Why is it considered pretentious for non-MDs who have doctorates to use their title?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it’s true.

Unless you have MD, DOM, or DDS after your last name, YOU ARE NOT A DOCTOR.

A doctor is a physician. Period.


My brother-in-law with a PhD in history IS NOT A DOCTOR. And he introduces himself as “Dr____ all the freakin time. It’s embarrassing.

You sound jealous of your BIL. He earned a doctorate and a title!

I have a couples titles. too - “ASE Certified Master Technician”, which took five years apprenticeship and a further 2 years as a journeyman to attain, and “Small Business Owner”, which required years of working for other people before I could open my own shop.


And it’s a good thing for my BIL that his super hot sister married a guy who fixes cars for a living, because Mr. Doctor PhD is too inept to change his own tire. Plus, he always has me around to pick up the check when we’re all out together as a group. He sure can’t with his proofreading job. So it’s nice being the successful son-in-law.

LMAO!

Throwing off total Bro-Dad vibes, but I love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People believe MDs are the only "real" doctors because they are in awe of medical doctors. They are projected as almost God-like in the media and popular culture. They're smart, they went to med school, they have high salaries.

In contrast to the MD, people just draw a blank when it comes to say, number theory, philosophy of mind or the history of science.

MDs are seen as the pinnacle of professional accomplishment. Parents fantasize about their children becoming physicians or maybe lawyers rather than mathematicians, philosophers, historians etc. Even though the PhD is the pinnacle of academic accomplishment. In the common mind, the doctors and lawyers are the "elite" with the "hard schooling", the PhD's just know a lot of arcane stuff that's use of no practical use.

What thread are you in? What site are you posting to?

Your fixation is saying a lot more about you than any point you are trying to make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People believe MDs are the only "real" doctors because they are in awe of medical doctors. They are projected as almost God-like in the media and popular culture. They're smart, they went to med school, they have high salaries.

In contrast to the MD, people just draw a blank when it comes to say, number theory, philosophy of mind or the history of science.

MDs are seen as the pinnacle of professional accomplishment. Parents fantasize about their children becoming physicians or maybe lawyers rather than mathematicians, philosophers, historians etc. Even though the PhD is the pinnacle of academic accomplishment. In the common mind, the doctors and lawyers are the "elite" with the "hard schooling", the PhD's just know a lot of arcane stuff that's use of no practical use.

No one sees an MD as a pinnacle of accomplishment anymore- times have changed. It’s not a very attractive field anymore.

+1. Most doctors are idiots in my experience. Combined with their arrogance, I have little to no respect for them at all.

There you go again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I don't understand why there's anything wrong with the psychiatrist being called Dr.

Psychiatrists ARE MD's!

They are. I get so tired of people mixing up psychiatrist and psychologist.

At any rate, I call my psychiatrist by their first name.

Is your psychiatrist male or female? If female, would you still call them by their first name if they were male?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im an MD, I only allow my patients to call me Dr.--it creates boundaries that are there to protect both of us and to define the relationship. I want to barf when all these school educators go by doctor.

Then despite being very educated you’re ignorant and a rube.

why? because the only time im called dr is by a patient? otherwise i redirect to first name. When im at a doc appt myself ill call my MD doctor and ask they call me by my first name....it just seems logical to me...but hey ill call y'all whatever you please--doesnt really impact me one way or the other.

So you think it's appropriate for you to call someone their first name/without a title (even Ms or Mr), but they should give you respect by using yours? That seems more like you want to create a power dynamic than wanting to create boundaries.
- someone with a PhD who doesn't use "Dr."

no i call them ms/mr -most of the time they come back with please call me "first name" and more and more are they/xer and whatever else--ill call you whatever your heart desires , most of the time phd or education is not on my front sheet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any real doctor (ie an MD) , who is normal and not lame, does NOT introduce themselves as "doctor" in a social setting.
And we certainly don't do it in public since we don't really want to start weird conversations.

Funny--good point! I guess that's why PhDs introducing themselves as "doctor" is pretentious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im an MD, I only allow my patients to call me Dr.--it creates boundaries that are there to protect both of us and to define the relationship. I want to barf when all these school educators go by doctor.

Then despite being very educated you’re ignorant and a rube.

why? because the only time im called dr is by a patient? otherwise i redirect to first name. When im at a doc appt myself ill call my MD doctor and ask they call me by my first name....it just seems logical to me...but hey ill call y'all whatever you please--doesnt really impact me one way or the other.

So you think it's appropriate for you to call someone their first name/without a title (even Ms or Mr), but they should give you respect by using yours? That seems more like you want to create a power dynamic than wanting to create boundaries.
- someone with a PhD who doesn't use "Dr."

no i call them ms/mr -most of the time they come back with please call me "first name" and more and more are they/xer and whatever else--ill call you whatever your heart desires , most of the time phd or education is not on my front sheet

Usually ill ask what they prefer to be called...more and more younger patients like AI names -usually change them(and their pronouns) at every 2-3 appointment, a lot to keep up with LOL.
Apparently DCUM does not realize that being called Dr has nothing to do with respect but everything to do with boundaries in medicine...this thread really makes me wonder what patients think behind my back, but hey I have one of the biggest waiting lists out there so must be doing sthing right.

[Anonymous]

I'm an MD and I happily call all other types of people "doctor", whether they are PhD's, DO's, dentists, podiatrists, etc. I also don't mind when people call me Ms, or Mrs or Miss or whatever. It's only a part of who I am.

[Anonymous]

I "make" my kids call our friend Dr. Firstname because she is a professor. She did earn it, and that's the point I'm making to them. But she thinks it's ridiculous and is fine with Firstname.

PhD's are not easy to earn. You get to use that title. I don't use MA after my name bc that seems lame, but PhD or MD, etc, you get to use in formal settings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People believe MDs are the only "real" doctors because they are in awe of medical doctors. They are projected as almost God-like in the media and popular culture. They're smart, they went to med school, they have high salaries.

In contrast to the MD, people just draw a blank when it comes to say, number theory, philosophy of mind or the history of science.

MDs are seen as the pinnacle of professional accomplishment. Parents fantasize about their children becoming physicians or maybe lawyers rather than mathematicians, philosophers, historians etc. Even though the PhD is the pinnacle of academic accomplishment. In the common mind, the doctors and lawyers are the "elite" with the "hard schooling", the PhD's just know a lot of arcane stuff that's use of no practical use.

No one sees an MD as a pinnacle of accomplishment anymore- times have changed. It’s not a very attractive field anymore.

So what is the pinnacle of achievement now? Silicon Valley tycoon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PHD in math and physics are much harder than MD/JD. However who cares. Everybody is a PHD in my house and the floor still needs to be mopped.

Two JDs in my house. And we pay people to mop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PHD in math and physics are much harder than MD/JD. However who cares. Everybody is a PHD in my house and the floor still needs to be mopped.

Two JDs in my house. And we pay people to mop.

Well that settles it. The JD is superior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I don't understand why there's anything wrong with the psychiatrist being called Dr.

Psychiatrists ARE MD's!

They are. I get so tired of people mixing up psychiatrist and psychologist.

At any rate, I call my psychiatrist by their first name.

Is your psychiatrist male or female? If female, would you still call them by their first name if they were male?

PP here. My psychiatrist is male. When people use my first name, I use their first name. Professionally, I use first names. Except in court, when the judges insist on Ms. Larlon, Mr. Larlon, etc.

[Anonymous]

While the MD isn't a true doctorate, it's a very impressive achievement. While you earn the title "doctor" after completing the degree it's really the several years of residency that makes medical education really stand out and really worthy of the honorarium. The PhD and MD are the two alpha degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PHD in math and physics are much harder than MD/JD. However who cares. Everybody is a PHD in my house and the floor still needs to be mopped.

Two JDs in my house. And we pay people to mop.

Well that settles it. The JD is superior.

And they will let you know it!