary exams require original contributions? If they don’t, then they’re not really comparable to a PhD. To be clear: I’m not saying they’re ‘less than’ a PhD. But, if I understand correctly, they’re quite different.

@WalkingonWheels we would all pish ourselves laughing if a client instructed us to call them Lady or Sir yes But as I say it's handy if you do cos then we know you're an arse!