Is using proper titles in social situations pretentious? - Page 3

Sundae · 03-29-2011, 11:26 AM

So where does it leave us when the person in question is a surgeon or a consultant?
And how do you address your dentist (when you don't have anything in your mouth)?

And how about Strawberry Festival Queens, even if Bri is now collecting titles like they're beanie babies...?

monster · 03-29-2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

So where does it leave us when the person in question is a surgeon or a consultant?

They don't revert to Mr/Ms here, it's doctor all the way, baby.....

Quote:

And how do you address your dentist (when you don't have anything in your mouth)?

bitch

Quote:

And how about Strawberry Festival Queens, even if Bri is now collecting titles like they're beanie babies...?

yo bitch.

Trilby · 03-29-2011, 11:29 AM

infinite monkey · 03-29-2011, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

So where does it leave us when the person in question is a surgeon or a consultant?
And how do you address your dentist (when you don't have anything in your mouth)?

I call my dentist Dr. Well, I will when I go to my new alive dentist.

Quote:

And how about Strawberry Festival Queens, even if Bri is now collecting titles like they're beanie babies...?

Beanie babies...lol!

btw, we have about 3 months for one of us to win the lottery so you can make it to the festival!

http://www.gostrawberries.com/cwt/ex...val/index.aspx

Spexxvet · 03-29-2011, 12:03 PM

In the office, I always refer to the Doctors that I work with as Dr. Outside, the older man is Doc, the young woman is Chrissy. Previous doctors that I worked with were Dr. in front of patients, their first name in private. The doctors who treat me are always Dr., even out of the office. Friends are never Dr. I refer to The Strawberry Queen as Sugar Tits.

monster · 03-29-2011, 12:18 PM

As a Brit, I find it weird that Opticians and dentists expect to be called Dr. ZI don't know if the whiole scene has changes since Ileft, though. In the main, I find Brits far less formal. Far fewer children refer to their friends parents as Mr/Mrs Whatever.

I still find it really weird when kids who know my name will say "yes ma'am" when I ask them to do something and they're not being funny.

Sundae · 03-29-2011, 12:44 PM

I can't say about children as they know me in and out of school as "Miss-us Awwww-neeee".
I didn't realise those higher up the medical chain in the US stayed Doctors. That makes a difference in the dropping the Doctor in a social setting thing.... I think.

For those unclear about what we've just discussed - consultants and surgeons in the UK are addressed Mr, Mrs Ms as per their preference. They are no longer called Doctor. It's a badge of honour.

As an adult I can't imagine ever using the word Sir. Unless it was to a Judge. No, that's Your Honour. And I certainly can't imagine using Madam or Ma'am. I'm very conventional and polite, I just can't picture appropriate circumstances.

infinite monkey · 03-29-2011, 12:53 PM

It's a badge of honor to be called Mr or Mrs or Ms, or being called Doctor is a badge of honor? Because a surgeon is a specialized doctor, isn't he?

And what is a consultant? Like a family doctor? Which actually makes sense and sort of answers my previous questions...so someone with an advanced medical degree is not called doctor?

I remember calling a basketball coach "sir" when I was in HS and he (who had really just recently graduated college and became a teacher) laughed and asked me not to call him 'sir', that he wasn't my dad. Those guys prefer Coach but I thought I was being respectful. Of course, I've never called my dad 'sir' either. However, in retail stores and the like it's normal to call people 'ma'am' or 'sir' or 'miss'. In fact I knew I was old when no one called me Miss anymore, just Ma'am.

monster · 03-29-2011, 01:03 PM

I used sir in the UK once I started working in retail stores.

But the whole title thing is un-British. Like the boss of the schools being called "Superintendent Brown" rather than just Mr Brown or Dr Brown. And even on boards and commitees, the report is always about Trustee Jackson, and Councillor White. and calling your team coach "Coach Jim or Coach Bumfluff" rather than just Jim or Mr. Bumfluff. So alien. I still struggle after 10 years.

monster · 03-29-2011, 01:05 PM

re consultant, they are high-up super-duper doctors, so awesome that to associate them with mere regular doctors is an insult to their superiority. so they go back to Mr./Ms. to show just how awesome they are.

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.

Sundae · 03-29-2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

It's a badge of honor to be called Mr or Mrs or Ms, or being called Doctor is a badge of honor? Because a surgeon is a specialized doctor, isn't he?

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

And what is a consultant? Like a family doctor? Which actually makes sense and sort of answers my previous questions...so someone with an advanced medical degree is not called doctor?

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.

infinite monkey · 03-29-2011, 01:16 PM

Oh, sorry. I figured most knew. There are only a couple I'd rather not figure it out because of trolling history but last night's posts tell me it's too late for that. I'm sure feigned innocence would result from a call-out, and it's not worth it.

Thanks, I do get the difference now. A consultant is a specialist. We would say something like "My doctor sent me to a specialist for a consult" so it's kind of the same. But we would still call the specialist a Doctor.

Spexxvet · 03-29-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

Oh, sorry. I figured most knew.

RKZenrage? Marichiko? Yesman065? Who are you, really?

Clodfobble · 03-29-2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

As an adult I can't imagine ever using the word Sir.... And I certainly can't imagine using Madam or Ma'am.

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.

infinite monkey · 03-29-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

RKZenrage? Marichiko? Yesman065? Who are you, really?

I smack thee on general principle.

View Poll Results: Is using proper titles in social situations pretentious?
1. Yeah, it's pretentious.	10	45.45%
2. No. They earned it.	1	4.55%
3. It depends.	11	50.00%
Voters: 22. You may not vote on this poll

03-29-2011, 11:29 AM	#33
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	__________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

03-29-2011, 12:03 PM	#35
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	In the office, I always refer to the Doctors that I work with as Dr. Outside, the older man is Doc, the young woman is Chrissy. Previous doctors that I worked with were Dr. in front of patients, their first name in private. The doctors who treat me are always Dr., even out of the office. Friends are never Dr. I refer to The Strawberry Queen as Sugar Tits. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

03-29-2011, 12:18 PM	#36
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	As a Brit, I find it weird that Opticians and dentists expect to be called Dr. ZI don't know if the whiole scene has changes since Ileft, though. In the main, I find Brits far less formal. Far fewer children refer to their friends parents as Mr/Mrs Whatever. I still find it really weird when kids who know my name will say "yes ma'am" when I ask them to do something and they're not being funny. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

03-29-2011, 01:03 PM	#39
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I used sir in the UK once I started working in retail stores. But the whole title thing is un-British. Like the boss of the schools being called "Superintendent Brown" rather than just Mr Brown or Dr Brown. And even on boards and commitees, the report is always about Trustee Jackson, and Councillor White. and calling your team coach "Coach Jim or Coach Bumfluff" rather than just Jim or Mr. Bumfluff. So alien. I still struggle after 10 years. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

03-29-2011, 11:26 AM	#31
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	So where does it leave us when the person in question is a surgeon or a consultant? And how do you address your dentist (when you don't have anything in your mouth)? And how about Strawberry Festival Queens, even if Bri is now collecting titles like they're beanie babies...?

03-29-2011, 12:44 PM	#37
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I can't say about children as they know me in and out of school as "Miss-us Awwww-neeee". I didn't realise those higher up the medical chain in the US stayed Doctors. That makes a difference in the dropping the Doctor in a social setting thing.... I think. For those unclear about what we've just discussed - consultants and surgeons in the UK are addressed Mr, Mrs Ms as per their preference. They are no longer called Doctor. It's a badge of honour. As an adult I can't imagine ever using the word Sir. Unless it was to a Judge. No, that's Your Honour. And I certainly can't imagine using Madam or Ma'am. I'm very conventional and polite, I just can't picture appropriate circumstances.

03-29-2011, 12:53 PM	#38
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	It's a badge of honor to be called Mr or Mrs or Ms, or being called Doctor is a badge of honor? Because a surgeon is a specialized doctor, isn't he? And what is a consultant? Like a family doctor? Which actually makes sense and sort of answers my previous questions...so someone with an advanced medical degree is not called doctor? I remember calling a basketball coach "sir" when I was in HS and he (who had really just recently graduated college and became a teacher) laughed and asked me not to call him 'sir', that he wasn't my dad. Those guys prefer Coach but I thought I was being respectful. Of course, I've never called my dad 'sir' either. However, in retail stores and the like it's normal to call people 'ma'am' or 'sir' or 'miss'. In fact I knew I was old when no one called me Miss anymore, just Ma'am.

03-29-2011, 01:05 PM	#40
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	re consultant, they are high-up super-duper doctors, so awesome that to associate them with mere regular doctors is an insult to their superiority. so they go back to Mr./Ms. to show just how awesome they are. 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. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

03-29-2011, 01:16 PM	#42
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	Oh, sorry. I figured most knew. There are only a couple I'd rather not figure it out because of trolling history but last night's posts tell me it's too late for that. I'm sure feigned innocence would result from a call-out, and it's not worth it. Thanks, I do get the difference now. A consultant is a specialist. We would say something like "My doctor sent me to a specialist for a consult" so it's kind of the same. But we would still call the specialist a Doctor.

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