Is using proper titles in social situations pretentious?

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

I call my kids Sir and Ma'am when I'm admonishing them. A lot of parents here do, but only when the kids are still under the age of 6 or so.

Funny, I call the children Mr and Miss (usually their first name, as they understand it) when I am mock-admonishing them.

So I might say "Excuse me Miss Amy, what do you need at the end of that sentence?" She understands, adds please and can laugh at the same time.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

...I know I am an equal in every regard to any doctor in my field of expertise...

Humble, too.

[infinite monkey]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

Humble, too.

*snicker*

[infinite monkey]

But you know, they call me Dr. Love. I am the doctor of love. I got the cure you're thinking of. Probably why they call me Dr. Love.

[Beest]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

They progress beyond the title of Doctor. A surgeon has more years under his/ her belt. It's like going from being valuable to priceless

A family doctor is a GP (general practitioner) and is always called Doctor professionally. A Consultant is the person you are referred to AFTER a doctor. They are a specialist in their field, have trained longer and have more knowledge than a doctor. Again, they are beyond the title.

It's not about your degree, it's about your profession, and the rank you have achieved in it.

And I think I know who you are now IM.
Sorry that it took me so long, I hadn't read long enough posts to recognise your stylee.

Professor is also different kettle of fish in the UK than the US it's not an academic grade but a senior position, a Chair, like a business VP or member of the board rather just a senior manager, and would also be used as a title in a formal social setting.

[monster]

Originally Posted by monster

Oh and professor -only really high up teachers in British universities are professors. Not all of them. the rest are just Dr. or Mr/s. such-and-such.

Originally Posted by Beest

Professor is also different kettle of fish in the UK than the US it's not an academic grade but a senior position, a Chair, like a business VP or member of the board rather just a senior manager, and would also be used as a title in a formal social setting.

tailposter

[footfootfoot]

some how I'm reminded of the guy who worked on high steel for 20 years, but do they call him "ironworker?" NO.
But you fuck one goat...

[HungLikeJesus]

The ones I try to avoid are the pretentious titles like reverend, father, supreme being, etc.

[ZenGum]

That's Doctor Pretentious-Wanker to you, sir!

I only use the Dr. when dealing with my bank and landlord. I might be introduced as Dr Zengum if I'm presenting a conference paper or something but would be addressed as Zen in pretty much all situations. This would include being addressed by students.

Like the UK, Australia is stingy with the use of professor. Of five levels of Academia, the top is professor, then associate professor, then senior lecturer, lecturer, and associate lecturer (me). Maybe 10% of continuing-position acedemics are professors, maybe less.

[monster]

I've used the Dr once this year already and I'm warming up for the second..... I see pretentious wanker in my future. but it's not my fault -the dickheads are enabling me. If they didn't instantly buckle when i played the card......

[Aliantha]

I like to remind Dazza that he's an Ass. Professor sometimes.

He's trying really hard to get promoted so he can drop the Ass. lol

eta: his students don't call him professor or even mister. They just call him Dazza like everyone else does.

[glatt]

My dad's a full professor (retired.) He was even given an honorary title on top of that by the college where he taught. He was the first to receive this honorary title, which came with a slight salary bump, and there have only been three in the 25 years since then.

His students call him George. I've never in my life heard him refer to himself as Doctor. His title has only been used at conferences and such.

[skysidhe]

re: Pretentious social situations. I avoid them at all costs.

[DanaC]

I hate the fact that I am addressed as Councillor by council workers and so forth. I have trained those I am in regular contact with to call me Dani ;p Unless it's a formal meeting in which case we all use titles, and will refer to each other as Councillor Whatever.

One really bizarre little detail: a lot of the married women councillors adopt the title 'Councillor Mrs XXXX'. Only for the women. There are no 'Councillor Mr Whatevers'

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by DanaC

refer to each other as Councillor Whatever.

Isn't that confusing?