I don't want to be entitled
Image by Maxim Mox from UnsplashThere are many things that are a bit irritating about the internet (though none that outweigh its usefulness). But the one that arguably gets up my nose the most is when you fill in an online form and it insists that you enter your title. I don't want a title. If you are writing to me, address it to Brian Clegg. I'm happy for anyone to call me Brian (or Cleggy if you must). But more to the point, why on earth should I have to provide a title to, say, buy a bunch of flowers?One of the reasons I really dislike titles is the way the media, particularly TV for the masses, make obsequious use of some titles. It really puts me in cringe mode when a grown adult refers to someone else as 'Doctor Phil' or 'Doctor Anita'. This reversion to childhood doesn't apply if you have a different title though. It's never 'Mister Brian.' (Of course someone called Ed* may be thankful for this.)
For that matter, I have two Master of Arts degrees, but no one seems to feel the urge to call me Master - though with a Dr Who hat on, I could definitely warm to being the Master.
That's academic titles, of course, and on top of this there is the nightmare creepiness of aristocratic titles (especially when you're a royal and have a string of these as long as your arm). Admittedly, someone I know in the literary world did find these things quite useful. When checking into a hotel in America, he would tell them that he was Sir X Y. (Name omitted to protect the guilty.) And he got extra-special treatment because of it. Which illustrates the absurdity of the whole thing.
I know some people love their titles. They even put them on book covers. And for them, I would be happy to leave the option on internet forms so they can show how entitled they are. But please, for the rest of us, make it optional.
* One for the elderly
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Jim wrote: "COMMENTI read this post with considerble interest, Mr. Clegg
As a Yankee (born 1958 in Alaska) strangers have always insisted that they should be addressed on a first-name basis.
At one time, ..."
Thanks - great points there.
I read this post with considerble interest, Mr. Clegg
As a Yankee (born 1958 in Alaska) strangers have always insisted that they should be addressed on a first-name basis.
At one time, 70s or 80s, I read a protest by an Englishman about that American practice - "how does one KNOW who one's FRIENDS are", and decided to ad
A few times, I've gotten a variant on:
"MISTER Smith is my FATHER. Call me Butch"
I conform to the given-name practice, generally, and especially at work. But, if too much "distance" pertains I say, for instance to my employer's General Manager, "Mr. Smith".
When I make a "public comment" on a blog, GoodReads, Facebook, etc. I go with Mr/Ms (surname) - though there is one exception - addressing the blog author - for a blog on which I've commented hundreds of times.
(FWIW he is a prolific blogger who was once near the top of his well-paid field)
For first time letters, I use. Mr./Ms./Messrs. (the latter may be anachronistic - but it seems more suitable than "Misters")
Rarely, replies address me the same way. More often: "call me Butch". Many times they reply with "Jim" - and expect me to take the hint.
As a bachelor candidate (1977-82) it was easy to address our lecturers as "Doctor" - ALL had PhD's. A fellow freshman once alleged this stood for "piled higher and deeper". Later my PhD wife cured me of that - YET, the barely literate (and others) undergrads she taught insisted on addressing her "April" (1992). The literacy gradually improved over the years - but I'm not sure about whether they caught on to her title.
A nice lady at work - circa 1995 - once told me how she interacted with her young charges in Sunday School. To them she was "Mrs. Jones":
"what's your First Name?"
"Mrs."
When I see someone called "Dr." - by herself or be others, I invariably wonder "what field", because whatever non-doctors may wish to believe, all are not "equal".
A Doctor of Education (held by Shaquille O'Neal and Bill Cosby) is assuredly not so significant as the Physics Doctorate held by a pen pal.
Finally, as for book covers - when I see "Dr. ____" on a cookbook I regard THAT a "fair warning".