No, I cancelled my membership ages ago, though like almost everyone at r3ok I used to post there. Not under this name however. I find it still worth looking through for the occasional snippet of useful information, but it's almost impossible to discuss anything in depth there without the thread being rapidly derailed by (fill in the blank), I mean that isn't unknown here either but, involved as I am in contemporary composition, I find TOP a frustrating and offputting place on the whole and not worth bothering with. Of course they used to have a New Music board, but this was removed at the time of all the other changes which led to the inception of r3ok. Apparently "breakfast" is more important than "new music". Well not in my house it isn't!  

I'm new to TOP and new here but can see why TOP would split. The mix of Blimps and normal musicians/music lovers is highly unstable. I’m surprised there's not more blood on the wall.

You might be interested to have a look at this thread which was started soon after r3ok was set up.

Did it used to run 24/7? It's absurdly parochial as it is -- as if the internet stops at Dover.

It used to go to 10 p.m., then extended to midnight by popular request. It's never been 24/7.  There was a snug little comunity there that used to chat and that was not approved of at all, even when they were discussing music.  I think, looking at Platform 3, that they've relented somewhat, but the atmosphere is not nearly as friendly as it was.  It seems very snide and patronising a lot of the time now.   There's always an element of that on any board, but it's usually the minority voice, not the majority.

Cambridge and Oxford used the title first, for older BAs.  When universities wanted a title for post-graduate degrees, it was confusing to use a title already in use, for something different.

I believe some Scottish universities call their graduate degrees MA.

'Professor' is a funny one. Have any of the other professors on here (I know who some of you are, at least) had that 'open sesame' moment, say when you're checking into a hotel and filling out the forms? Suddenly nothing's too much trouble. Do Doctors encounter this too?

On the other hand, it feels very odd to be referred to as 'professor' in a non-academic context - as a simple, humble composer, for instance. 'We're delighted to be giving the premiere this evening of a new work by Professor Martle' sounds, well, naff somehow. But I can't quite put my finger on exactly why.

My brother says it can be very useful at times, but he isn't keen on the title being used outside his professional life. I would never address an envelope to him using "Professor [insert name]".  Most professors are Doctor before they are Professor. At least when they become Professor people stop asking for advice about their indigestion.

I hadn't thought of it as inverted snobbery - more as "not showing off"(very British!) - but it is considered a bit naff to put any stress or importance on the title or degree, outside the context of one's job.  Naffest of all is to have an honorary doctorate and use the title - I know of someone who does, and he is secretly ridiculed.