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!

Definitely. There's been a real turn about experts. So a medical doctor is an expert on the human body. We respect them. Why is there a lack of respect towards someone who is an expert in rocks or history or golf course design.

I always notice a certain "type" on Facebook have either or both of those educational institutions on their profile 😁

It's odd, isn't it? Other countries are so celebrative of education. Says a lot about some people in the UK, really.

one of the easiest PhDs to get

Sure, right. 🙄

I know lots of people with PhDs and they all say they’re not real doctors. I also know lists of medical doctors and they all say a PhD is a real doctor. I’ve no intention of doing a PhD but if I did you can be same sure I’ll be using Dr as my prefix.

There aren't titles on UK passports. Where are you from that they have titles, out of interest?

Tell me dears, when they award your PhD or medical degree, do they shove the stick up your arses before or after they remove your sense of humour? in Scotland we admire a bit of humility. It's often the decent down to earth folk who are buying the real big houses and the pretentious twats who are still dragging themselves up the ladder.

Or Ms...

@Herewegoagainandagainandagain Of course they're not mutually exclusive. Just like you can be a head teacher and also apparently never have heard of antibiotics causing an upset tummy...

My son was being sent home for the majority of a 10 day course every other week for 6 months of winter, for needing to urgently use the toilet once every other day or so (48 hour exclusion each time, despite being pre warned of each flare up of his recurring tonsillitis, strep and antibiotic regime). We now have an agreement that he is to remain in school if otherwise well, no true diarrhoea, and not in need of any assistance like changing etc (he's 5). Only because I made an appointment with the head, explained what i thought was well-known information, and advocated for him.

For me, anything that helps me advocate for my children is a plus. The way some of the staff speak down to some of the parents is just shocking, and I wonder if they'd have been so convinced by one of the non academic parents arguing to keep their child in school in the same circumstances. I guess we are in an area where teeth brushing lessons last a week, so maybe more a reflection on that than a nationwide trend?

Either way a PhD is bloody hard work. And women in particular should not be mocked for using the title - most men wouldn't give it a second thought after working so hard for something.

O I doubt it. But yet again you demonstrate a complete lack of any intelligence. You know nothing whatsoever about me, let alone whether I have a PhD or not, or where my income comes from, so have no foundation for making such a comment.

Dr is an earned title with a PhD it is an honory title for medical professionals. That's why consultants revert to Mr or Mrs

I have a PhD and I use my title where I like because I worked hard for it.

Nah, that's what MN usernames are for.

One thing I always do, though, is make sure if I'm introducing an academic panel, that I use the right title for all the participants. There was a study that showed that women are often called by their first name in these situations and men by Dr or Professor when being introduced. This exact thing has happened to me! I always give each person their full title, name and job title so there's no unfairness.

@KeinLiebeslied54321 I am now aiming to be a Dr Professor, sounds fun!

Why do be surgeons have a problem with it?

Most of my colleagues have pHds and no one uses the title Dr in everyday life. Only in a work capacity. Its cringy to use it out of context.

Cringy? Why? What makes you cringe about a Dr using their title?

The two people I know with PhDs use their title in their correspondence and why not?!!

This!

If I had a PhD I'd definitely call myself Dr!

It's like a historical thing

@ISeriouslyDoubtIt aha but intelligence, qualifications and income do not necessarily correlate! A streetwise estate agent will make loads more than an academic or even a consultant medical dr.

You're right, UK passports don't have titles but there's a stand-alone page above the photo ID page that states "the bearer of this passport is a doctor".

Its very much a personal choice, my pal had a PHD but chooses not to use it except in work. A friend of a friend is a dentist and insists on being referred to as Dr and to be honest people i know take the piss out of her behind her back for this. I think you deserve it if you have it but personally I would keep it work related.

To me a Dr means a medical Dr. So I wouldn't use it.
What if you had booked in on a flight as Dr x and someone had a medical emergency. Looking at the flight list there is a Dr onboard. Not very helpful if you are a Dr of physics or whatever.
I have a title I could use but I don't use it as I think it's pretentious. If I was a medical Dr I would use Dr.

If Mumsnet is representative of UK society then there is definitely a race to the bottom. So many people seem to be like those kids at school who think it's cool to be thick and not do your homework. Of course years later they're in dead end or no jobs whilst the clever hardworking ones are successful. That's why the UK is being overtaken in so many ways by countries where education and wanting to improve yourself is valued.

Then you'd do as absolutely anyone with a PhD would do and say that you're not a medical doctor. It's a simple concept.

Why is it pretentious to use a title?

It’s on the notes page in British passports. Mine says “The holder of this passport is Doctor Oubliette Bravo”