It's a disinction dreamed up...
... I think, by one of the Mitfords.

Essentially, it boils down to rules of propriety that are very highly codified. It's not to be taken all that seriously, I suspect.

A couple of years ago there was a flurry of indignant letters to The Times complaining that Paxman had called Mo Mowlam Dr Mowlam. Apparently that was a tremendous breach of etiquette, because she was merely a PhD.

(Doctors have honorary doctorates, so, by that rule, can be called "Dr". The same applies to higher doctorates. Arcane, huh?)
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 13:15, 2 replies)

It does seem a bit silly
As etiquette goes, anyway.

I suppose all it really does is prevent academics pulling out the obvious joke card when somebody collapses in a pub/cinema/theatre/etc., and the staff shout "Is there a doctor in the house?"

"Why yes, but I don't see how my three years of research into Nanoscale Techniques in Applied Underwater Basket Weaving is going to be of much help to this stroke victim."

Other than that, I might as well give up now if I won't get to call myself "Dr Crow" in two years' time...
(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 13:56, closed)

I think...
... it has more to do with looking down on middle-class arrivistes for not being quite "one of us". A title for which you have to work indicates that you're something of an upstart.

Gawd bless the Mitfords. Utterly barking mad, the lot of them.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 14:12, closed)

Well, quite
Given that even Esther Rantzen has been given an honorary degree, I think I'd have more faith in a Dr who had actually worked for the title rather than an 'honorary*' one.


*_{This also holds for most of the medics I've met, in fact, as they seem to be rugger buggers who are just off their tits on gin most of the time. Apart from the medics I used to live with. They were nice, and one of them did patch up the hole in my leg. They'll make good medical doctors.}
(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 16:33, closed)

It's worth worrying about that on an aircraft
that's about it, since they have seat manifests and may come and have "a quiet word in your ear" if someone is taken ill, and explaining can be tricky.

then again, all else being equal, you stand a tiny chance of an upgrade, so fuck it. Take the risk.

titles are on passports now anyway (well, it's on mine for some reason) so you often don't have the choice.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 15:45, closed)

I'll hope for the upgrade.
And if they ask me to help with a patient, I'll inform them that regrettably I can only help if it's a problem with the aircraft.
(Ltro, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 18:11, closed)

It's not taken seriously at all
at least, not by any academic I know, regardless of social class or standing.

Were there really letters to The Times? what a bunch of wankers. I generally use my title for anything official, fuck it, I earned it.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 15:42, closed)