To think we should get rid of all titles - Sir, Lord, Ms, Master, Prince etc.

[Ohfuckrucksack]

No more Lords, no more Sirs, no fretting about Ms, Mrs or Miss and definitely get rid of Master, Prince etc.

I listen to the radio with them having to insert the 'Sir' and 'Lord' before people's names as though these titles make them more important people.

Have we not gone beyond honorifics? Most of these people have done very little to deserve their extra titles and some are actively harmful individuals.

I am still pondering on the Dr title for medics - because that is a professional title rather than honorary but wouldn't use it for those with PHDs.

https://members.parliament.uk/members/lords

There are quite a lot of them

My friend is a Most reverend. He’s earned that title through his own merit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_honorary_British_knights_and_dames

Even more

PS When something is actually wrong - in a sexist situation, for example - I have no qualms about bringing my PhD into the conversation.

I like ‘Citizen’

I would be happy with Citizen Moddle.

It’s non gendered, gives no marital status.

@Toddlerteaplease But what if I don't follow his religion - am I obliged to use his title.

What if I really dislike what his religion suggests to it's believers and that actually that he is causing harm to individuals.

Must I still refer to him as most reverend? Or can I just call him Bob?

The pomposity of the medical profession of that day is precisely why they held on to the 'Dr' title even though they no longer earned doctrorate degrees. Imagine the come down from Dr to a mere Mr! When surgeons became more highly trained and specialist, they decided to stick to 'Mr/Miss' to distinguish themselves rather than join the bandwagon. It's quite funny really.

I don’t care massively about this but I do think all women should use Ms. Women shouldn’t be defined by their marital status.

I've only had it a couple of times. My SILs boyfriend said it to me at a family party not long after I'd graduated. But he's a bit of a dick so was happy to correct him!

@Ohfuckrucksackbecause it’s his title and it’s a courtesy to call people by their title. I would still refer to people of other religions by their correct title

One of the reasons I was happy to be able to use Dr!

Good to see people like multiple members of the Sackler family on the honours list!!

@Toddlerteaplease It's a title conferred on him by a particular religious group.

Why does it matter to those outside that group?

To them, he's just another bloke.

Honestly I think people with PhDs that refer to themselves as Dr outside of an academic setting sound a bit daft. In the modern world a Dr is a medical Dr to most people. It just sounds a bit pompous. We don’t all need to demonstrate our academic qualifications to the world!

@Bordershoppingtrolley some like Mrs. I do. Others dislike Ms and prefer Miss. or no title. It’s not for you to tell others what they should want. Isn’t that what men do?

Job titles I suppose can work in some situations - Builder Bob, Postman Pat etc

lots of surnames derive from job titles: cooper, wainwright, mason, archer, fisher, farmer …. And loads
more

It annoys me when men are interviewed on the BBC as being Lord/sir/Dr/professor but then when they have a woman on (who is a Dr/professor etc) they just introduce her as Sally (or whatever!).

My lovely, lovely MIL was awarded an MBE for her services to Nursing after a lifetime in that career - she was absolutely blown away by receiving it.

I cannot express how disgusting your suggestion that as "it would be the same people" she would apparently have happily paid £3k to get what was given in recognition only of her work ethic not how much money she had or was prepared to part with. Many, many, many "ordinary" people get MBEs and OBEs etc every year for their wonderful efforts in their local and wider communities. According to you they, and their well earned recognition are worth nothing.

Surgical consultants dropping 'Dr' isn't due to seniority, it's because historically in the UK a Doctor was a physician not a surgeon. A surgeon was a barber surgeon not a Doctor. Weird but true.

Actually , I think that’s the wrong way round. I am happy to recognise the level of commitment that medical Drs go through with the Dr honorific, but why would I not recognise the level of education and study that earns someone a Ph.D?

I don’t have one, but I do out a high value on education, so very happy to acknowledge that, in any setting.

Well, we're obviously not daft are we? Given we have a doctorate!

Why is it acceptable for a woman to use Mrs to indicate that she's married but not acceptable for someone to use Dr once they've achieved their doctorate?

And why is it acceptable for a medical doctor to use it as their title but not those with PhDs? Why don't they come across as pompous to you? Aren't they also showing their academic qualifications to the world?

@KnickerlessParsons I can see how that could end up a bit overdone- Piper Piper, the Bagpiper or Cooper Cooper of Barrels r us.

Some parents would do it for a laugh - you know they would.

Because the word doctor describes their actual job so in a modern context it means something to people. You say dr …. You think medical dr!

But if someone has a PhD in engineering say, calling them Dr Smith doesn’t help identify them as an engineer.

I can see a value in an academic or professional setting but not outwith that.

Agree with Mrs too - serves no purpose!

People don’t need their skill set announced in their name.

@HighLadyofTheNightCourt I suppose it's because it's not common for us to put all of our academic qualifications on display - I think it's less common these days on emails/letters.

Once upon a time someone with a BA would proudly display it - but not now.

I mean we don’t have people walking round calling themselves Bsc (hons) RSA typewriting, Cert Woodwork level 3 Smith do we? It’s just unnecessary!