Best sort of course! Because it's mine!
Seriously though, one of the aspects which annoys me is when it occurs in an environment when you are working with colleagues who don't have PhDs. I think that over-emphasising the title can create a sense of division for the students that is unhelpful (and in both cases I mentioned, there is a definite over-emphasis). I don't see why my five years of study for my PhD gives me any more right to a new title than many other professional titles, let alone the confusion that can arise between a PhD and an MD. Finally, I believe that if the students don't respect me because of my teaching, then proof that I can submit a finished thesis (no matter how much work went into it) isn't going to get me any further.

Having said that, I prefer to be addressed as Mr Harmony or Dr Harmony by letter or over the phone, or in a professional (non-teaching) context. While I was working in customer services, I found it very difficult to judge titles for women. A misplaced (ahem) Miss or Mrs can offend, and Ms is no guarantee of steering clear of this minefield. In cases of confusion, where I had been given the full name, I would address them as 'Dear Milly Jones' [though inserting their own name of course], which looks even worse (to my eyes) but at least it avoided some of the pit-falls looming at my feet.


Precisely.

For the reasons stated above.
It says 'Dr' on my business card, on my office door and at the foot of my official letters and on my email signature.
It's not that I want to deny that it exists, merely that I find it a pointless distraction when it comes to dealing with students.

 

Nobody is saying that, Milly. Look at it this way. I would certainly be of the opinion that what you, Milly Jones, do in terms of taking care of your family is at least as worthy of respact as doing a PhD, and I dare say hh would agree. My point is not that doctors and professors receive too much respect but that millions of other just-as-deserving people don't receive enough.

The increasing disjunction between teaching and research in universities - likely to be exacerbated as a result of the next RAE funding review, which some believe may lead to a significant redistribution of research funding (so that the Russell Group of Universities will get the lion's share, and other institutions may have to cut down on research allocation) - may be connected to the questions about the value of a doctorate. In terms of being able to demonstrate the ability to do serious research on a high scholarly level, I do believe that the PhD is meaningful (there are specific honorary doctorates based on publication which aim to demonstrate the same for those who have done similar research, only not under the auspices of a PhD) and important. But it does not necessarily demonstrate anything in terms of teaching ability - is there any necessary reason why research and teaching abilities go hand in hand? In a university climate where standards required for undergraduate degrees seem to have to be lowered (to match a lowering of standards in secondary education, leaving students less qualified than hitherto when they enter university) the types of research that university lecturers may be engaged in is then also likely to become extremely remote from undergraduate's own intellectual worlds.

Do any TOP posters sign their posts with their former military titles?

TweedWearer - Major (Catering Corp) Rtrd.
FussyMustache - Captain (Stationery Supplies) Rtrd.
PerfectlyCataloguedCDCollection - Colonel (Puttee Stores HQ) Rtrd


Philidor
CSE French

I'm not dismissive. The reverse in fact. There are numerous TOP posters who are obviously warm-hearted, clever, open-minded, friendly and highly experienced musicians. I like them very much. But others are authoritarian bigots with a line in cyber-abuse and UKIP stupidity. In other words, TOP is split, which is perfectly normal -- most bulletin boards are.

Do you post there yourself? I don't recall seeing your name.



Philidor
Grade V Theory