Doctors who insist on being called "doctor" in social situations.

[w3stie]

Originally Posted by Ricky D.

It's just part of the general decline of formality in our society.

Medical doctors have made their profession their life's work. Tremendous self discipline for years of study while we musicians were out whooping it up. Having made it, they spend their work life making life-changing decisions for the people they treat. IMO that's worthy of respect. I don't begrudge the title for a medical doctor.

Nurses now study for years and they also do all the dirty work and hard shifts that doctors won't touch. Should they also insist on being called Nurse or Sister in social settings?

[Hiker]

Their ego barely fits through the door when they enter a room.

[Warm Gums]

Originally Posted by Ricky D.

It's just part of the general decline of formality in our society.

Medical doctors have made their profession their life's work. Tremendous self discipline for years of study while we musicians were out whooping it up. Having made it, they spend their work life making life-changing decisions for the people they treat. IMO that's worthy of respect. I don't begrudge the title for a medical doctor.

Most PhD holders do not use the title outside their professional environment, and that's how it should be. My father had a doctorate. At work, everybody called him "Doc". Outside of work, if anyone called him "Doctor", he would ask them not to.

This....

[Dave W]

Doctors with egos? Say it ain't so!

[Jackson Jackson]

I would insist on calling him "Dr. Douche".

[Chud]

Wow, a lot of animosity toward a few groups of people who have dedicated their lives to either helping save those of others, or to the advancement of knowledge. Lol. I understand that it is kind of douchey to expect people to refer to their professional titles outside of the context, but as some of you have noted (even sarcastically) these people have spent at least a decade pursuing advanced education. What does it hurt you to give them just a little acknowledgement of that?

Most in my field are pretty fast and loose about it as well, but I have come in contact with a few who are sticklers. If you like to ruffle feathers like I do, you use their name in a way that they don't like, and definitely don't call them by their title. ;)

One of my undergrad professors who was an adjunct with two MA's (no PhD) insisted on being called Mr _______ even after I started grad school. That ended pretty quickly of course and he deferred for me to be able to call him Lawrence. I said, "Sure thing, Larry..." Lol.

[Jupiter]

Originally Posted by w3stie

Nurses now study for years and they also do all the dirty work and hard shifts that doctors won't touch. Should they also insist on being called Nurse or Sister in social settings?

Why would you call a nurse "sister" anyway?

I know there's a lot of work to it (I was in a PhD program for a while), but I can't call a guy with a PhD in English "Dr." without irony.

I'm going to insist that everybody refer to me as Master Jupiter.

[Warm Gums]

Originally Posted by w3stie

Nurses now study for years and they also do all the dirty work and hard shifts that doctors won't touch. Should they also insist on being called Nurse or Sister in social settings?

In the US the standard nursing degree is a 4 year undergrad degree, it's possible to practice in some areas with a two year degree. While many nurses hold masters degrees, and some hold Doctorates, it is (unlike being a MD ) not required to work in the field.

I know many nurses and while I admire their achievements, and abilities, I do not see completing a nursing degree as the same as completing medical school. Just as a paralegal is not a lawyer and a deacon is not a priest, a nurse is not a MD, even at the Practitioner level. These are supporting positions and and should not be confused with those who have shown the unique combination of intelligence, drive and in the case of a surgeon, fine motor skills, necessary, to complete a arduous course of study. In much the same way that it's not bragging if you can prove it, it's not really egotistical, to demand respect for completing what is still one of mankinds great challenges.

[fretbuzzard]

Originally Posted by Jupiter

I can't call a guy with a PhD in English "Dr." without irony.
:

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=doctor

The term referred to scholars long before it was applied to MDs. Someone with a PhD in English probably could have taught you all about it (and taught you the definition of "irony")...

[Big_Bend]

"Calling Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard"

[Jupiter]

Originally Posted by fretbuzzard

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=doctor

The term referred to scholars long before it was applied to MDs. Someone with a PhD in English probably could have taught you all about it (and taught you the definition of "irony")...

So you're teaching it to me now? I'll keep it in mind next time I meet Chaucer.

[Andy Summers]

haha..They get called, douche bag, by me..Im a sytems engineer..they can call me, Engineer.

[w3stie]

Originally Posted by Warm Gums

...it's not really egotistical, to demand respect for completing what is still one of mankinds great challenges.

Do you have to use an honorific in social settings to show respect?

[frankthomson]

like, *maestro*??

[51Nocast]

I play in a band with a Dr. and always introduce him as Dr. I never even thought this was something a Doctor would be concerned about though.

If I felt they thought they were owed it I probably wouldn't do it just to annoy them. lol

He stated once that it was frustrating society is ok with basketball players making millions but a Dr. who saves lives everyday is considered over paid.

I couldn't argue with him.

[frankthomson]

srsly...people call me BOSS all the time.
i dont ask them to, but it is what i am.

hehe

[telleutelleme]

I was hoping to make it to Doctor of Telocity, but you busted my bubble.

[yark14]

I thought about this the other day. As a trainer, one of my clients is a retired long-time professor of biomechanics/kinesiology (the study of human movement, which is what I do for a living). She has her Ph.D, and her work has been published in journals in our field.

However, I've never once called her doctor, professor, or anything other than her first name. She just never seemed like the person that wants called that.

By the way, training someone like her really keeps me at the top of my game. If I say or do something incorrectly...she'll know I'm wrong! The rest of my clients are clueless when I say anatomical/biomechanical terms.

[rangercaster]

i know a few priests who prefer not be addressed by anything other than their first name ... they are a bit more humble than doctors ...

[Ricky D.]

Originally Posted by w3stie

Nurses now study for years and they also do all the dirty work and hard shifts that doctors won't touch. Should they also insist on being called Nurse or Sister in social settings?

I guess that makes sense to you. Ask any nurse if you want to find out why that's ridiculous.