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!

@TheCultureHusks 100% introduce yourself to me as Dr X rather than "Jim" if you are about to conduct a medical exam on me. If we're at a cocktail party or I'm valuing your house, Jim is just fine!

And yes, I do think someone calling themselves "Mrs X" is either 100 years old, very standoffish or probably does think marriage esp to a particular man perhaps conveys some sort of status.

Because you've spent several years obtaining it.

Love it. I think you should have given her post nominals instead. Julie Smith, BA MA SHTG (She Has To Go) 🤣

I’d say professionally or if booking something professional.
But there’s no such thing as an easy phd, you should try and not think like that, it’s a bit insulting to someone who went through the extra years and put in that work

This thread is so weird. Are people really saying that, in a situation that requires the use of titles (such as a form, or being asked what your title is), people with PhD should not use Dr? Why not?

But I’m not called Jim?

Well we do have quite a cheery office but no, the reason we laugh if someone introduces themselves as "Mr/Mrs/Dr/Prof" is BECAUSE it's so rare these days. So if someone does, it marks them out as a bellend. But as I say, it's very handy to know early doors of someone's bellend-edness.

Yep, they'll definitely be able to recognise that in you when you laugh at them for using their actual title.

I'm an academic, everyone uses the title at work. I use it at home mainly because I really look quite scruffy and stupid and I love the surprise factor when I say it.

No they are not. Indeed it would be outrageous if someone stuck their hand up their chuff without making it clear they were indeed a Dr!

We're saying that there's no need to say "hello, Scottish Power, this is Dr Bell End, phoning about my gas bill".

You're probably right. I'm not an expert but have to deal with them in collating things regularly. And, yes, they are mostly PhD onwards and the Dr title is relevant to show they have reached a high level of attainment in their field and it certainly does give the weight required to their opinion, in my view anyway.

Or very formal, or unsure of the correct formalities when eg looking to make a big investment, ie buy a house? Bit harsh to judge someone for this - bit prejudiced even

I’m not convinced titles (whether in academia, medicine or whatever else) should exist.

There are of other professions (including some that can take years of studying) that don’t routinely use titles, so I don’t think they’re necessary to denote expertise.

Tag some letters onto the end of your name where it’s useful in context, sure, but I don’t see why your Mr/Mrs/Ms should become Dr. It just smacks of a sense of eliteness (and yes, you might be relatively “elite” within your field but not in relation to other members of society on a day-to-day basis).

I’ve nothing against it, I’ve no skin in the game. My career lies outside of academia. I responded to an AIBU with my own personal view that it’s fine to use titles within academia, but that using it in day to day life is pretentious.

I do support movements like those mentioned upthread female PHD holders stating their qualification on their Twitter etc, email signatures, etc. in response to sexism and misogyny, which I wasn’t aware of, but I still don’t understand why many PHD holders are demanding acknowledgement of their title as their due.

As mentioned upthread, my role models and mentors in my career lie outside of academia, so I value different things. I would be non-plussed if someone asked me to refer to them as doctor, because in my industry you refer to all colleagues by their first name, even the CEO.

@pensione you still haven't explained WHY it's pretentious.

Why Ms., why not by first name? Why this title is needed?.

I've not seen anyone suggest people with PhDs do this. Also, how is using my title on a form or when asked for it, demanding acknowledgement? Is everyone who uses Mrs demanding acknowledgement of their marriage in your view?!

I have offered it, you just haven’t bothered to read it.

Troll hunting doesn’t mean actual hunting, you don’t need a bow and arrow 🤣

Haven’t read the thread but ‘easy PHD’ hahahahahaha ffs

There's no such thing as "the easiest PhD" as it isn't something that is taught.

Maybe CatLady works in a small town, rather than one of Scotland’s larger cities with a large, internationally renowned university. That would account for her unfamiliarity with a range of approaches to professional introductions.

There have been several examples upthread of PHD holders asking people to refer to them as dr, outside of their academic environment.

PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy. Of course anyone with a PhD can use the title.

I doubt whether anyone with a PhD would give a toss if an estate agent thought they were a bellend.
I daresay when it comes to your commission suddenly a bellend's money is the same as anyone else's.

Using the title Dr in everyday life isn’t pretentious.

you think it is, because for some reason it makes you feel inferior and triggered. That’s fine, but it’s still the case that Drs calling themselves Dr because that’s the title they have is… perfectly ordinary and they don’t give it any more thought than Mrs Blumf, Rev. Popsicle or Brigadier Dildofart