Mr_Negative, the Gazette allows 3000 characters per post and sometimes that isn't enough space to fully develop a point and include references and background information. If you don't like long posts, just don't read them. Perhaps you'd be happier switching to Twitter. Perhaps the 140 character limitation on tweets will better suit you.

My brother refers to me as Dr usually right after I have done something dumb or clumsy.

When a guy I worked with got his PHD, his wife changed all of their magazine subscriptions and their phone book listing to "Dr. Smith".
She was a snob...she even changed their TV Guide subscription!
He, however, still referred to himself as Joe.

The Ph.D. doctorate existed centuries before the M.D. doctorate. The prefix "Doctor ____" was for a long time an Americanism. The social custom of being required to be addressed by one's title outside of a professional circumstance has also nearly evaporated, so this is pretty much an invented problem.

Demanding to be called something other than your birth name is pretty self righteous and excessive self righteousness is a mental disorder associated with a real sense of insecurity of how one feels about them self. When I here the words "mister" or "misses" I think that the persons using those terms is setting the bar on whether they are above or below you. To over-respect someone is the same as disrespect I think. I treat all equal and respect those that do the same...no need for fancy butt kissing words like sir, ma'am, Mrs, Mr, ...etc. its 2012 that stuff is olden day speak.

It's an earned title. If one chooses to use it, they are in the right. Many don't, but anyone putting the time, effort, and dedication to achieving it have earned the right to use it. I plan on getting mine within the next 10 years. Who knows, maybe I'll get "DR B" on my plates. Then maybe I can be like Kramer on Seinfeld and park in the Dr's only parking spots at Mercy instead of in the back 40.

My guess is that a PhD would probably rather not talk to a dolt like Steve, so this internal struggle of his is irrelevant.

Have to add, my husband's best friend has a phd, but if we called him Dr., he would laugh.

My nephews wife has a phd and is a professor, but, being a relative, I would never call her doctor. My own med.doctors, I always do, so did my parents who's close friend was a doctor. He was always addressed "doctor".

ouch

I am a practicing clinical psychologist with a PhD and have never made big use of the whole Dr title. I always tell people that if they are going to refer to me as Dr then I am obligated to refer to them as Mr, Mrs, or Ms. I teach at U-Rock and have told my students they may call me by my first name or Dr, it is up to them but anything else they want to call me they should do so in private. Actually with my friends, and that includes bike rides, I prefer not to be called Dr. I understand people's desire to express respect, but in my field, I am best able to help people by forming a good working therapeutic relationship. Title bestows authority, emphasizes a power differential, and fosters distance and this is counter productive in psychotherapy. Other folks may have a different style or opinion. I don't get into the whole spitting match of what degree constitutes a "doctor." Being really honest, all of us in the doctor club could care less. If you completed your doctoral program you are a "real" doctor.

Um....really carr??? If I wanted to read a boring book I'd search my Kindle. Let's try and keep it at 50,000 words or less. Or better yet, don't comment at all. Especially on yet another ridiculous choice of topic by Mrs. Knox.

Carr said it well, I agree wholeheartedly. If you earned the title regardless of which discipline it's in, use it but don't be obnoxious about it. Also, we should be respectful enough to use titles to address everyone, doctor or not. Common courtesy and manners go a long way in showing respect for each other.

@skwurt: As someone with a doctorate degree I think people who refer to those with doctorates as snobs are generally people who don't have doctorates & are jealous. If you have a Phd or a MD, DO, DC etc. those people are generally called doctors in their professional setting. It is a sign of respect for a degree obtained.

My personal doctor is a good friend and we call each other by our first name unless I am mentioning him to someone else. Then it's Dr. Other doctors that I have received medical services from and/or have as clients are referred to as Dr.

Personally, I wonder why kids are not taught to call other adults by Mr. or Mrs. unless invited otherwise. When I refer to my husband to children, I refer to him as Mr. xxx and not by his first name, yet any number of kids will call us by our first names. When I was growing up, the rule of thumb was to call my friends' parents by Mr. or Mrs., and my parents' friends by their first name (because that was invited). When I got my first job, I had to change from calling my boss by his first name as a friend of my parents to Mr. xxx as my boss. When one of my friends' parents told me as an adult I should call her by her first name, it was very, very hard and I often resorted to not calling her by name! I agree it all goes back to teaching children to be respectful from the start. Oh, and what is this with some teachers sending notes home signed only with their first names? Even as a parent, I call my children's teachers by Mr. or Mrs., especially in front of my children.

is an obese Doctor worthy of being called Doctor?

I have a doctorate....in the healthcare field. And 100% of my patients do NOT call me doctor. In fact, I doubt any of them realize I even have a doctorate. When I worked at the hospital I had the option of having Dr. in front of my name, I told them no, because I didn't want to be confused with a medical doctor.
I was also raised to call everyone sir or ma'am...or Mrs/Ms so-so....It seems to confuse people when I do it now.

I think if you put in all the work to earn the doctorate, you earn the right to be called Dr., regardless of the profession.

"There was a math teacher in junior high who was always referred to as Dr. "
Dr. Cramer.
I'm just remberin'...

I have a friend who is an audiologist but I just call him "Chop".

You address PhD's as Dr. when they are in their working environment (e.g. the classroom or at a conference) but not outside of that. Medical doctors traditionally are called Dr. at all times, working or not. I suppose it's because they could be asked to perform their duties even when they're off the clock (people sure ask for a lot of free medical advice!).

To: skwurt
I also feel that professors act as snobs, however this isn't just @ URock. If one holds a Doctorate degree they have a right to be called Doctor. It is a sign of respect. I think it is a reflection of Janesville where it's people are so against giving respect for someone that has chosen to earn advanced education.

Ahh bassman, a Bob&Tom reference.

I have a friend that grew up in Janesville and holds 3 Doctorates. 2 PhD's and a ThD. 1 of the PhD's is in Psychology. Almost no one calls him "Dr." We both have seen a breakdown of overall respect in Janesville. Dr. is a title just as Mr. or Miss is a title. How many people still ask for Mr. "so and so?" Even at the Medical Doctors office when you are waiting for a test or to be called for your appointment, how many RN's put the title of Mr. or Mrs. in front of ones last name?

In American medical professions one can see that a "Dr" is one that can prescribe or is around meds. In England a Pharmacist is a Masters degree, yet in America its a Doctorate. A dentist has a doctorate as well, only because he can prescribe meds. If people attack those with PhD's then one has to go after all forms of a Doctorate degree other then an M.D. Psychologists have a PsyD or PhD, are they any less of a Dr because they can't prescribe meds. Meds have to be prescribed by a Psychiatrist that is an M.D. and prescribing meds has become their primary function in life with the massive amounts of social workers and counselors.

Also we would have to look at other titles such as Judges. Would you call a judge by their first name if you saw them outside of the courtroom?

Should we call High School principals that hold PhD's or Ed'D's by Dr.? I know of many parents that do not and choose not to in front of their children. What does that show children about respecting elders.

Naturopathic doctors are ND's and are also considered doctors. I don't agree with everything they say or do, just as I don't MD's but I still respect them by calling them by their earned title.

Finally, what about clergy and religious persons? Do they get the respect or can you dismiss that as well? If I am Lutheran and I see a Catholic priest do I show respect or be disrespectful?

Respect should always be shown and it is up to the title holder to determine what they want to be called. If they introduce themselves as Dr then you should show that respect.

Another question would be, has this country gotten to the point where citizens can't even respect those that have chosen to go onto further education without making it a class warfare argument. When my friend with the Doctorates comes into town and is asked what he does and where he works the Janesville people can't even understand the concept of him owning his own business.

Maybe it says a little about oneself when they can't show respect to another person for what they have accomplished.

You need to call me EL Conquistador

My son had a professor @ U Rock that insisted on being called DR so & so. While I respect the hard work that goes into a doctorate degree, for some it's pure snobbery. Iv'e seen more in the line of teaching that is snobbery than any REAL M.D. And yes, even though I have worked for many a M.D and know their first names I refer to them as Dr.Such & such, they DO save lives after all.