Professional Doctorates should not be entitled to the title of "Doctor", amirite?

yeah, b/c when you're on a plane and and they shout "IS ANYBODY A DOCTOR" they really want someone to stand up and say "I'm a doctor of Bronze Age Anthropology!"

by beahanmae 6 days ago

That's a sitcom joke, not something that happens enough in the real world to be a serious consideration.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

"I made up a ridiculous scenario in my head that's never happened. I am now angry and I must go change everything"

by hodkiewiczjaily 6 days ago

That's not a thing that will happen. If you're going to use that scenario then you should argue for specificity of terms and that people should say physician

by Impressive-Fly 6 days ago

Does that happen to you often?... Or just while you're constructing straw men

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Has this literally ever happened in real life? Yeah I guess in a movie trope it isn't ideal. Great for sitcoms though Abed.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

"Sure Ross. If I have a heart attack at a restaurant, I want you there with your fossil brush." If you want to steal from Friends, why not just use the actual quote?

by Anonymous 6 days ago

That person wouldn't speak up though? Lazy argument

by Anonymous 6 days ago

OP forgot about Dre

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Typically they complete a research paper for their degree, contributing to their field of study I dont see why you care much tho, they did an extensive amount of schooling, maybe 8-12 years to become an expert in their field. That is worth respect. That is all it means, I don't think they are confusing anyone with the title

by Anonymous 6 days ago

This guy's a lawyer and jealous nobody calls him a Doctor

by Anonymous 6 days ago

i keep saying i went to the dentist when i really went to the dental hygienist.

by AppropriateSpray5337 6 days ago

Medical Doctor is MD not PhD.

by Original_Industry_78 6 days ago

A medical doctor is an MD or a DO, not a PhD.

by UnlikelyGrand537 6 days ago

oh duh, you right. but you knowing that still proves my point haha

by Illustrious-Rate-946 6 days ago

I don't see how it proves your point at all. OP is not upset about PhDs being called "Dr." PhDs are research doctorates—the sort OP approves of. An MD is actually a professional doctorate, hence why OP singles it out as an exception to their opinion.

by UnlikelyGrand537 6 days ago

my point was that there is a further down term which describes what kind of doctor it is, The fact you can say "no its MD not PhD" means you know that "doctor" doesn't just mean someone who is an MD.

by Illustrious-Rate-946 6 days ago

Professor had the word first. Medical fought for hundreds of years to get it. History prefers to scholar be called a doctor.

by estrellalesch 6 days ago

Now I'm going to refer to myself as Doctor just to spite you! PhD...nope, MD...sorry, JD coming through!

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Your argument from antiquity is based on a misunderstanding of the origin of the word.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I have worked with many many people with a phd. PharmD, a nurse with a phd. Etc. in my 30some years of professional work I have never had one of them refer to themselves as Dr. or asked to be. Only professors in school.

by Alarming-Decision 6 days ago

This is no way to speak about Dr. Pepper.

by Efrenmclaughlin 6 days ago

A PhD in deliciousness deserves our highest respect.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I don't even like Dr. Pepper, but I will defend his title and educational pedigree.

by Efrenmclaughlin 6 days ago

Hotter take: NO ONE IS ABOVE BEING FIRST NAMED

by Anonymous 6 days ago

What kind of degree do you have that qualifies you to have that opinion?

by Wide-Mention1965 6 days ago

I hold a Juris Doctorate and those that do generally do not refer to themselves as Doctor, specifically because the JD arose out of nowhere and replaced the LLB, or Bachelor of Legal Letters, it's a second bachelor's, as emphasized by the fact that you get a LLM or Masters degree in law after the JD, and there is PhD level far above that.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Physicians have not been called doctors for very long much less for centuries. Lawyers were doctors long before medical practitioners. Medical doctors lobbied to be called doctors.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

My buddy is a surgeon and he hates being called doctor lol so of course all our friends call him doctor

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I work in academia (and have a professional doctorate, gasp!). None of my colleagues or myself refer to each other as "Dr." unless it's in front of our students. My doctorate is in music performance, so I will sometimes have my name listed as "Dr. amstrumpet" in programs, but I would again never expect anyone to refer to me as that.

by Janabecker 6 days ago

I disagree so strongly, they earned the title they're absolutely allowed to use it.

by Reicheljaclyn 6 days ago

someone with a doctorate in speech language pathology can work in a hospital, in acute and rehabilitative departments, and make professional judgments as to whether a patient is able to have by-mouth nutrition/medication. that can be a life or death determination. I had a professor in college who would debate that he was as valuable as a doctor, even though he was a phd, and while I do think he was pretentious, I can also recognize the value.

by Opening-Switch-5529 6 days ago

I read this with the intention of disagreeing and failed.

by Kris38 6 days ago

Professional what now? What are they called?

by Ok-Relationship4941 6 days ago

I'll call people whatever they want to be called. I don't care enough to police anyone's academic titles.

by AdKey 6 days ago

The fact that you think some professor has more of a right to the title than an MD…woof.

by boehmhayden 6 days ago

To go a little deeper on the etymology of doctor, it comes from the fourth principal part of the verb doceo, docere, docui, doctus (to teach). Doctus literally means "Having been taught (m)" it comes from the word but has nothing to do with teaching others. Instead it denotes that you have been taught extensively.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

So funny I'm a chemist and most people I work with have phds literally nobody cares if you have one. If anything it's assumed you probably might also have one.

by Born-Toe 6 days ago

Your mom insists on calling me Doctor.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

IS THERE A DOCTOR! YES IM RIGHT HERE!! HELP HE'S BLEEDING PROFUSELY LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED HELP PUTTING TOGETHER A PAPER ON THE MATING HABITS OF WILDEBEASTS

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Funny story: my mom received a PhD in clinical psychology in 1973, she was one of the 1st women ever to receive one from her university. Forward like 4 years and we're having a sit-down with the HS principal, who insisted up being called Dr Principal for his education PhD. somewhere in there he addresses mom as Mrs Blecher, and she retorts, "that's Doctor Blecher!!" Fair is fair, right? And to be really fair, few PhDs really "add to the body of knowledge", they crank out some blather and get awarded their paper, which is why many actually can never get employment in their flooded field of study, or end up Adjuncts.

by Glad_Avocado 6 days ago

The logic that Professional Doctorates are objectively easier therefore they do not deserve to be called doctor is fallacious. I did a finance degree which is objectively 100x easier than a physics degree but I'm still a college grad.

by Existing_Writing2255 6 days ago

Thank you doctor.

by Stock_Banana 6 days ago

Getting a doctorate is a guarantee that they have contributed to their field of study. You have it ass backwards, actually. Becoming a medical doctor means you have just completed a course of study. Medical doctors don't necessarily have to contribute anything to their field. Medical doctors are just regurgitating memorized information more than anything else; meaningful understanding and pushing the boundaries of their field are not part of the gig. To get a phd you HAVE to push the boundaries of your field. That's literally how dissertations work. An MD is appropriately a lower degree than a phd. As it should be.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

A PhD is not a professional doctorate, it's a research doctorate. A professional doctorate is a doctorate that is based not on original scholarship, but on completion of certain requirements germane to a field of practice or application (e.g., MD, DDS, PharmD, JD, DBA, DSW, EdD). These degrees are not typically awarded based on novel scholarship, but rather on completion of certain professional competencies. An MD is a professional doctorate. Note that I am not 100% agreeing with OP, just pointing out that OP is not railing against PhDs, rather defending them as the higher degree.

by UnlikelyGrand537 6 days ago

Lawyers have the decency to not refer to themselves as "doctor" despite earning doctorates. Idk why other professions haven't taken the hint.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

They get Esq., they're fine.

by timmothythompso 6 days ago

Even that is disfavored by most lawyers. You'll rarely if ever see white-shoe lawyers use it, it's more often used by 1st gens and/or people who aren't in step with the norms of the profession.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

My mom has an Ed.D in Education, has written research papers and is a tenured professor, teaching future teachers at a college. Does she get to put Dr. in front of her name or nah?

by Constant_Moment 6 days ago

Only at work.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

You rant did a very good job and proving yourself incorrect. Well done

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Another clueless and brain-dead opinion 🤦‍♂️

by Ok_Wish_9919 6 days ago

I had history professor insist we call her doctor. I agree.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I mean it's her preference, why would you care? Professor is a higher title than doctor anyway.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Because it's obnoxious and some people don't want to be participants in their bs.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

A history professor likely has a PhD, not a professional doctorate.

by UnlikelyGrand537 6 days ago