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Titles

Grumpy Old Lemons Like You
UncleEbenezer
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Titles

#223923

Postby UncleEbenezer » May 23rd, 2019, 11:24 am

Harumph.

I've just been prompted to select a title from a dropdown menu
  • Mr
  • Mrs
  • Miss
  • Ms
  • Mx
  • Dr
  • Sir
  • Rev

Hmmm. We're accustomed to the three-way distinction for women, and I sympathise with those who dislike having that choice thrust upon them. I don't like having to select a title either, but at least I don't have to make a statement of my politics beyond "I'm not rebelling against your silly Form".

But WTF is "Mx"? Is that meant to be some unisex title, or is it all about the divergence of modern fashion from biology? Do I select it because I'd prefer a non-discriminatory unisex world? But then, what if it means something completely different that I've just never heard of?

"Dr" I'm OK with (but no Prof.?) Rev I can laugh at, and faintly wonder whether it shouldn't have counterparts from other religious orders. But "Sir" surely begs the question not merely of "Lady" but of so many other archaic honourifics.

Why the **** do we need titles in the first place? And if we are to have them, why do we get an arbitrary menu, as opposed to a free choice.

-- your Most Venerable and Vexed Honourary Uncle.

didds
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Re: Titles

#223976

Postby didds » May 23rd, 2019, 1:14 pm

... and there is never the provision for letters after your name - i can never get anyone to address me as

Didds B.Sc. (Hons)

for my 3rd class honours in 1984!

didds [ B.Sc. (Hons) ]

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Re: Titles

#223999

Postby kempiejon » May 23rd, 2019, 2:31 pm

I love the options on some of these drop down titles, I am Captain when I have my groceries delivered and a loyalty card had me as Arch Bishop - but I can't remember if I added that manually as an "other" or selected it.

UncleEbenezer
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Re: Titles

#224017

Postby UncleEbenezer » May 23rd, 2019, 3:17 pm

Writing that reminded me that in my time in Germany (when I wasn't yet Uncle), I was encouraged to call myself by a professional title for which the Germans have much more respect than the Brits do. Hence Dipl. Ing Ebenezer Fool von Lemon.

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Re: Titles

#224026

Postby Rhyd6 » May 23rd, 2019, 3:30 pm

Years ago a chap in the office had his business cards printed with B.Sc. after his name although this was not relevant to the job he was doing (glorified dole clerk), one of the girls had her cards printed with Jane Doe Q.G. When asked what Q.G. stood for she replied Queens Guide.

R6

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Re: Titles

#224044

Postby AleisterCrowley » May 23rd, 2019, 4:19 pm

Mx is a new one to me
Apparently, the x is a 'wildcard' character, so surely it should be M* ?
Conveniently pronounced M-Star, which sounds like one of those 'rap musicians' that are so popular with young folk these days

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Re: Titles

#229656

Postby AF62 » June 15th, 2019, 9:04 am

UncleEbenezer wrote:Harumph.

I've just been prompted to select a title from a dropdown menu
  • Mr
  • Mrs
  • Miss
  • Ms
  • Mx
  • Dr
  • Sir
  • Rev


Try joining the National Trust where you get a choice of -

Dr.
Master
Miss
Mr.
Mrs.
Ms.
disabled
Admiral
Admiral Sir
Admiral of the Fleet Sir
Air Commodore
Air Marshal Sir
Air Vice Marshal
Alderman
Archdeacon
Baron
Baroness
Bishop
Brigadier
Canon
Canon Dr
Canon Sir
Captain
Captain Mrs
Captain Sir
Chief Superintendent
Colonel
Colonel Sir
Colonel the Hon
Colour Sergeant
Commander
Commander Hon
Commissioner
Commodore
Comte
Comtesse
Corporal
Councillor
Count
Countess
Dame
Deacon
Deaconess
Dipl Ing
District Judge
Dom
Don
Dowager Countess
Dowager Lady
Dowager Viscountess
Dr.
Druid
Duchess
Duke
Earl
Eur Ing
Father
Field Marshal Sir
Flight Captain
Flight Lt
Flight Sergeant
Flying Officer
Frau
Fraulein
General
General Sir
Graf
Grafin
Group Captain
HRH
HRH Crown Prince
HRH the Duke of
Her Hon Judge
Herr
His Excellency
His Grace the Duke
His Hon Judge
His Honour
His Honour Sir
Hon
Hon Judge
Hon Lady
Hon Miss
Hon Mr
Hon Mr Justice
Hon Mrs
Hon Sir
Ing
Jonkheer
Judge
Judge Sir
Justice
Lady
Laird
Lance Corporal
Lord
Lord Justice
Lord Marquess
Lt
Lt Col
Lt Col Rtd
Lt Col the Hon
Lt Colonel
Lt Colonel Sir
Lt Commander
Lt Commander Sir
Lt Gen
Lt Gen Sir
Madam
Madame
Mademoiselle
Major
Major General
Major General Sir
Major the Hon Sir
Marchesa
Marchioness
Marquess
Marquis
Master
Miss
Monsieur
Mr.
Mrs.
Ms.
Mx.
Parch
Pastor
Pilot Officer
President
Prince
Princess
Professor
Professor Dr
Professor Sir
Rabbi
Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral Sir
Rev Dr
Revd
Reverend
Reverend (Miss)
Reverend (Mrs)
Reverend (Ms)
Reverend Canon
Reverend Canon Doctor
Reverend Captain
Reverend Commander
Reverend Deacon
Reverend Father
Reverend Mother
Reverend Prebendary
Reverend Professor
Reverend Sir
Reverend the Hon
Right Reverend
Right Reverend Lord Bishop
Rt Hon
Rt Hon Baroness
Rt Hon Dr (Female)
Rt Hon Dr (Male)
Rt Hon Earl
Rt Hon Lady
Rt Hon Lord
Rt Hon Sir
Rt Hon Viscount
Rt Hon Viscountess
Rt Rev the Bishop
Sayed
Senor
Senorita
Sergeant
Sheikh
Signor
Signora
Sir
Sister
Squadron Ldr
Squadron Officer
Squire
Sub-Lieutenant
Superintendent
Supporter
Surgeon Captain
Surgeon Commander
Surgeon Rear Admiral
The Honorable
The Reverend Brother
Ven Archdeacon
Venerable
Venerable Canon
Very Revd
Very Reverend
Very Reverend Mgr
Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral Sir
Vicomte
Viscount
Viscountess
Warrant Officer
Wing Commander

Imbiber
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Re: Titles

#229666

Postby Imbiber » June 15th, 2019, 9:50 am

Arnold Rimmer?

UncleEbenezer
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Re: Titles

#229672

Postby UncleEbenezer » June 15th, 2019, 10:16 am

Nothing for Prophet? Chief? Outrageous!

And look at all that racial/linguistic bias. No Граф, for instance?

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Re: Titles

#229676

Postby kiloran » June 15th, 2019, 10:39 am

AF62 wrote:
Try joining the National Trust where you get a choice of -

...........
HRH
HRH Crown Prince
HRH the Duke of
...........
Rt Hon Dr (Female)
Rt Hon Dr (Male)
........


I can't imagine an HRH would have to apply to be a member of the National Trust.

And they need to get with the times. Where is Rt Hon Dr (Trans)?

--kiloran

UncleEbenezer
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Re: Titles

#229686

Postby UncleEbenezer » June 15th, 2019, 11:44 am

Rt Hon Dr (Female)
Rt Hon Dr (Male)

In my working life I've found "Dr" the most incredibly useful title - albeit without the extra claptrap in the above.

Scenario: I need to write to a stranger. Let's say, the author of something that's of significant relevance to my work, and that I want to use. I'm writing politely and want to observe basic formality. Going back before the days of Google, I have no idea of the sex of the addressee: all I know is the name "A N Other". "Dear SirorMadam" is bad enough, and when you have a name that should logically become "Dear MrMrsMissMs Other", or in practice the rather clumsy workaround "Dear A N Other". But "Dear Dr Other" avoids the problem without gaucheness, and has the added advantage that even if the addressee lacks a PhD, they are more likely to be flattered than insulted by the error.

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Re: Titles

#229757

Postby stevensfo » June 15th, 2019, 5:31 pm

AF62 wrote:
UncleEbenezer wrote:Harumph.

I've just been prompted to select a title from a dropdown menu
  • Mr
  • Mrs
  • Miss
  • Ms
  • Mx
  • Dr
  • Sir
  • Rev


Try joining the National Trust where you get a choice of - .....




Bit limited isn't it?

No Emperor, King, Fuhrer, Magnificence, Supreme Leader... etc.

Besides, after a very varied career, I've collected most of them on the list.

As soon as I've reversed my sex change, resigned my Bishopric, sent my CV to the Vatican and invaded Poland, I should have the set!


Steve

scotia
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Re: Titles

#229879

Postby scotia » June 16th, 2019, 11:52 am

UncleEbenezer wrote:In my working life I've found "Dr" the most incredibly useful title

Try using it when you book a sleeper on a train - and then get wakened up in the middle of the night to administer medical help to an unwell passenger. Then you have to patiently explain that you an expert in ...... , but hate the sight of blood.
OK - I know that's not covered by the "working life", but its a good warning to youngsters, proud of their new Ph.D. Mind you - are there still sleepers? Doesn't everybody now fly? Am I showing my age?

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Re: Titles

#229886

Postby Lanark » June 16th, 2019, 12:10 pm

Worth noting that the misuse of certain “designated titles” is a criminal offence.

I wonder where they draw the line with that though, I mean if we all start referring to HRH Crown Prince Nigel Farage, who would get into trouble?

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Re: Titles

#229888

Postby AF62 » June 16th, 2019, 12:14 pm

scotia wrote:OK - I know that's not covered by the "working life", but its a good warning to youngsters, proud of their new Ph.D. Mind you - are there still sleepers? Doesn't everybody now fly? Am I showing my age?


There is, but be prepared for a bus replacement service when it develops square wheels - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-48642146

UncleEbenezer
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Re: Titles

#229892

Postby UncleEbenezer » June 16th, 2019, 12:21 pm

scotia wrote:Mind you - are there still sleepers? Doesn't everybody now fly? Am I showing my age?

The one and only time I used a sleeper train in Blighty was 2007. It was moderately grim: uncomfortable bed, tiny space, primitive facilities, not I thought worth the extra cost over just a seat.

That was for a journey to Amsterdam: sleeper to London, early train to Harwich, followed by morning ferry crossing. Coming home I took the overnight ferry and daytime train, which was a whole lot nicer on both legs of the journey, so I've done that ever since. Comfy cabin with ensuite facilities and adequate space. I expect the truckers - presumably the main revenue stream for those ferries - insist on something decent.

Flying isn't even an option around here. Nearest airport that isn't a joke is Bristol, and that's most of the way to London anyway. Not that I'd want to: the train+ferry is a much nicer way to travel, and a good night's sleep (which I do get) on the ferry accounts for most of the difference in time taken.

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Citation needed

#229895

Postby UncleEbenezer » June 16th, 2019, 12:29 pm

Lanark wrote:Worth noting that the misuse of certain “designated titles” is a criminal offence.

I wonder where they draw the line with that though, I mean if we all start referring to HRH Crown Prince Nigel Farage, who would get into trouble?

Really?

I thought we had more-or-less a free-for-all there: a fair few people invent titles for themselves. Surely if there's an offence, it would be one of identity theft (calling yourself a specific title that belongs to someone else) or of fraudulently claiming qualifications?

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Re: Titles

#229908

Postby scotia » June 16th, 2019, 1:25 pm

Youngsters seem to fly everywhere - they lead such an important life. After completing his work, my son stayed overnight in Hell (sic), but flew back in time to catch a fine sea trout on the Spey the following evening. Such devotion to duty.

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Re: Citation needed

#229914

Postby stevensfo » June 16th, 2019, 1:57 pm

UncleEbenezer wrote:
Lanark wrote:Worth noting that the misuse of certain “designated titles” is a criminal offence.

I wonder where they draw the line with that though, I mean if we all start referring to HRH Crown Prince Nigel Farage, who would get into trouble?

Really?

I thought we had more-or-less a free-for-all there: a fair few people invent titles for themselves. Surely if there's an offence, it would be one of identity theft (calling yourself a specific title that belongs to someone else) or of fraudulently claiming qualifications?


That's what I have always believed too. That you can use whatever name and title you want, providing you do not use it to commit fraud or gain pecuniary advantage.

Steve....King of the garden shed, Lord of the Hoes, Air Marshall of Airfix squadron 101, Cardinal of the church of Pot Noodle.

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Re: Citation needed

#229922

Postby Lanark » June 16th, 2019, 2:19 pm

UncleEbenezer wrote:
Lanark wrote:Worth noting that the misuse of certain “designated titles” is a criminal offence.

I wonder where they draw the line with that though, I mean if we all start referring to HRH Crown Prince Nigel Farage, who would get into trouble?

Really?

I thought we had more-or-less a free-for-all there: a fair few people invent titles for themselves. Surely if there's an offence, it would be one of identity theft (calling yourself a specific title that belongs to someone else) or of fraudulently claiming qualifications?

I guess that depends how you define "misuse"
Like many such laws, you could hypothetically be dragged into court to prove that your use of the title was not against the rules and that's enough to put most people off.


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