Do you like titles (eg Mr / Mrs / Miss / Dr / etc)?

Do you like to be called "Title" "Surname"?

  • Yes, I'm Mr / Miss / Mrs / Dr Surname and don't you forget it

    Votes: 11 15.5%
  • Depend on the situation

    Votes: 32 45.1%
  • I might have a last name, but I've forgotten what it is, just call me John / Jane.

    Votes: 28 39.4%

  • Total voters
    71
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Have to echo some of the others here; I absolutely despise being called "Sir". Even "Mr" makes me cringe... I find most titles archaic and overly-formal, and I detest in equal measure the OTT treatment you sometimes get from certain Asian & ME carriers.

My natural instinct is to not use a title when referring to others except in a formal setting or if the situation demanded it, and I would expect the same treatment in return. Maybe I'm too egalitarian, but fawning and OTT formality are the last things I want in my life, especially when I'm travelling.

That is a very interesting thought. One thing that is often picked up - on AFF, FT, MP or most other flying forums - when describing the service of carriers (particularly the Asian ones, since their service standards are often upheld in the highest esteem globally) is when one is being addressed by name all the time, especially in premium classes. In this respect, they are always alluding to their name being stated as Mr or Ms or Dr <surname>, and so on.

Especially if you were in First Class on one of the best Asian carriers, sometimes you could find yourself being called Mr <surname> (or other salutation as appropriate) more times than you could count on both hands and feet. But, people embrace it like a bottle of fine Champagne. For me, I don't care much, as it is just the way to address someone else in that context (or culture) when the relationship is a priori unfamiliar.
 
I think Australia is excessively egalitarian. Titles are excellent and connote respect. I can think of nothing worse than sending children to a union-dominated public school where the teachers are addressed by first name and wear casual clothes everyday.
 
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I am tired of having children , younger than my own children assuming they can address me as " mate" or use my first name.
" familiarity breeds contempt"
My Grandchildren call me " Grandpa". They (Unfortunately) are encouraged by their other grand parents to use their first names .
 
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Depends on the situation.

If it is a brief encounter fine Mr is ok with me.

But if I am having any time just use my first name..
 
I freaked out in Asia when I kept getting called Uncle!!!!

I was in a village doing a look over at the work that I had organised.
 
I am tired of having children , younger than my own children assuming they can address me as " mate" or use my first name.
" familiarity breeds contempt"
My Grandchildren call me " Grandpa". They (Unfortunately) are encouraged by their other grand parents to use their first names .

There is no way I would even think of calling my grandparents by their first name. Or even my parents for that matter.
 
For me it depends on the situation.

I am an old fashioned person and if I do get married my wife will be known as "Mrs JohnK". She would feel the same way. She has no need to hide her marrital status.

To each their own. There is no right or wrong.
 
If your enter Dr as title on a Qantas booking, your boarding pass will look like this :

DOCTOR QUICKSTATUS.

A friend who is a Dr tried to get QF to abbreviate it to just DR but was told it was not possible. Arguing the point that Mr is not Mister on boarding pass did not work

He suspects is so FA can identify a Dr on a passenger manifest

However just a Dr title does not equate to a medical Dr.

Dr friend now makes sure his title is Mr
 
There is no way I would even think of calling my grandparents by their first name. Or even my parents for that matter.

I call my mum 'dude'. Don't know where it started, but I call and she responds. Also saves calling out 'mum' in a shop and having numerous women turn automatically.
 
I call my mum 'dude'. Don't know where it started, but I call and she responds. Also saves calling out 'mum' in a shop and having numerous women turn automatically.

Wouldn't calling out "dude" have a whole lot of blokes turning around?
 
The use of a title implies that “respect” is due to the holder, whether by way of superior intelligence, qualification or achievement, seniority or longevity. In general terms this is a reasonable concept, albeit one which was probably far simpler several decades ago. Traditionally a title also tended to hold one to a particular standard of moral or ethical behaviour or performance.

People nowadays are sceptical, partially because they reject the degree of merit or connotation of superiority behind many titles. Further, titles such as “Dr” are so commonplace that little can be assumed of the holder merely by way of said title. PhD’s argue they are the only real “Drs” despite the contentious merit of many theses, medicos think the same, even though they get the title just by completing an undergrad degree - and the waters are muddied further by the fact that vets, dentists and even chiropractors and naturopaths etc. put “Dr” in front of their names with the sanction of their professional associations. Clearly we need a new word to describe people of special status.

FWIW here is an anecdote: I did consultancy work for a Lady A (clue: her husband owned an airline). Lady A expected everyone to address her as “Lady A”. She clearly expected to be shown respect despite the fact the concept seemed to be lost on her when it came to how she treated others. Initially I called her “Lady A.” but later made a point of calling her “Mrs A.” simply because I considered her pompous and rude. The more I could see my impertinence made her bristle the more satisfaction I got from saying it!

The truth is that titles are too often misappropriated, misused or bestowed without real merit. If the use of titles is supposed to be inextricably linked to the showing of respect, respect conferred by way of title should be evidence based, and, until that point is established, just being polite should suffice.
 
At work I am Dr Scaredeycat, but I never use the term on other occasions. Too often it seems like an open invitation to tradesman and others to jack up their prices.
Must say I can't stand the practice of more junior staff when they introduce themselves to patients. "Hi, I'm John, and I'm one of the doctors". It sounds so unprofessional. My other hobby horse is dress standards - doctors no longer wear ties and even long sleeves have become verboten (infection risk). The world has gone mad!


Interesting comment!

I think junior doctors should introduce themselves by whatever permutation of title and name they prefer, along with an explanation of whether they are an intern or house officer or registrar - for patients who know the system, it can explain what level they are and allow a little leeway in expectations.

As a consultant, I still introduce myself with my first name, and add that I am the consultant surgeon. Or my registrar will introduce me as "Dr Artemis, and she's the consultant". I do have registrars that call me Boss, which makes me want to giggle every time!

In my previous career, as a military officer, Ma'am was routine, or Boss. From my soldiers obviously, and then first name from my superiors (unless I was in trouble, in which case I was often addressed in a loud voice coupled with a few profanities! ;) )

Like previously stated, I'd prefer my first name to be used. It's a unique one, and therefore I'm very easily identifiable by just one name. I tend to ask people to use my first name, after they've addressed me as Dr/Ms/Miss...

The corollary is that I address all my patients by First Name/Last name when calling them, and wait for them to indicate how they'd like to be addressed. I'm still younger than most of them (and predominantly men), but given the nature of my specialty, it generally all reverts to first name basis.

I do prefer Dr - to avoid the marital status issue (the diamonds generally attest to my status). And I haven't changed my name, so Mrs Artemis isn't really correct. And I have fortunately had to assist in a medical emergency once. In which I took one look at the patient, swore, and told the CSM to tell the pilot to return (we hadn't even levelled out) since I wasn't keen on flying across the ditch with a dead body - the patient/passenger looked very unwell! I never did find out what happened to that patient.

And as for dress sense - I don't wear ties (or the college scarf) and I wear whatever I like below the elbows and wash my hands profusely! :)
 
If your enter Dr as title on a Qantas booking, your boarding pass will look like this :

DOCTOR QUICKSTATUS.

A friend who is a Dr tried to get QF to abbreviate it to just DR but was told it was not possible. Arguing the point that Mr is not Mister on boarding pass did not work

He suspects is so FA can identify a Dr on a passenger manifest

However just a Dr title does not equate to a medical Dr.

Dr friend now makes sure his title is Mr

That's interesting as it's not what I have on my BP's.
QF, VA, BA all have Dr (no exceptions) whether online or TA bookings.
CX, AA, US all have no title whatsoever.
 
In my previous career, as a military officer, Ma'am was routine, or Boss.

That brings up an interesting point. In some cultures or jobs, you would expect to address your superior as "Boss", not their name, unless you were introducing them to another party. Then again, how often do you hear the word "boss" thrown around these days? I know that 'supervisor' seems more commonplace, at least in our parlance, or 'section head', 'director', 'chief', 'lead', 'manager'...

I also find that, at least as a male (who luckily doesn't have to worry about the differentiation of marital status), when you are addressed as a customer by some people in various service industries, you are called "boss", e.g. "Is that alright, boss?", "Is there anything else I can do for you, boss?", "Where would you like to go, boss?" I seem to notice this mainly from people of South Asian descent; of course, times may have significantly changed.
 
The use of a title implies that “respect” is due to the holder, whether by way of superior intelligence, qualification or achievement, seniority or longevity. In general terms this is a reasonable concept, albeit one which was probably far simpler several decades ago. Traditionally a title also tended to hold one to a particular standard of moral or ethical behaviour or performance.

People nowadays are sceptical, partially because they reject the degree of merit or connotation of superiority behind many titles. Further, titles such as “Dr” are so commonplace that little can be assumed of the holder merely by way of said title. PhD’s argue they are the only real “Drs” despite the contentious merit of many theses, medicos think the same, even though they get the title just by completing an undergrad degree - and the waters are muddied further by the fact that vets, dentists and even chiropractors and naturopaths etc. put “Dr” in front of their names with the sanction of their professional associations. Clearly we need a new word to describe people of special status.

FWIW here is an anecdote: I did consultancy work for a Lady A (clue: her husband owned an airline). Lady A expected everyone to address her as “Lady A”. She clearly expected to be shown respect despite the fact the concept seemed to be lost on her when it came to how she treated others. Initially I called her “Lady A.” but later made a point of calling her “Mrs A.” simply because I considered her pompous and rude. The more I could see my impertinence made her bristle the more satisfaction I got from saying it!

The truth is that titles are too often misappropriated, misused or bestowed without real merit. If the use of titles is supposed to be inextricably linked to the showing of respect, respect conferred by way of title should be evidence based, and, until that point is established, just being polite should suffice.

There needs to be some regulation of titles with an explicit prohibition on charlatan fraudsters like chiropractors and naturopaths calling themselves Doctors.
 
There needs to be some regulation of titles with an explicit prohibition on charlatan fraudsters like chiropractors and naturopaths calling themselves Doctors.

You must be a medical doctor :)

A bit more seriously, I hope there are no chiros or naturopaths on this board, otherwise I'd be on the lookout for a marked bullet in your mail box :eek:

More seriously, how do those professions get their "Doctor" title? Do they have the training and endorsed as such to be able to be called that? I mean, that makes sense for medical doctors, dentists and research doctorates (because they have the 'qualification' and endorsement that they are allowed to possess that title)...
 
If your enter Dr as title on a Qantas booking, your boarding pass will look like this :

DOCTOR QUICKSTATUS.

A friend who is a Dr tried to get QF to abbreviate it to just DR but was told it was not possible. Arguing the point that Mr is not Mister on boarding pass did not work

He suspects is so FA can identify a Dr on a passenger manifest

However just a Dr title does not equate to a medical Dr.

Dr friend now makes sure his title is Mr

mine always tickets as xx_xx_x drross. Causes some confusion when staff ask for Mr Drross! Hilton had me booked as admiral ross once! Not sure where that one came from
 
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