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!

Mine too @KeinLiebeslied54321. I didn’t follow a traditional route, didn’t stay on for A levels due to ill health at the time.

I did a masters as a mature student without an undergraduate degree and moved on from there.

I consider it one of my biggest achievements.

Exactly, keep it within your workplace, no one else cares.

If you think any PhD is easy to get you are too ignorant for your opinion to be worth anything. The people who have earned the title of Dr do not need your approval.

There is no such thing as an easy PhD.

I use mine a bit in work - when I think it would be useful. Not in day to day life.

But a phd is a huge undertaking and there often isn't much in the way of financial reward for it, so if people want to use it, I say crack on.

It's technically the other way round. Medical doctors use it as a kind of honorary title- people who've done a PhD are the proper doctors!

I don’t use mine at work (chemist turned accountant, so not relevant). It has been used for me by my boss when some of the blokes at work in other departments have played ‘I’m more academic than you, look at my degree’ (and it’s always blokes!).

I very much use it with electricity companies etc (because the difference in how I’m treated is noticeable…which is completely unreasonable but true).

I also use it with DH’s school as he’s Dr and I’m damned if we’re going to be Dr & Mrs at functions when we’re actually Dr & Dr!

Goodness there's a real lack of education on this thread.

Do people really not know that a phd in any field is a doctor - real doctor. Just not a medical one?

I get the same - 'Ms' on everything but they always default to Mrs. I'm not bothered enough to say anything about it.

Yes. but if someone asks for a doctor in an emergency, we know which kind we want.

DH, upon getting his PhD, started using Dr when applying for insurance, mortgages, credit cards etc. He was convinced it would mean he got favourable treatment or at least wasn’t taken for a mug. I am not convinced and also cringe slightly when the mail arrives as I find it a little pretentious. I think I probably judge him more harshly than others though, as we know many people who have PhDs or are medical Drs and I wouldn’t bat an eyelid if they used Dr in any setting.

He has said that, on occasion, he has made someone aware of his title in a professional setting when he feels they are acting superior for no good reason, and that it very much does the trick. (In industry, but one unrelated to his PhD.)

As a woman, if I was a Dr, I’m not sure if, for me, that not having to choose between Miss or Mrs when there isn’t a Ms would justify using Dr outside a relevant profession. Having said that I spent my teens trying to hide any signs of intelligence to fit in.

I'm probably biased but my narcissistic abusive exDP had a PhD and he insisted on having the Dr title even on gas bills because he wanted everyone to know how clever he was (he told me this). I thought it was cringey too. He used his title at work too even though nobody else used any titles, not even Mr and Mrs. IMHO in his case, it was all part of fuelling his view that he was superior to everyone else.

I can fully understand people using the dr title in academia but in most other circumstances it is irrelevant.

Wow, the herd is out in force tonight.
Such ignorance
Such jealousy
Such pettiness

Accuracy?

Even for female consultants?

Anyone who has earned the title of doctor deserves to use it as they see fit imo. And anyone who says otherwise I would think might be a bit jealous.

Unless you want an experienced strategist on a senior leadership team of a PLC in times of a crisis like COVID to keep things afloat. 🤷🏻‍♀️

What is there to be jealous of? All I hear on MN is how badly paid and thankless academia is.

Out of interest how do you ascertain whether they have a doctorate or are a medical doctor - I have this scenario in mind:

You : Is that Mrs, Ms or Miss?
Upstart doctorate holder : It’s Doctor actually.
You : Are you a proper medical doctor or do you only have a phd?
UDH : Yes I have a PhD in ancient Norse folklore
You : Hmmmm so not proper doctor then - I’ll put down Mrs UDH then as I only recognise the title with proper medical doctors!

Because that all sounds really long winded as opposed to just calling them by their rightful title?

Doctor is an academic term though - a PhD is a doctorate, hence earning the title of doctor. This is the original use of the title, to designate those who have obtain a doctorate.
The use of ‘Dr’ by medical practitioners came much later and is considered to be a courtesy title.
Also, PhDs by definition are not easy to obtain, you need to design and undertake rigorous research which makes a unique contribution to knowledge!

My sister and her husband both have phds and never use the title Dr. outside of work ever . Not saying phds are easy to earn (obviously they aren’t ) but YANBU. Also This thread reminds me of Dr. Gillian mc Keith and how she had to stop using Dr as a title.

You can tell based on your interaction surely?

Totally normal IMO for someone who has completed a PHD to use Dr. It is a higher level of academic achievement than most medical doctors complete.

I find it odd that some posters feel those with a PHD shouldn't use the title outside of work, but medical doctors should. Surely either it's pretentious for everyone, or not pretentious at all?

A PHD is a huge achievement. I think people use the title because they are proud of that, and many people find it impressive (me included)!

Great.
Let's just hope you don't actually need to speak to me or need my help, or indeed the help of anyone who's earned the right to call themselves Dr.
Yours Dr Keinliebeslied.

Same

'Only' have a PhD.
Sigh.