Is using proper titles in social situations pretentious?

[casimendocina]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

I wonder if sex counts as a social situation?

If you're roleplaying, then addressing the other person as Dr would be entirely appropriate.

[sexobon]

STDs are referred to as social diseases, if that helps to clarify.

[Cloud]

it depends. "in social situations" covers a lot of ground. In formal written correspondence, for formal events, a courtesy title, whether it's Mr., Ms., or Dr. is expected. In less than formal encounters, it still depends. Depends on setting, on age, on the amount of respect the addressor wishes to convey.

For an addressee, in the United States, it's almost always pretentious to insist on being addressed with a courtesy title.

[monster]

If everyone is being addressed with a title (ms/mr/professor/whatever) then those who have earned a dr title should be addressed as such (be it medical or academic). But if the general protocol is first names, then hell no. I imagine she's talking about professional social gatherings -she probably doesn't do any other type.

Child's piano concert? Well if you're schmoozing, then yes, but if you're just being friends, then no.

But you should never address a Dr as a Mr or Mrs if titles are the theme of the day -especially not the Mrs thing. Mrs means belonging to Mr. Most women who have worked hard to earned the title Dr. will have an objection to that -especially if they didn't change their last name.

Of course, I could be unrepresentative of the sample, but I get major pissed if you address me formally and know I have a doctorate and still call me Mrs. I can forgive you if you don't know -as many don't because I don't work- and I won't even correct you (unless you really piss me off), but if you know, I take it as an insult and I will never tend to you if you have a heart attack in public and I'm the only Dr in the house

[HungLikeJesus]

I think there's often confusion between the doctor and the monster, because the monster never really had a name.

[infinite monkey]

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

I think there's often confusion between the doctor and the monster, because the monster never really had a name.

Frahnk-n-steen!

[classicman]

There are many doctors in my family from different generations. Outside of a formal situation none have asked to be addressed with their formal title. In fact, they all prefer to be addressed like everyone else.

My opinion, this woman is an elitist hobo whore.
As you were.

[casimendocina]

Originally Posted by classicman

There are many doctors in my family from different generations.

Were any of them Chinese?

Seriously, my least favourite aunt insists that I prefix her and her husband's with the title Aunt and Uncle (because it's a priviledge ...is there an emoticon for wank, wank, wank) so basically I just avoid using her name at all costs and thank god at regular intervals that she lives in another state (but that's sort of irrelevant now that I'm o/s).

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by monster

If everyone is being addressed with a title (ms/mr/professor/whatever) then those who have earned a dr title should be addressed as such (be it medical or academic). But if the general protocol is first names, then hell no. I imagine she's talking about professional social gatherings -she probably doesn't do any other type.

Child's piano concert? Well if you're schmoozing, then yes, but if you're just being friends, then no.

But you should never address a Dr as a Mr or Mrs if titles are the theme of the day -especially not the Mrs thing. Mrs means belonging to Mr. Most women who have worked hard to earned the title Dr. will have an objection to that -especially if they didn't change their last name.

Of course, I could be unrepresentative of the sample, but I get major pissed if you address me formally and know I have a doctorate and still call me Mrs. I can forgive you if you don't know -as many don't because I don't work- and I won't even correct you (unless you really piss me off), but if you know, I take it as an insult and I will never tend to you if you have a heart attack in public and I'm the only Dr in the house

It's Doctor Monster, I didn't spend six years in Monster Medical School to be called "missus," thank you very much.

Originally Posted by casimendocina

is there an emoticon for wank, wank, wank

Why yes, there is.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by casimendocina

Were any of them Chinese?

Nope - and that was kinda my point - this is more due to her culture than anything else.

[TheMercenary]

It really depends on your relationship with that person and the context of the social interaction. At work I call him Doc, at social situations I call him Adam.

At work they call me Lt. Col. otherwise they call me Bill.... whatever makes you comfortable. Some people can'd break the chain. For others it is no problem.

[jimhelm]

what do I win?

[monster]

I really just prefer monster though, and don't attend functions where titles would be de rigeur, so it's all hypothetical. But your summary reminds me of my first ceramics instructor who would regularly proclaim "I didn't spend six years at art school to open glaze jars!" That was 10 years ago and we still remember her when some idiot asks the instructor to open the glaze jar for them.

[monster]

doctor, doctor, goose?

[infinite monkey]

Docapoo!