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.

@HundredMilesAnHour Would 'ComRev' do? It has a good ring to it

you don't have to address them by their titles, they don't have to respond.

You think?

The vast majority of people awarded MBEs have worked tirelessly within their communities as volunteers, or gone above and beyond in their job, supporting others, bringing added value.

And despite what a pp said, it isn't ‘about the empire’, that’s just an outdated (and admittedly inappropriate) title for an acknowledgement. And in fact lots of people I know who have an MBE have done far more to actually challenge the old hierarchical orders by enabling and improving prospects for the most vulnerable than people sitting on the internet moaning about people being congratulated.

I’m all for doing away with hereditary peerages and sexist titles but wonder where we are if we all just whinge bitterly about people who have worked really hard to discover new things (a PhD - the difference between learning stuff and developing or discovering new facts or ideas) or giving of themselves to their community.

And MBEs aren’t just handed out in the say so if your mates. There has to be loads of testimony, including from service users etc, and not all are approved, there’s no guarantee.

I would also vote for getting rid of all titles. Totally nonsense if you ask me.

Or ask the Quakers- they’ve been of this viewpoint for many years!

I don't have a doctorate. But people who do worked hard for it, and some might be better and more useful people than SOME medical doctors (for the record, I have a lot of respect for most doctors, but they aren't necessarily more deserving than some doctorate holders).
And if you're saying a professional title should be used to convey respect, what about lawyers, social workers, nurses, teachers and many more?
Also, many people like their "ordinary titles", for example Mr to show you're a man, Miss to show you're single, or Mrs married-and of course some women prefer to use Ms. Either way, I think it should be their choice and is pretty harmless, whether it's a Sir or just an ordinary Mr.

The beauty of English is that it's defined by usage.

If we - as a society - just stopped using titles, they'd fade away.

I always insist on Ms and am amazed that more women don’t

The title doctor is conferred upon graduation to those gaining a PhD and I worked blooming hard for it so I'm keeping it, thanks. It is not conferred to medics in the UK, who technically have a masters qualification (MBChB or MBBS). In the US medics generally get an MD, but in the UK and MD is a higher qualification, generally considered to be somewhere between MSc and PhD level. To those talking about listing qualifications. Actually a lot of my colleagues do list their qualifications on their email signatures, drives me insane!

All these people working 'so hard' and only receiving titles, honorifics, large salaries, recognition in the media.

I know a lot of people who work extremely hard in difficult jobs and long hours who do not receive any of these things.

I think some industries are over represented in honours recognition.

I've got O level needlework and nobody gave me a title.
Most unfair.

Nominate some of those people then 🤷🏼‍♀️

I did a degree with the Open University and recently got a letter from them, addressed to me with my qualification after my name. It may not have been a PhD, but I was still happy to see it!

In everyday life I use Miss. I'm divorced, but I don't like Ms as a title. I doubt people care all that much about whether I'm married.

As for the other titles in existence, I've nothing against them. I'm happy for them to continue. Though I'm curious about what OP thinks about those who are awarded certain military medals, and would be entitled to the letters after their name, eg VC, BEM, MM etc.

Yes! I like this idea very much.

I agree with the OP... that said, I would never address an older person with their first name unless told otherwise.

I’m totally for doing away with Miss/Mrs and calling all women Ms, same as all men are Mr, regardless of their marital status.

I’m also in favour of doing away with Honours List honours and peerages. Those who have taken the time and effort to earn a Ph.D definitely deserve the respect of people using their title.

However! I’m really opposed to the over familiarity of strangers using people’s first names. I especially hate it when it’s the bank or someone interacting you in their professional capacity. Title and surname first until they’re told otherwise.

We don’t have to be courteous of things we don’t believe in so don’t have to use reverend.

I agree. Why does it matter if someone is Miss or Mrs? Also Lords etc should have been done away with a long time ago, our outdated class system is a disgrace.

what if a woman wants to be called Mrs? I am 50 50 on the overfamiliarity. I can live with professionals calling me by my first name and I will call them by theirs.

I had to work hard for my doctorate so there is no way I am dropping the title!

Geting rid of hereditary peers would require the consent of the King so that might be tricky but I agree with doing away with honorary titles (particularly the political ones) as many of them shouldn't exist anyway e.g. Mandelson, but the House of Lords would need to change it's rules and I doubt that is going to happen any time soon.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt

because if I hear there’s a dr about I’ll bear it in mind if anything happens!!!

The Mumsnet “I’m proud of being married” gang will never let Mrs go. How will anyone know that they’ve attained the ultimate feminine achievement otherwise?

And how often have you randomly needed to call on a doctor?

HighLadyofTheNightCourt

Im probably not a good person to ask that question- I’ve seen two people faint in mass, was once on a plane where someone had a bad asthma attack and a train where someone had a heart attack and a lot of my family members are extremely elderly

Sounds like you were stitched up @Wingedharpy 😝

(sorry, couldn’t help myself!)

Unless they are a surgeon 😆

That is unusual and I imagine traumatic.
But isn’t a reason to only allow medical doctors to use the title they have earned.