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!

You’re jealous OP, admit it.

love, DrFeck

If you don’t learn by research then you’re doing it wrong.

@FlickDrink
I'm a PhD and I use the title. If there was a more neutral female title like Mr without the baggage of (Miss, Ms, Mrs) I'd likely use this, but there isn't. Also, I'd hate people to think I had 'wife' (Mrs) on my CV."

You're in luck! Ms is your friend!

If you have a PhD, you're a Doctor of Philosophy. PhDs are bloody hard work and to say it's cringy is very strange, why is it strange? A PhD is an academic qualification.

I've worked for companies where everyone had to have at least an undergraduate degree in a STEM subject. However it was common not to brand your qualifications around inside the company due to some people with "mere" undergraduate degrees being specialists in particular areas due to how they obtained their degree. The qualifications and experience were used as marketing tools externally.

Working class background, grew up in a council house, ended up working in a field where a PhD was part of normal career development.
While working for my PhD, and after, I have never thought of anyone as a better or more superior person based on their doctorate. I simply recognise that it took work to get that doctorate. I also recognise that loads of folk work hard for other qualifications and in general. It's starting to sound like there's a small chip on your shoulder, just a small one mind, so if you catch it quick you'll be fine.

Tbh some people can actually get quite annoyed if you don’t declare your title to them, especially in professional situations. If it comes out down the track because someone else mentions it or they see a cv etc, they can act as if the doctorate holder tried to ambush them - usually when they have vehemently held forth their own expertise on the relevant subject. So to that extent it can actually be a courtesy in some contexts.

Wow. So a PhD is meaningless? There's no such thing as an easy PhD. Both types of doctor are indeed doctors.

It’s ironic but you can’t explain why it’s ironic 😀

Don't you just put your first name and last name on your CV?

They can work out from your qualifications/education section plus research/papers that you actually have a PhD?

Good grief. You might not, mate but those of us with a little general knowledge know they are Doctors of Philosophy.

What on earth makes you think you can even comment on what another random person learned during their PhD studies? You have absolutely no idea yet still feel the need to be nasty for the sake of it. Also, AFAIK understanding irony is something that varies among the population, and isn't related to having a doctorate or not. You aren't coming across well.

You can't have an 'undergraduate degree'.

If you hold a degree, you're a graduate.

So what was the irony then?

I explained several posts back why it was ironic.
Go and read it if you are that bored.

I have a doctorate hence have the title by right. It’s a pity the title has been so misunderstood in popular culture.

Your point about the title Mrs is very interesting. What leads you to announce to everyone you are married? What is the relevance? Does your DH or partner also announce their marital status to all utilities /banks etc?

Both me and my husband have a PhD (science, and despite what others are saying about PhDs being handed out like sweets, it was hard work 😁). I use Dr in official correspondence and in a work setting, but not day-to-day....mainly because I'm not MRS and hate the whole Ms/Miss thing. My husband doesn't really use DR, but I think it's easier for men, because they don't have the whole MRS/MS/MISS debarckle.

Nope, I read your posts, you didn’t explain.

Because there was no irony.

Do you get letters addressed to you both as "Dr and Mrs" instead of "Dr and Dr"?

Huh? Yeah you are a graduate with an undergraduate degree. And masters, etc. are often referred to as graduate degrees. It’s really common wording, including in HE

https://www.ed.ac.uk/history-classics-archaeology/graduate-school/programmes/masters-degree-programmes/history/taught-msc-history-online (here Edinburgh Uni calling a masters a graduate degree)

https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/study-options/how-choose-right-undergraduate-course-you (UCAS describes a bachelors as an undergraduate degree)

My experience in academia is that everyone uses their titles in written communications, but none of us go around calling ourselves or each other Dr so-and-so. There are some cultural differences though. UK students always call us by our first names, but many overseas students (in my experience, especially those from the Middle East) always address me in conversation as Dr or Professor.

Work it out.

"looking things up" is not the same as research.

Are you out of your mind? What do you think Dr means? It means you have studied at doctoral level. Medical doctors are allowed to use this title as a courtsey in recognition of their contribution to the community despite not normally studying at this level.

Haha, love this!