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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because if you introduce yourself as Dr, 99 percent of people will assume you are a medical doctor. And when they learn you are throwing around the dr suffix when all you have is a little extra studying of "education" or "social work" it comes across as pathetic and pretentious.

it’s not a ‘little extra studying’!!! You are ignorant of the process to obtain a PhD. The average number of extra years to obtain a PhD is 6 and that’s after your bachelor’s. These people are experts in their chosen fields. They studied and studied and studied. They completed major comprehensive exams in their disciplines and passed. Then they embarked on some major new research project in their area of study and completed a dissertation. They had to present at major conferences and get their work approved in front of other leading academics in their field. They earned the title Doctor in their chosen field. Everyone should know that ‘Dr’ doesn’t just mean medical. If YOU don’t know this, then YOU need more education.

No point in arguing with someone who got their undergraduate degree in “business administration.” They’ll never appreciate or understand.

[Anonymous]

I remember when WaPo made fun of a certain Trump official for insisting on being called Dr when he only had a PhD. Then "Dr" Jill Biden came along and double standards arrived.

Concur with previous observation that IRL everyone assumes a "Dr" is a medical doctor. Only within university confines can you refer to PhDs as Dr without seeming pretentious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because if you introduce yourself as Dr, 99 percent of people will assume you are a medical doctor. And when they learn you are throwing around the dr suffix when all you have is a little extra studying of "education" or "social work" it comes across as pathetic and pretentious.

it’s not a ‘little extra studying’!!! You are ignorant of the process to obtain a PhD. The average number of extra years to obtain a PhD is 6 and that’s after your bachelor’s. These people are experts in their chosen fields. They studied and studied and studied. They completed major comprehensive exams in their disciplines and passed. Then they embarked on some major new research project in their area of study and completed a dissertation. They had to present at major conferences and get their work approved in front of other leading academics in their field. They earned the title Doctor in their chosen field. Everyone should know that ‘Dr’ doesn’t just mean medical. If YOU don’t know this, then YOU need more education.

Practically speaking, you aren’t wrong.

But lawyers similarly spend 3 or 4 years in school post-Uni and sit for an intense exam (that many people don’t pass). And they don’t get a special salutation.

In America, we address medical doctors as Dr. Whatever. And we address college professors with PhDs as Professor. Why? Because it just makes sense.

3 years of law school and the bar exam is an accomplishment, but not like earning a PhD. I've got a JD, I would never compare what that took to the work that it takes to earn a doctorate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outside of professional or academic settings it’s over the top to expect to be called “Dr” no matter the degree you have. If everyone around you is going by their first name, you shouldn’t expect to be addressed with Dr.

In academic and professional settings MDs and PhDs are both doctors.

There’s not a lot of ambivalence here. I have a PhD in title science.

This. Zero reason for any “Dr” to use the title in a social setting.

Well, maybe one. I'm a physician, and I almost never go by "Dr" outside the office. I certainly don't introduce myself as "Dr Larla" unless it is in the clinic or hospital.

But I am a pediatrician, and when I run into a 5 year old at the store, I'm "Dr Larla" to them. It is adorable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because if you introduce yourself as Dr, 99 percent of people will assume you are a medical doctor. And when they learn you are throwing around the dr suffix when all you have is a little extra studying of "education" or "social work" it comes across as pathetic and pretentious.

it’s not a ‘little extra studying’!!! You are ignorant of the process to obtain a PhD. The average number of extra years to obtain a PhD is 6 and that’s after your bachelor’s. These people are experts in their chosen fields. They studied and studied and studied. They completed major comprehensive exams in their disciplines and passed. Then they embarked on some major new research project in their area of study and completed a dissertation. They had to present at major conferences and get their work approved in front of other leading academics in their field. They earned the title Doctor in their chosen field. Everyone should know that ‘Dr’ doesn’t just mean medical. If YOU don’t know this, then YOU need more education.

Practically speaking, you aren’t wrong.

But lawyers similarly spend 3 or 4 years in school post-Uni and sit for an intense exam (that many people don’t pass). And they don’t get a special salutation.

In America, we address medical doctors as Dr. Whatever. And we address college professors with PhDs as Professor. Why? Because it just makes sense.

1) It's not a "salutation." It's an honorific.
2) Lawyers do have an honorific. It's "esquire."

Nobody introduces themselves as Dave Butz, Esq.

^^^
That’s the point.

[Anonymous]

While “Dr.” is an honorific, addressing someone as Dr. Jones is a salutation.

[Anonymous]

I have a JD. Yeah, technically it’s a doctorate, but I don’t need to be in the business of confusing the public. Most people think of a physician when they think of a doctor. Also, there’s just no need, why would I want to have people call me Dr. so-and-so? There’s no reason to do that. I don’t even have people use my last name, I go by my first name anyway— unless I’m in court. I would be especially concerned with the potential to confuse the public with and attorney working in the malpractice space. I would not want one of their clients to think that they had extra expertise that they in fact do not have.

I think things are a bit different for people who have a PhD. The original “doctors” were the scholars— the people with a PhD. 800 years ago the scholars were the doctors — not the folks we would call physicians today —so it absolutely makes sense to call folks with a phd “doctor.” Certainly in the academic environment where you have some people teaching and doing research who do not have a PhD, but have a masters or something. So it is a matter of respect in the academic setting.

Socially? Like addressing an invite or something? I’d put Dr for the MDs and the Phds. But people really kinda need to get over themselves, so I’d actually be good with just getting rid of titles altogether. Socially I don’t even need to be Ms, I can just be Larla Larloson.

[Anonymous]

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.

What’s embarrassing? Is your ignorance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember when WaPo made fun of a certain Trump official for insisting on being called Dr when he only had a PhD. Then "Dr" Jill Biden came along and double standards arrived.

Concur with previous observation that IRL everyone assumes a "Dr" is a medical doctor. Only within university confines can you refer to PhDs as Dr without seeming pretentious.

It’s not because he was a Trump official, it’s because his PhD seemed bogus. Details in the Credentials section here:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastian_Gorka

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Outside of professional or academic settings it’s over the top to expect to be called “Dr” no matter the degree you have. If everyone around you is going by their first name, you shouldn’t expect to be addressed with Dr.

In academic and professional settings MDs and PhDs are both doctors.

There’s not a lot of ambivalence here. I have a PhD in title science.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anybody who introduces themselves as "Dr. Smith" in a social or retail setting is a dweeb. Doesn't matter what kind of doctor. You're my neighbor Larla, I'm not calling you Dr. Smith at the block party. The flight attendant doesn't need to call you Dr. Smith when she checks your ticket.

In a professional setting, if you have a doctorate in your field, you can be addressed as "Dr. Smith." This goes for professors, medical doctors, researchers, etc. However, it's increasingly common for everybody other than medical doctors to go by first names, so Dr. Smith is often addressed as Larla even at work, except in medical workplaces which remain very stratified.

+1

[Anonymous]

If you’re not my actual Dr I shouldn’t have to use the title at all. Introducing yourself as Dr Smith at a social gathering is pretentious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because if you introduce yourself as Dr, 99 percent of people will assume you are a medical doctor. And when they learn you are throwing around the dr suffix when all you have is a little extra studying of "education" or "social work" it comes across as pathetic and pretentious.

it’s not a ‘little extra studying’!!! You are ignorant of the process to obtain a PhD. The average number of extra years to obtain a PhD is 6 and that’s after your bachelor’s. These people are experts in their chosen fields. They studied and studied and studied. They completed major comprehensive exams in their disciplines and passed. Then they embarked on some major new research project in their area of study and completed a dissertation. They had to present at major conferences and get their work approved in front of other leading academics in their field. They earned the title Doctor in their chosen field. Everyone should know that ‘Dr’ doesn’t just mean medical. If YOU don’t know this, then YOU need more education.

Practically speaking, you aren’t wrong.

But lawyers similarly spend 3 or 4 years in school post-Uni and sit for an intense exam (that many people don’t pass). And they don’t get a special salutation.

In America, we address medical doctors as Dr. Whatever. And we address college professors with PhDs as Professor. Why? Because it just makes sense.

1) It's not a "salutation." It's an honorific.
2) Lawyers do have an honorific. It's "esquire."

Nobody introduces themselves as Dave Butz, Esq.

^^^
That’s the point.

Maybe not verbally.

But "Dr." is not a salutation, regardless. It's a title or an honorific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s because most types of PhDs aren’t relevant to anyone outside the profession, but medical doctor is basically relevant to everyone. So people use it in daily life as a signal that they serve the community in that way.

If you’re in a setting where your doctorate is relevant to the general audience, like appearing on a panel or something, it makes sense to use Dr.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

I have a doctorate and married to an MD. I would never use the Dr title. My business cards and signature for work emails indicate I have doctorate. That is all.
DH introduces himself as a Dr only to patients. Not even other healthcare providers.