Should people with PHD's call themselves, "doctor"?

I was at work the other day and an assistant principal at a middle school kept referring to himself as "Dr. Smith". I heard him say it over and over again as he introduced himself to others and even members of the staff called him Dr. Smith. For some reason it struck me as weird.

Heck, at my last job we I had a boss of mine call herself "Dr" because she got an online Phd.

So, should everyone that attains a phd have the right to call himself or herself a doctor?

 

Should they have a right? Of course.

Doesn't change the douchiness of doing it though lol.

I, like you, think of the medical profession when I think Dr.... Whether that be dentists, physicians, surgeons, pharmacists. In work settings I think it's proper for others to address anyone w a doctorate degree as Dr.... But never yourself lol

 

Yea with PhD you can call yourself a doctor as im sure you're aware. Online PhD? well id just laugh at that other lady.

Quite honestly it seems like he is pretentious and wants that title to feel special.

 

Eh, not sure I care too much. Obviously, my wife has her doctorate in the medical field and no one calls her Dr...including myself:D If I ever get to the point in my career where I earn a doctorate, I won't expect it, either. I will only do it for the pay and job opportunities:D

 

A PhD for a middle school assistant principal?

 

If someone has a PhD and they want to be addressed as "doctor", they should have to earn the respect to the title. I had a professor during the spring semester that had a PhD in English Literature. He was no more than 30 years old and was pretty insistent that students call him "doctor". I called him "teach" at first until he informed me one day that it could be considered disrespectful for me not to call him doctor, because he had earned it and his position dictated this title. I looked at him and told him that I was old enough to be his father and my experiences throughout my life warranted him calling me "sir" and to do anything less could be considered disrespectful. He dropped the subject and after that called me Mr. Cooper and I upgraded his salutation to professor.

 

I doubt she had her doctorate.

If they have their doctorate, then yes, they have the right to call themselves "Dr. Whoever". But like Trevor states, it is really ******y to do so.

At my old office, we had a psychologist next door, she would leave signs on her door all the time and she always signed them "Dr. Stevens, Phd"

 

If they successfully defended their dissertation, then they have earned the respect of the title.

 

You don't earn respect in daily life from defending your dissertation in an academic setting.

 

I'm not talking about earning respect in daily life, your statement was about earning respect of the title, so yes, if they successfully defended their dissertation, then they have earned the respect of the title, otherwise they would not have their doctorate degree.

 

There is a huge difference between earning a degree and earning the respect of a title.

 

The title comes with earning the degree? How can you not understand this?

 

Its a title, not a crown.

 

I earned a masters degree sometime ago and am considering changing my screen name to masterfrenchbritt123.

 

And your children's meal at burger king comes with a crown, that does not make you a king. The degree is doctorate of _______ and in the workplace it might be okay to call them "doctor" if they earn the respect of others to do so. The question is should they call themselves doctor, and my answer remains the same because just because you get a title does not mean you earn the right to demand that salutation. How can you not understand that?

 

The title comes with the degree. In formal settings, you should use it. Period. It's just respectful. Similar to military rankings IMO... If you call a captain a commander, it's disrespectful.

In informal settings, to use it would be awkward.

 

I have no problem calling them Dr, especially in a teaching or medical field, age has little or nothing to do with it.

Hell, my wife calls me Doctor John whenever she needs a shot.

 

Maybe you'll understand better if I put it this way. "Doctor" is a form of salutation that is available to some people. A salutation is a salute, which is defined as "to address with expressions of goodwill, respect, etc.; greet; to make a bow or other gesture to, as in greeting, farewell, or respect; or to express respect or praise for; honor; commend." The repeated word in these definitions is "respect". To receive respect, you have to earn it. For a person with a PhD to expect others to call them that or address themselves as this, is nothing more than that person taking an ego trip.

 

How did that work out for you in the military Coop? Ever call a higher ranking officer "teach" and get away with it? I guess I look at earning a Doctorate as the same thing. You have to put in the time and effort and successfully complete a masters degree and then all the further educational requirements to get there. That in itself should earn respect. If a college professor wants to be addressed as "Dr.", I have no problem with that, no matter what their age.

 

Id have to disagree, Company Commanders are oftentimes referred to as Commanders and many don't find that disrespectful. Ive never known people to feel disrespected unless it was used in a derogatory term. But that goes with any title, rank, or name.

Also with the military, it is kind of a requirement more than a courtesy. For formal settings I think calling a person with a PhD mister or doctor is respectful either way as long as you make it sound respectful. I think it's mostly about tone and attitude, but I think the OP stated that the teacher kept pushing for it, which kind of makes it ****** baggy to me.