Page 31 | AIBU - use of ‘Dr’ title - is this normal?!

Cheesecake45 · 2024-05-12T17:54:12+00:00

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!

Saschka · 13/05/2024 00:22

FixTheBone · 12/05/2024 18:58

Im an medical doctor and dont call myself doctor....

Probably because as a surgeon we drop the title anyway, but also because i have enough drama at work without inviting it upon myself outside of work.

Yep I’ma physician and I’m definitely Dr Saschka at work and Mrs Saschka, DS’s mum, at home.

Means I don’t get strangers whinging to me about GP waiting times or their bad back (none of which I have any interest in or control over). Obviously my actual friends know I’m a doctor.

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 13/05/2024 00:23

HangryOliveMentor · 13/05/2024 00:21

I could insist on people using my earned title if I liked (but I don’t, because I think it would mark me out as a pompous bellend).

Show quote history

How on earth does anyone using their correct title make them anything close to a 'bellend', exactly?

HoobleDooble · 13/05/2024 00:24

One of my oldest and loveliest friends has a PhD, she doesn't tend to use her title but I now put it infront of the nickname I've always called her because I'm so proud of her! I've never once put my BA (Hons) on anything though! 😁

Sunny678 · 13/05/2024 00:26

Use it

Paninaro94 · 13/05/2024 00:26

What’s easier than getting married and calling yourself “Mrs”? No one ever asks you to justify that.

Calliopespa · 13/05/2024 00:27

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

pensione · 13/05/2024 00:27

TheCultureHusks · 13/05/2024 00:18

well firstly - you don’t know my title

and secondly, people mostly don’t have to ask people to use any title. They aren’t usually referenced unless there’s a reason to.

but if you had reason to be using someone’s title, and they’d told you what it was, and you had such a problem with that fact that you would literally choose to - do what? Make up your own? Call them something else? - then you would, without a doubt, look like the most bothered, most triggered, most tragically fragile-ego loser ever. As well as shockingly rude.

Not quite the ‘faintly amused, raising just one eyebrow ever so casually’ look you are straining for. So yes. If you ever do find yourself in that situation, just be normal and call them Dr, or Judge, or Brigadier, or Rev, or Mrs, and get over yourself.

Show quote history

It’s hilarious that you rely on me to be the grown up and not respond to you in kind but to keep engaging with you when so far you’ve called me ‘triggered, inferior, bothered, loser, a nob end, a loser’ and more.

What use was this much vaunted PHD when you can’t write a post without insults?

It’s funny, and I am amused. I’m sorry if it upsets you, but it is funny.

Starlight330 · 13/05/2024 00:27

I think it's perfectly acceptable to use the title if you have a PhD. My one question is in the event of a medical emergency for example on an aeroplane & there is an announcement asking if there are any Doctors on board does everyone witha PhD stand up 🤔

LauraAshleyDuvetCover · 13/05/2024 00:28

ClareBlue · 12/05/2024 23:13

How many exclusive male titles are there outside the peerage. Can only think of this one, but I have a feeling there's going to be more...

Show quote history

Pope?

Military titles in the past (Major, General etc.) but not any more.

Post-nominal rather than a title, but I'm not sure what the female version of Esq. would be.

All the others I can think of would be used for both (or slightly adapted e.g. Mr President/Madame President).

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 13/05/2024 00:29

Starlight330 · 13/05/2024 00:27

I think it's perfectly acceptable to use the title if you have a PhD. My one question is in the event of a medical emergency for example on an aeroplane & there is an announcement asking if there are any Doctors on board does everyone witha PhD stand up 🤔

No, because we know that another group of medically trained professionals also calls themselves 'Dr'/a doctor.

TheCultureHusks · 13/05/2024 00:29

pensione · 13/05/2024 00:27

It’s hilarious that you rely on me to be the grown up and not respond to you in kind but to keep engaging with you when so far you’ve called me ‘triggered, inferior, bothered, loser, a nob end, a loser’ and more.

What use was this much vaunted PHD when you can’t write a post without insults?

It’s funny, and I am amused. I’m sorry if it upsets you, but it is funny.

Show quote history

That’s fine. Just make sure you take the advice too 😁

Calliopespa · 13/05/2024 00:31

Starlight330 · 13/05/2024 00:27

I think it's perfectly acceptable to use the title if you have a PhD. My one question is in the event of a medical emergency for example on an aeroplane & there is an announcement asking if there are any Doctors on board does everyone witha PhD stand up 🤔

I think they probably grasp that there isn’t an emergency poetry interpretation required.

pensione · 13/05/2024 00:31

TheCultureHusks · 13/05/2024 00:29

That’s fine. Just make sure you take the advice too 😁

Show quote history

What advice?

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 13/05/2024 00:32

A PhD is a long hard slog. Why shouldn't people use the title they earn by getting one?

HangryOliveMentor · 13/05/2024 00:32

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 13/05/2024 00:23

How on earth does anyone using their correct title make them anything close to a 'bellend', exactly?

Show quote history

It isn’t their “correct” title - they have an option to use it but are not obliged to do so. If someone chooses to refer to themselves by an earned title outside of a context where it has any relevance, I can only assume it’s because they’re desperate to let everyone, everywhere, know about their qualifications.

Lawyers are a good example. They are entitled to use the title “esquire” but most decline to do so (perhaps outside of very specific contexts) - largely because it’s seen as outdated, pompous and elitist.

Treelichen · 13/05/2024 00:36

pensione · 12/05/2024 18:57

They’re not really doctors though. No one thinks of PHD holders as doctors.

Show quote history

Loads of people think of them as doctors. The clue is is the title….doctorate

ilovesooty · 13/05/2024 00:36

MidnightMeltdown · 12/05/2024 19:04

I had a teacher at school with the title Dr. All the kids took the piss.

I worked in a school where one of the teachers had and used the title. None of the pupils took the piss.

girljulian · 13/05/2024 00:37

I call myself Dr. Because it's my title.

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 13/05/2024 00:37

Calliopespa · 13/05/2024 00:31

I think they probably grasp that there isn’t an emergency poetry interpretation required.

Show quote history

My PhD is actually scientific, nothing to do with poetry, but still wouldn't offer medical help because I'm not a medical doctor!

Calliopespa · 13/05/2024 00:37

AnotherCrazyOldCatLady · 13/05/2024 00:03

It's a valid point. I'm sure history will not remember me or many other honest hardworking (!!) estate agents.

Nor will history remember 99.99% of people, whether they be surgeons, plumbers or poets. But at the end of the day, we deal with what is for most people their biggest asset outside their pension. So like us or loathe us, you'll likely have to hold your nose and use us. And the medieval poet doctorate is welcome to come and start as a trainee with us when they are sick of living on beans on toast! They can even have my car when I next upgrade!

By the way, ripping the pish out of you guys tonight has been an absolute blast! You all take yourselves so seriously! Lighten the fuck up!

Show quote history

Actually I think everyone has enjoyed themselves.

TheCultureHusks · 13/05/2024 00:38

HangryOliveMentor · 13/05/2024 00:32

It isn’t their “correct” title - they have an option to use it but are not obliged to do so. If someone chooses to refer to themselves by an earned title outside of a context where it has any relevance, I can only assume it’s because they’re desperate to let everyone, everywhere, know about their qualifications.

Lawyers are a good example. They are entitled to use the title “esquire” but most decline to do so (perhaps outside of very specific contexts) - largely because it’s seen as outdated, pompous and elitist.

Show quote history

Yes, it’s their correct title. It’s as correct as Mrs, Rev, whatever. No title is an obligation. Someone who is married doesn’t have to call themselves Mrs.

It’s just. their. title. It’s what they use. As someone said upthread, it just becomes your title. Nothing especially even very interesting about it. Except to a lot of very strangely insecure people who turn up on threads like these and it is truly fascinating

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 13/05/2024 00:39

HangryOliveMentor · 13/05/2024 00:32

It isn’t their “correct” title - they have an option to use it but are not obliged to do so. If someone chooses to refer to themselves by an earned title outside of a context where it has any relevance, I can only assume it’s because they’re desperate to let everyone, everywhere, know about their qualifications.

Lawyers are a good example. They are entitled to use the title “esquire” but most decline to do so (perhaps outside of very specific contexts) - largely because it’s seen as outdated, pompous and elitist.

Show quote history

It IS their correct title, in the sense that they've earned the choice whether or not to use it, regardless if you like it or not

lapochette · 13/05/2024 00:39

pensione
They’re not really doctors though. No one thinks of PHD holders as doctors.

What a strange thing to say. Do you even know what a PhD is @pensione

ShyPoet · 13/05/2024 00:39

I work with a lot of colleagues who have a PhD. Only those who are arrogant actually use the PhD in their title outside of a work environment.

HerRoyalNotness · 13/05/2024 00:48

We all know they’re not medical Drs but if I’d done all that work for a PhD I’d use it too. The head of my kids middle school uses his. Maybe it’s a culture thing but it’s respected over here 🇺🇸

Our swim teacher came back today and had recently finished hers so we joked we should call her Dr Coach now.