# Is this pretentious? (Displaying MBA hood) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 8, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698 "2013-10-08T16:24:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/61 "2013-10-10T20:12:28Z")
When I get my MBA in May I’ll frame the diploma next to my undergrad degree and probably hang them in my office. Considering that the wife is getting her Ph.D. in December I’m certainly not going to litter the house with my minor accomplishments. If I ever decide to go back to school and get my Ph.D. I probably wouldn’t display the hood unless she wants the set on the wall or something but I was working very hard to get her to throw an early Dr. in front of her name on the wedding invites after she got her defence date scheduled. ---
**Author:** ![Vaevictis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f04885/32.png) [@Vaevictis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vaevictis)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/62 "2014-01-13T01:54:37Z")
The only reason to own academic regalia is if you are going to use it. Regularly attend graduations (for instance, if your a higher end donor)? Then you use it once a year, and having it displayed like a trophy does not make sense given that you actually use it. If you do not regularly use it, why were you so stupid as to buy it instead of rent it? Treat it like a tuxedo – if you need to wear it every once and a while, it is part of your wardrobe. If you don’t need to wear it every so often, don’t own it, just rent. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/63 "2014-01-13T02:17:44Z")
Tacky and pretentious. Academic degrees are only relevant on your résumé. In your bedroom or personal workroom? Sure For others to see? Nope. I always think that people who hang degrees in their offices (Medical doctors tend to be the worst) are trying too hard I wouldn’t reccomend hanging even a Nobel Prize Diploma/Meda. But it’s your house so do whatever you want. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/64 "2014-01-13T03:31:13Z")
I think it would behoove more than one person in this thread to look up the meaning of the word “pretentious.” Displaying the regalia of a degree one did, in fact, earn is not pretentious. But I agree that it is tacky. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/65 "2014-01-13T04:15:45Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > I think it would behoove more than one person in this thread to look up the meaning of the word “pretentious.” > > Displaying the regalia of a degree one did, in fact, earn is not pretentious. > > But I agree that it is tacky. Yes, you might see this: _1. Claiming or demanding a position of distinction or merit, especially when unjustified._ But then right below that: _2. Making or marked by an extravagant outward show; ostentatious. See Synonyms at showy._ ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/66 "2014-01-13T04:24:54Z")
And thus does clarity of English usage continue to deteriorate. ETA: Incidentally, [Merriam Webster](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretentious) doesn’t have the second definition you have above. Nor should it. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/67 "2014-01-13T07:14:12Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Home or office is acceptable. She’s achieved something worthwhile, and should be proud of it. > [But not too much…](http://i2.meragegear.com/accessories/mba-license-plate-frame/product_large_A.jpg) If that had been on a Mercedes, I’d think “asshole”; on a VW? “idiot” I’ve worked with 2 MBA’s - one was worthless, the other just took not being impressed - once he figured it out that it wasn’t going to impress me, he turned out to be an interesting guy with whom to shoot the shit… ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/68 "2014-01-13T08:03:26Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > And thus does clarity of English usage continue to deteriorate. > > ETA: > Incidentally, [Merriam Webster](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretentious) doesn’t have the second definition you have above. Nor should it. Uh, why? :dubious: That definition has been around since I was a kid and I’m 43. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/69 "2014-01-13T14:45:26Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Uh, why? :dubious: > > That definition has been around since I was a kid and I’m 43. It’s been around since before I was born, and I’m 53. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/70 "2014-01-13T20:49:39Z")
Harmless, but pointless. Just mount her diploma. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/71 "2014-01-14T00:20:20Z")
In our rural areas, houses like to put up permanent signs on their house frontages, proudly declaring someone living there is an attorney-at-law, or a CPA, or a doctor of medicine. Since MBA is a high attainment, it shouldn’t be too pretentious. A college or university sticker might be. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/72 "2014-01-14T00:27:28Z")
It’s her (and your) house, I say decorate it how you guys want. If that includes her MBA hood mounted, go for it. Ultimately it’s the two of you who will see it. It’s not much different than my friend who has her shadow box with her medal, race number and photo from running the CIM. She’s proud of it, so she displays it. For me, it’s not really my style. I don’t have any of my achievements displayed, but that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/73 "2014-01-14T02:04:46Z")
Your framed degree, acceptable. Hood and tassel? A step to far, for my tastes. But it’s her house she should do whatever she’s comfortable with, ultimately. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/74 "2014-01-14T02:06:46Z")
I vote both harmless and tacky. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/75 "2014-01-14T02:30:29Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Not pretentious at all. Tacky as hell, though. It’s a lot better than displaying your Klansman hood. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698/76 "2014-01-14T02:37:57Z")
“Reeks of pretense” is awfully strong. I live in a college town. Everybody and their brother has a doctorate, so it would probably be more humorous than pretentious here. Forget the office and put it in the bathroom so you can see it, but others will think you’re not taking yourselves too seriously. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-pretentious-displaying-mba-hood/670698.md?page=3)