Titles and Monikers
The question looming in front of me now is, “Which do I use”? Titles precede a name and monikers go after it. So, do I use “Dr. Allen” or “Dr. Case” or “Dr. A” (that sort of sounds kewl), or should it be “Casey Allen, PhD” or “C.D. Allen, PhD”? Or should I even exercise the privilege?
For me, it means little either way…Titles often seem arrogant to me, even if they can denote valuable accomplishments. But just because someone has a title, does that make them “special” or better than people without one? Does it endow them with privilege?
Well, perhaps in a way it does, since society tends to place value on such things. Most diplomas from the Powers That Be (PTB) have a little phrase like, “…with all rights, powers, and privilege as set forth by those in authority…”
But what does that actually mean? Just because I’ve achieved a certain level of education—jumped through a myriad of hoops, paid my dues, and bowed to the PTB—I now have special “privileges”? Am I now a PTB? (*gasp*) Maybe.
And I suppose that’s something for which to be grateful…when all’s said and done, I have spent nearly 22 years in formal education (K-10 ½, baccalaureate, master’s, and now PhD). That many years should yield some kind of privilege, I reckon. But, I’ve met folks who say things like, “My name’s Dr. So-and-so, and HEAVY on the Dr.”—meaning, they WANT you to call them “Dr.” regardless, even if you’re a “Dr.” yourself.
While I understand that sentiment—achieving a PhD is a difficult and long process, and a moniker is often seen as the penultimate academic achievement—it still seems silly. If titles and monikers were given for every difficult achievement then there could be many different ones people qualify for: Friend, True Love, Wife, Husband, Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, and on and on…and then there are occupational titles that could be touted: Military Service Personnel, Police Officer, Engineer, Scientist, Farmer, Poet, Firefighter, Salesperson, and the list continues…—all difficult achievements in their own right!
I suppose, in the end, it comes down to personal preference, just like most other things in life. While there are societal formalities that often must be adhered to (at a conference or ceremony, for example), outside of those, whatever someone feels comfortable with is the way I’ll go. So, while one person might call me “Dr.” and another person might call me by my first name, I’ll answer either way. Because, in the end when all is said and done, our actions—what we do—define us, and our achievements, awards, and even titles and monikers fall by the wayside.
