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!

I think it depends on the context, in any academic context or related professional situation yes but for not at your child's school for example or other personal or social situations

@ISeriouslyDoubtIt do I detect a level of snobbery there? Implying that someone with a PhD is better than an estate agent? Who has the fancier car in the carpark do you think? ;-)

Do you mean when people are asked for their title? If so, why would I not use my title of Dr?

Of course you should use it. Not only is it earnt, it becomes your title - just as 'Mrs.' does if you are married. OK, you don't have to be a 'Mrs.' and you don't have to use 'Dr.', but if you work in academia it is fully expected! And as for 'not being a 'real' doctor' - 'doctor' is from Latin 'to teach'. So who is the 'real' doctor?

Money really isn't everything you know.

Agree with you. It’s your title to use.
My friend is a vicar and the other week when asked to state her title for something (is it Mrs, Miss or Ms) she said very nicely and politely ‘it's actually Reverend’. And after she heard them mutter ughh shoving her religion down our throats, who does she think she is bla bla. Hang on, I’m stating a fact, not trying to convert anyone! I am no more advertising my profession as a Mrs advertising her marital status.

Yes, and you've still to explain why you find this so objectionable.

Why not exactly?

I've never noticed much of a correlation between fancy cars and a persons worth to society, intelligence or anything much except willingness to be parted from their money.

Everyone that I've ever known who had a PhD used the Dr title. Completely normal and not cringe at all. I used to work in a firm of patent attorneys so there were lots of them - none were medical Dr's all science subjects but yes why not use it - you've earnt it!

Just because it’s irrelevant to my day to day life doesn’t mean it triggers me, just as I’m not triggered by police officers or chefs or teachers or any number of jobs that have no bearing on my life.

There is a concerted effort on the thread to dismiss anyone who is not bothered about other people’s titles as jealous or ignorant or having an inferiority complex but really it reveals your own insecurities because if you were secure in your own sense of self-worth, you wouldn’t have a need for these petty insults.

Civil engineering is a very serious subject. In Germany and Switzerland people use use their titles and noone makes fun of them, maybe they have more respect for education and all the hard work which goes towards doing PHD.

"Money isn't everything". So you keep telling me @Throckmorton . Are you trying to convince yourself? Is someone a little bitter that an holds nose estate agent might have done quite well for themselves despite not slaving away over crusty books? Sorry but life isn't fair and sometimes it's about street smarts not book smarts.

YABU. If you have a Ph D you are entitled to use the title even if not in medicine.

Definite snobbery, as was the post by a PHD holder calling a receptionist a ‘numbskull’ for asking a reasonable question.

Why does your electricity provider need to know what your gender or marital status is? It is a title the same as Mr or Mrs etc

Yeah to be fair, that was a bad example but was trying to convey my point. Actually, I'm not into cars IN THE SLIGHTEST but drive a fancy one because well it's all image in our game. See also clothes etc.

Now interesting question - who is more use to society - an estate agent or someone who spent 3 years writing a thesis on medieval poetry?

You come across as exceedingly materialistic and shallow.
Personally, yes, I admire and respect the dedication, the research, the intelligence and intellect of someone who has achieved a PhD far more than I admire an estate agent.
I couldn't give a flying fuck about what car someone drives. These days it's no indicator of wealth or status whatsoever given that anyone can get a new car on a leasing plan for a few hundred quid a month.

I work in an environment where about 3/4 of my colleagues have a PhD. (I don't). They don't use Dr in speech, but they do for emails, other correspondence, and when we are presenting. I always use their Dr title too. E.g. if we are working together on a project, I would always put Ms XYZ and Dr XYZ. They bloody earnt their PHlhDs, it's nice to recognise that.

I guess they are situation in which I wouldn't use a title anyway. I only use my title at work, for everyone else I am first name GG followed by last name if necessary and only put title on forms if compulsory. I find standard titles sexist so prefer to avoid them.

In the real world, you don't use Dr. as your actual title in day to day life unless you practice medicine. Attending a confererence in your field etc. is an exception.

@ISeriouslyDoubtIt perfect question for you to answer then: who is more use to society - an estate agent or someone who spent 3 years writing a thesis on medieval poetry?

Yes, I'm certain academic circles it is used as it's a sign of expertise in your field.

They especially don’t care as those sticks used in the doctoral graduation ceremonies which @AnotherCrazyOldCatLady refers to are recycled for use as the sticks they put those Real Estate for sale signs on - especially the expensive houses for humble, successful people . Watch out when handling them cat lady! Or will your office laugh about that too 🤣?

Sorry 'in' - not 'I'm'.