On Being Called Doctor

Discussion in 'Education, Teaching and related degrees' started by me again, Mar 5, 2012.

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  1. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Check this out:

     
  2. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    Funny conversation I witnessed at my friend's wedding reception. My friend (the bride) recently graduated as a vet. The groom's mother, had a PhD in chemistry, but has long since retired, and doesn't leave the house much anymore.

    Mother-in-law: "Why do some people refer to you as 'doctor'?

    Bride: "Because I am. I am a veterinarian."

    Mother-in-law: "Ha! Next thing you know they'll start calling dentists 'doctors'!"


    Let's just say my friend doesn't spend much time with her new mother-in-law!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 7, 2012
  3. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Personally I think this whole "doctor" thing is highly overrated. An ego trip.
     
  4. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Earn one, then see if your perspective changes.

    The title "doctor" is not an "ego trip." It is simply an honorific earned by some people. Get over it.
     
  5. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    You're right, I've never earned any degree that would allow me to be referred to as Doctor. I probably never will. At the same time I recognize that there have been mutiple threads on this and other boards with people trying to find some way that they can legitimately refer to themselves or ask others to refer to them as Doctor. You might have noticed that this phenomenon, people seeking that honorific just for the sake of the title, is what is at the core of this very thread. In such cases I think it is very much an ego trip. Also, we frequently get people trying to find the cheapest, easiest PhD programs in the world. They come up with all sorts of exotic schools and programs and want to know "is it legit?" Clearly they are not interested in engaging in a rigorous course of study and research that adds to the knowledge base of their chosen field. They just want the letters after their name = ego trip. As for your hostile "Get over it" comment I'd just say that I expressed my opinion in a civil manner without any rancor toward anyone in particular. It's unfortunate that you couldn't do the same.
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Yes, I agree, Kizmet. Some people seek the title for the ego purposes. In fact, I think it is one of two major drivers behind diploma mills. (The other is to fool employers.)

    But I am disappointed in those who do not hold the title, yet seek to reduce those of us who do. I don't claim any special treatment. But I would appreciate the courtesy of being addressed as "doctor" when appropriate. And I'm not impressed when people who don't have that title strive to pull others down for no other reason than that they hold that title. It smacks of jealousy, and I certainly don't want to bring that out in anyone, for what I and others have done should most certainly not be a subject of jealousy.

    I've carried another title around since 1987 related to my military service. I remain that guy, too. In most situations in my life, being addressed as "doctor" or "captain" is irrelevant. In a few others, it is. When it is, please accord me that bit of acknowledgement. In the vast majority of cases, however, it just doesn't matter or (in a few others) it is actually inappropriate.

    In the memory of Walter Rummersfeld:

    Rich Douglas, Ph.D., MBA, BS, BA, AAS, AA, DSoSci (cand), PMP, GS-15, Capt (ret), LLBW (Little League Bench Warmer)

    So I wish I could play little league now, I'd be way better.--Mitch Hedberg
     
  7. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Rich, you can call yourself "Doctor" as often as you wish without any concern of criticism from me. You and a number of our other members have well-earned that term and are entitled to use it. However, people who cheapen the title by buying some watered down version of the degree (that is the subject of this thread) are simply insecure and need that ego trip to help them feel good about themselves. At least that is my opinion. As in everything else in our world, there are exceptions, but I believe that to be the general rule.
     
  8. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    From now on, everyone should refer to me as Associate Craniac. Don't get too used to it, because in just a few months, I will be Double Bachelor Craniac. In fact, I'm naming my first son after all of the initialisms my signature happens to posess when the birth occurs.
     
  9. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    OK, so now I can't sleep because I'm thinking of anagrams . . .
     
  10. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Oh yea? Well, I fix surfboards and teach people how to surf, so I am the SurfDoctor. You may call me as such or alternately Dr. Surf will do. :cool:
     
  11. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I call people what they want to be called...if someone has a legitimately-accredited doctorate, I default to address them as "Doctor" unless they tell me otherwise. I had one professor at MSPP who said she didn't care if we addressed her by her first name or "Doctor (last name)", so I chose to address her as Doctor, out of respect.

    I had another professor who insisted on being addressed by his first name, so I did that, although I wasn't really comfortable with it. In my opinion, if you earned a legitimate doctorate, then you've earned the right to be addressed as "Doctor" in formal and semi-formal situations.

    I said that last part because if any doctoral members here who come to Boston actually take me up on my standing offer to buy them dinner/beer/coffee, I'm not addressing them as "Doctor ____" during our conversation. :tongue:
     
  12. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    There is a preacher on TV named Jack Van Impe. All of the sudden, he is now "Dr." Jack Van Impe and his wife (Rexela) is now suddenly addressed as "Dr." too. They purchased their doctorates from Pacific International University, which has no accreditation. Doctorates are offered for a lump sum payment ranging from $2,500-3,000 for a Doctor of Theological Studies degree. This demonstrates the inherent urge that people have to want to elevate their prestige and credibility with the title "Dr." It also demonstrates an unfortunate lack of knowledge on what a bonafide doctorate really is.
     
  13. okydd

    okydd New Member

    People with earned doctorate have earned the respect to be call doctors. Why is having an ego a bad thing? A person with an earned doctorate should have an ego. Earning a doctorate is the ultimate self- sacrifice. It was years in the making. As student of education, we should honored those who have made it to the pinnacle. They have reached the mountain's top that's where I can to be. I want to see what they are seeing. Those people at the mountain top have my respect, because the majority of us have given up reaching the top.
     
  14. ryoder

    ryoder New Member

    I see a lot of threads on the NCU discussion forum where people talk about finally being able to call themselves doctor. It does seem a little ego trippy to me. I think the title is most appropriate in an educational context. I would never expect my coworkers, manager, friends, neighbors etc to call me doctor. My buddy is a DPT and his patients call him doctor but nobody else does.
     
  15. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I really thought when I finished my PhD I would want everybody to call me Dr. in the academic environment. Turns out that I prefer students call me Randell and all my communications with them is signed as Randell. If they call me Dr., I don't "correct" them as I see it as a sign of respect no different than calling me Mr.
     
  16. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    The key word is " legitimate ". As pointed out above, to many people get a degree mill PhD and want to be called doctor.
     
  17. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Definitely!
     
  18. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Sorry, I didn't mean you did that, but it sounded as if I did. My mistake.

    (the balance of this post has been edited at the author's request) K
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 12, 2012
  19. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    The only time it has bugged me is when I've been in a professional setting, the person knows I have that title, and insists on calling me "Mr." Now, if someone who doesn't know me calls me "Mr.," I'm perfectly fine with it (and it is correct). But the other? No thanks. In fact, just call me "Rich" already.

    About ego....Kegan, Cook-Grueter, Loevinger and Hy, and others have researched the continuing development of adults. For 90% of us, we're building up who we are (conventional stages). The other 10% (post-conventional) are deconstructing their ego (again, their "selves"), becoming less of who they are and more of who we all are. It has fascinating uses and meanings in human resource development, my profession. Loving it....
     
  20. alocsin

    alocsin New Member

    The titles are important in some cultures than others. In the Philippines, for example, it's common to identify yourself as an engineer or lawyer with a designation after the name. In the U.S., you generally only see that ID with doctors and a few lawyers.
     

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