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Isn’t it a bit petty to deny him that? It seems a hell of a lot harder to me to get a honorary doctorate than a normal PhD, and I can think of a lot of PhDs who

Isn’t it a bit petty to deny him that? It seems a hell of a lot harder to me to get a honorary doctorate than a normal PhD, and I can think of a lot of PhDs who deserve their doctor title a lot less than Stallman.

chrisseaton 6y ago
Kanye West, Ben Affleck, Jon Bon Jovi, etc, all have honorary doctorates. Why does nobody call them Doctor? For the same reason you shouldn't call Stallman Doctor - because you don't do that for honorary doctorates. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree#Use_of_title_associated_with_honorary_doctorates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree#Use_of_title_a... Almost all universities explicitly and strongly tell people they give honorary degrees to to not do this. https://www.wthrockmorton.com/2017/12/11/honorary-doctorate-prefix-dr/ https://www.wthrockmorton.com/2017/12/11/honorary-doctorate-...
- bjornsing 6y ago
  Well that’s just social convention, and I don’t place much emphasis on that. I reserve the right to address anyone I choose as “doctor”, and if Stallman prefers to be addressed that way I’m happy to oblige. He has certainly earned it in my book. Same goes for Benjamin Franklin btw, whom I see you left out of your list.
  - chrisseaton 6y ago
    You’re free to call him Saint IGNUcius if you want - many people do - and it’s a similar level of connection to reality.
    - bjornsing 6y ago
      I find this kind of credentialism a bit silly to be honest. If there’s anything with little connection to reality it’s 90% of dissertations.
      - chrisseaton 6y ago
        > I find this kind of credentialism a bit silly to be honest I can understand this opinion, but surely the most intensely silly credential is a credential you granted yourself?
        bjornsing 6y ago
        I don't know. It's the "appeal to authority" that makes it silly in my eyes. It's sort of the opposite of the scientific mindset, and that bothers me. Stallman or Franklin calling themselves "Doctor" I can definitely live with.
        deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]
      - NonEUCitizen 6y ago
        Trying to call yourself "Dr." when you don't have a real PhD is the worst kind of credentialism. I call my friends with real PhD's by their first names and they're fine with that.
        bjornsing 6y ago
        > I call my friends with real PhD's by their first names and they're fine with that. Would you seriously consider anything else? If a friend of mine with a PhD told me to adress him as "Doctor" I would assume he was joking...
- m463 6y ago
  Good thing Dan Aykroyd got an honorary doctorate (Carleton) to back up Doctor Detroit.

chrisseaton 6y ago

Kanye West, Ben Affleck, Jon Bon Jovi, etc, all have honorary doctorates. Why does nobody call them Doctor? For the same reason you shouldn't call Stallman Doctor - because you don't do that for honorary doctorates. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree#Use_of_title_associated_with_honorary_doctorates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree#Use_of_title_a... Almost all universities explicitly and strongly tell people they give honorary degrees to to not do this. https://www.wthrockmorton.com/2017/12/11/honorary-doctorate-prefix-dr/ https://www.wthrockmorton.com/2017/12/11/honorary-doctorate-...

bjornsing 6y ago
Well that’s just social convention, and I don’t place much emphasis on that. I reserve the right to address anyone I choose as “doctor”, and if Stallman prefers to be addressed that way I’m happy to oblige. He has certainly earned it in my book. Same goes for Benjamin Franklin btw, whom I see you left out of your list.
- chrisseaton 6y ago
  You’re free to call him Saint IGNUcius if you want - many people do - and it’s a similar level of connection to reality.
  - bjornsing 6y ago
    I find this kind of credentialism a bit silly to be honest. If there’s anything with little connection to reality it’s 90% of dissertations.
    - chrisseaton 6y ago
      > I find this kind of credentialism a bit silly to be honest I can understand this opinion, but surely the most intensely silly credential is a credential you granted yourself?
      - bjornsing 6y ago
        I don't know. It's the "appeal to authority" that makes it silly in my eyes. It's sort of the opposite of the scientific mindset, and that bothers me. Stallman or Franklin calling themselves "Doctor" I can definitely live with.
        deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]
    - NonEUCitizen 6y ago
      Trying to call yourself "Dr." when you don't have a real PhD is the worst kind of credentialism. I call my friends with real PhD's by their first names and they're fine with that.
      - bjornsing 6y ago
        > I call my friends with real PhD's by their first names and they're fine with that. Would you seriously consider anything else? If a friend of mine with a PhD told me to adress him as "Doctor" I would assume he was joking...
m463 6y ago
Good thing Dan Aykroyd got an honorary doctorate (Carleton) to back up Doctor Detroit.