Nobody thinks medical doctors, clergy, elected officials, or members of the military are pretentious for using titles. So, why academics? Titles are a sign of respect for training, expertise, and the nature of your service to others. Why not default to that respect?
Why is it that the only people I ever see arguing that academic titles don’t matter are white men?
The elite, Ivory Tower model of academia is outdated (and lets be honest, started to be eroded when the first Morrill Act founded land grant universities in 1862). It’s further eroded as our ranks have diversified to include women, POC, PWD, the poor, and LGBTQ+ folks.
When I see white men arguing that ditching titles is what academics need to earn the public’s respect, I think, “you’re not paying attention to what’s really made universities out of touch.”
When I was in Kuwait at a women in STEM conference, “Engineer” was a title, because it’s such a valued and respected position in Gulf Coast countries.
You don’t want to use academic titles? Fine. Just remember that the thing you’re so quick to toss aside was fought for by generations of others who found the doors to learning barred to them. For some of us, our title is a badge of honor. It’s a war medal.
I’m tired of the straw argument that titles are pompous when used in social/non-work situations.
We’re talking about a very specific set of professional interactions here. Like introducing a colleague, or corresponding with someone for the first time in a professional capacity.
We’re talking about a very specific set of professional interactions here. Like introducing a colleague, or corresponding with someone for the first time in a professional capacity.
I’m just tired of this argument. It must be nice to see titles as an outdated, elitist institution that you can just abandon like an old shirt. It must be nice to ignore the contexts others work under. I’m getting off the internet for awhile. Dr. Harlan said it best, anyway. 
