# Ever notice how some PhD holder are incredibly arrogant and think of themselves as gods? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 13, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468 "2019-02-13T15:35:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/81 "2019-02-18T01:27:27Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > I’ve met plenty of “doctors of this 'n that”. Take them out of that very narrow specialized field of study, and they are no different from and no better than anyone else. > > Unfortunately, the press, and people in general, give them authority and deference in ALL fields. That’s stupid. You have to show mastery in your entire field, like Math or Physics, before you are allowed to specialize. And you have to be able to handle a fairly substantial research project by yourself, and write it up. That’s far more significant than the topic of your dissertation in most cases. I’m sure some people who don’t get PhDs can do this, but I suspect lots can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/82 "2019-02-18T06:00:17Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > Depends where you are. Germany is notorious for the listing of academic qualifications. It’s a cultural thing, and the academics are the worst for this, but you see enough business cards with a string of letters after the person’s name. Elsewhere in much of Europe, outside the academic world it is thought rather pretentious to do that. It really is a cultural thing. When I was working in Poland (in a research institute, so in the academic world), the sign on my door said “dr **Hypnagogic Jerk** ” (with a lowercase d, and without a period). Even our departmental secretary’s sign said “dr **Department Secretary** ”. But in my next job, as a professor in Canada, my door sign only had my name and department, no title. > [@Gyrate](#): > > She doesn’t bang people over the head with her PhD but does insist that, when titles are used, the correct one is employed. So she’s fine being called by name, but don’t call her Ms or Mrs. This is also cultural. When I’m applying for a position in a French-language institution in Quebec, in my cover letter I usually use the address “Sir” or “Madam” (“Monsieur” or “Madame”) even though the recipient is a professor and the holder of a Ph.D., since calling them Professor or Doctor is not the recommended form of address. When applying in an English-language institution, though, I use the address “Dear Prof. So-and-so”. I remember hearing about a fairly recent case when a (female) English Canadian professor was interviewed by a (male) journalist from Quebec, who addressed her as “Ms.”, and she promptly took to Twitter to point out the obvious misogyny of this journalist who did not address her as “Dr.” Not taking the time to check that it is not common in Quebec to refer to (non-medical) doctors as “Dr.” Ahh, I love how outrage-prone we are in the 21st century… I also do not write my titles in my email signature, but I have no issue with colleagues who do. **Hypnagogic Jerk** , Ph.D. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/83 "2019-02-18T06:36:56Z")
Likewise. **Elendil’s Heir** , J.D. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/84 "2019-02-18T08:20:13Z")
I work in a world of doctorates and lofty academic qualifications. A fair rule of thumb is that anyone who insists on a title outside of their professional environment is something of an arsehole. Not a perfect correlation of course but certainly the highest-qualified people I know are the least likely to be precious about it. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/85 "2019-02-18T11:18:03Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > This is also cultural. When I’m applying for a position in a French-language institution in Quebec, in my cover letter I usually use the address “Sir” or “Madam” (“Monsieur” or “Madame”) even though the recipient is a professor and the holder of a Ph.D., since calling them Professor or Doctor is not the recommended form of address. When applying in an English-language institution, though, I use the address “Dear Prof. So-and-so”. I remember hearing about a fairly recent case when a (female) English Canadian professor was interviewed by a (male) journalist from Quebec, who addressed her as “Ms.”, and she promptly took to Twitter to point out the obvious misogyny of this journalist who did not address her as “Dr.” Not taking the time to check that it is not common in Quebec to refer to (non-medical) doctors as “Dr.” Ahh, I love how outrage-prone we are in the 21st century… > > I also do not write my titles in my email signature, but I have no issue with colleagues who do. > > **Hypnagogic Jerk** , Ph.D. I understand the cultural point but there are two issues at play here. Firstly, in most instances she doesn’t get “outraged” about it; she corrects it in the same way you’d correct someone who got your name wrong. Most of the time she’s perfectly happy for people just to call her by her first name but if they’re going to use a title she wants it to be the correct one. That said, one of her superiors has a habit of “forgetting” her title and, when introducing her and her colleagues to a new person, will introduce all the men as “Dr. [name]” but will only introduce her as “[name]”. And does this _every time_. Sometimes it **is** obvious misogyny. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/86 "2019-02-18T16:33:39Z")
I was taught by many PhD’s and MD’s and while most demanded respect, very few got their panties in a bunch if you didn’t call them “doctor.” I did have one professor who, on the first day of class boomed to the large lecture hall, “my name is ‘G. [middle name] [last name]’; the ‘G’ stands for ‘God’, don’t forget that.” I thought he said it tongue-in-cheek. Later, I realized he didn’t. On the therapeutic side of “_doctor_” the degree of insufferable pomposity is inversely proportional to the respectability of the specialty. Call a chiropractor, or crystal/aromatherapy/holistic/ … “_healer_” anything but “_doctor_” (like\* charlatan, quack, snake-oil salesman\*) and they’ll get up in your grill quick. At the other extreme, [this doc](http://www.childrenshospital.org/directory/physicians/s/michael-scott) has serious med cred: chief neurosurgeon at Boston Children’s Hospital ([#1 ranked children’s hospital in the U.S.; #1 ranked pediatric neurology & neurosurgery department in the U.S.](https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20180626/us-news-best-childrens-hospitals-2018#1)). And, he’s a full professor at Harvard Medical School, to boot. I doubt he ever took the short bus. He wasn’t just _skilled_ in the operation that saved my daughter’s life, he developed the procedure (pial synangiosis). Now arguable the most successful operation for a life-threatening cerebrovascular disease that is now performed around the globe, saving kid’s lives. You’d think a fellow like that would (deservedly) be a bit of a pompous ass, but he’s just the opposite. When I first consulted with him with my daughter, I called him “doctor.” He replied, “please, call me Mike.” We spent considerable time with “_Mike_” pre-op, post-op and for my daughter’s yearly check-ups. He treats patients like family (recalling minor family details, like the name of our pets), and always takes time to sit down for a few extra minutes and discuss esoteric subjects. I once asked him his thoughts on the emergence and nature of consciousness and he was delighted to discuss the subject with me at length. In my experience the most gifted PhD’s and MD’s are the most modest. They have nothing to prove. Their achievements speak for themselves. The most arrogant, pompous and mean profession of all? In my experience, attorneys, by far— Assistant U.S. Attorneys in particular (I’m currently dealing with my fifth AUSA). I throw up a little in my mouth just thinking about them. But, generally speaking, most smart people who know they’re smart are OK. Most dumb people who know they’re dumb are OK. All dumb people who think they’re smart are asses. And, attorneys suck. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/87 "2019-02-18T17:50:00Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > The most arrogant, pompous and mean profession of all? In my experience, attorneys, by far— Assistant U.S. Attorneys in particular (I’m currently dealing with my fifth AUSA). I throw up a little in my mouth just thinking about them. Amen, give me a room of scientists any day, the one time I had to deal with a room full of corporate legal people haunts me still. They thought they knew best on pretty much any subject going and were the least open to change that I’ve ever come across. YAMV (your attorney may vary) ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/88 "2019-02-18T19:45:56Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I have a low opinion of PhDs who feel a need to generally advertise the fact that they’ve got one, like signing emails “Fred Smith, PhD” or shit like that. > > A good example is former Trump Administration clown Sebastian Gorka, who has “Sebastian Gorka DrG” as his Twitter handle. Congrats, dude, and the rest of us are _so_ impressed. I’ll second the use in a sig in a work email. My first job outside of academia was customer-facing in a biotech company. My supervisor insisted the Ph.D.s put that in their sigs because the company wanted to advertise that fact to the scientists who were the customers. My personal email? No. I knew someone who received an honorary doctorate for leading a huge charitable non-profit. He then insisted on being addressed as “Doctor”. That was pretentious. I asked him what he did his dissertation on. Gorka is a joke. Google his dissertation figures for a laugh. I believe his Ph.D. was from an institute where, if not an out-and-out degree mill, a doctorate could be had for the right price. At the beginning of the Trump administration when he was always on TV, some media news outlet had a real university professor in Gorka’s claimed field of expertise review his dissertation. IIRC, the person said something like he would have failed a freshman who turned that in. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_Ducky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrs_ducky/32/6227_2.png) [@Mrs\_Ducky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_Ducky)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/89 "2019-02-18T20:11:19Z")
A guy I used to work with called them “post hole diggers”. As for my chiropractor, I just call him Mike. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/90 "2019-02-18T20:45:25Z")
May have related these two stories on previous threads. As a young dentist I was at the local dental society meeting. Saw a guy I knew and he was talking to someone else. Walked up and said hello, stuck out my hand to the unknown person and said Hi I’m joe rsat3acr. He shook my hand and said “Dr. Smith”. No kidding a doctor(dentist) at a dental meeting. Also love the ones at continuing education courses who start off with “My name is Dr. whatever”. Really your folks named you Dr.? When meeting new patients I just say I’m joe rsat3acr, they know I’m the dentist. Had a patient who was a podiatrist. Insisted I call him Dr. Toeguy, would only call me joe. The printing on his checks was Dr. Toeguy, DPM, Podiatrist. Bit of an ego. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/91 "2019-02-18T20:53:23Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > May have related these two stories on previous threads. As a young dentist I was at the local dental society meeting. Saw a guy I knew and he was talking to someone else. Walked up and said hello, stuck out my hand to the unknown person and said Hi I’m joe rsat3acr. He shook my hand and said “Dr. Smith”. No kidding a doctor(dentist) at a dental meeting. Also love the ones at continuing education courses who start off with “My name is Dr. whatever”. Really your folks named you Dr.? When meeting new patients I just say I’m joe rsat3acr, they know I’m the dentist. > > Had a patient who was a podiatrist. Insisted I call him Dr. Toeguy, would only call me joe. The printing on his checks was Dr. Toeguy, DPM, Podiatrist. Bit of an ego. That reminded me of this exchange from _Avengers: Infinity War_: > [@](#): > > **Peter Parker:** No. I’m Peter, by the way. > > **Dr. Stephen Strange:** Doctor Strange. > > \*\*Peter Parker: \*\*Oh, you’re using made-up names. Um… I’m Spider-Man, then. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/92 "2019-02-18T22:01:23Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > …In my experience the most gifted PhD’s and MD’s are the most modest. They have nothing to prove. Their achievements speak for themselves… Well said. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/93 "2019-02-18T22:29:14Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > That reminded me of this exchange from _Avengers: Infinity War_: And, this similar exhange, from _Doctor Strange_: **Kaecilius:** How long have you been at Kamar-Taj, Mister… **Dr. Stephen Strange:** Doctor! **Kaecilius:** Mr. Doctor? **Dr. Stephen Strange:** It’s Strange. **Kaecilius:** Maybe. Who am I to judge? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/94 "2019-02-18T22:31:42Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > I’ve met plenty of “doctors of this 'n that”. Take them out of that very narrow specialized field of study, and they are no different from and no better than anyone else. > > Unfortunately, the press, and people in general, give them authority and deference in ALL fields. That’s stupid. I’ve never witnessed this. I’ve seen someone with a doctorate being asked to opine on an issue outside of their field (like I’ve seen Robert Reich get asked political questions on CNN that little to do with economics). But I’ve never seen someone be asked to weigh in on _everything_ just because they have a Ph.D. I don’t even know what this would look like. What I have seen is someone making such a big name for themselves that their rando opinions are given more attention than they would have gotten if they were just a regular schmoe. But this is not a Ph.D thing, but rather a celebrity thing. Oprah Winfrey could create a talk-in radio show just like Dr. Laura, and it would be even more popular. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/95 "2019-02-18T23:33:44Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I’ve never witnessed this. I’ve seen someone with a doctorate being asked to opine on an issue outside of their field (like I’ve seen Robert Reich get asked political questions on CNN that little to do with economics). But I’ve never seen someone be asked to weigh in on _everything_ just because they have a Ph.D. I don’t even know what this would look like. I think it comes from Gilligan’s Island, where the Professor was an expert in every damn thing. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/96 "2019-02-19T13:43:56Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I think it comes from Gilligan’s Island, where the Professor was an expert in every damn thing. Before that was Cyrus Smith, the engineer in The Mysterious Island. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/97 "2019-02-19T19:03:53Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I think it comes from Gilligan’s Island, where the Professor was an expert in every damn thing. Well, exactly. That’s who every PhD should be striving to emulate. Just admit it **monstro** - if you can’t make a working internal combustion engine out of palm fronds and coconuts, your doctorate is functionally worthless ;). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/98 "2019-02-19T19:24:07Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I think it comes from Gilligan’s Island, where the Professor was an expert in every damn thing. Except boat repair. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/99 "2019-02-19T19:43:08Z")
A similar thread I started several years back: [You have an MD or a PhD. Do you make people call you “Doctor” in social settings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=665577) A couple of my neighbors have PhDs. I haven’t met them personally; the reason I know they have PhDs is because it’s in their email sig line when they send email to the neighborhood association. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468/100 "2019-02-19T20:26:16Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Except boat repair. That wasn’t the problem. That he never took the Gilligan extermination class was the problem. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-notice-how-some-phd-holder-are-incredibly-arrogant-and-think-of-themselves-as-gods/829468.md?page=6)