Was a Qantas attendant disrespectful to call a passenger with a doctorate miss?

Great you have a Ph.D, congrats and well done. Being a trolly dolly (according to Dr Mel Thomson), currently pursing my second Masters degree, I would suggest that you get your money back from your education, as you believe Dr is part of your name. NO, it is a title.......A Ph.D suggests you are able to collect and work with huge amounts of information. So sit back, shut-up a pay close attention:1. Dr for a flight crew will be taken as an MD. We do not care if you have any other type of doctorate unless it is a medical degree, this due to medical emergencies.2. Inflight, we have no idea who you are or what you are. You are one of many faces onboard. Using Ms, Mrs or Mr cuts through all of this.3. What do you call the cabin crew when speaking to them? Sir, Ms or.........?4. You are not in any way shape or form doing the feminist cause any good by your behaviour at all. 5. Your employer needs to sit you down and explain life, attitude, respect for others, humility, etc.But, seriously, be proud of your academic accomplishments. just do not use them to step on others.......Outside of your professional world, your Ph.D means nothing......Sorry to burst your bubble honey....:-)

Quote. âWhen I was young I used to admire intelligent people. As I grew older, I admire kind peopleâ. I cannot stand academic snobbery!

She has a doctorate in philosophy. She is not a medical doctor. While the distinction may appear just academic, it is relevant for two reasons:1) Generally, the honorific Doctor is reserved in a general setting for medical doctors. A persons academic doctorate in other fields are only used in task/academic-specific situations - e.g. employment, lecture theatres, speaking tours, etc. Although, of course, some pretentious people like to throw their academic qualifications around to make themselves seem important when they are really just another bum on a plane seat. And,2) The inappropriate use of the Doctor honorific in this particular setting could cause a potentially serious misunderstanding and unnecessary delay in the event that a real doctor (i.e. a medical doctor) is needed in the event of an emergency on the aeroplane.

As a woman, I understand that Dr ODwyer has certain preferences as to how she wishes to be addressed. That is her right, just as for instance, another woman might feel strongly about being Ms or Mrs or heaven forbid Miss (in the case of an older unmarried woman I know). That said, this womans reaction was totally over the top. If she felt that strongly about the matter, she could have just said (politely) its Dr actually and left it at that. There was certainly no need to start insulting airline staff on social media, although at least the world now knows that she âspent 8 years at university,❠gained a PhD and in the process has lost touch with reality!

Lots of people work hard. Some people even have real jobs.

Went to all that trouble and 8 years of hard slog to earn a PhD but didnt bother using some of her given lifetime to learn or grow one of lifes greatest rewards and most useful tools,emotional maturity.

There is only one class of person that I would address as Doctor and that is a medical doctor. Holding a doctorate so what. What an ego passenger. She may have preferences but so do I. And addressing her as Dr is not one of them. Good on you Qantas stewardess.

That was incredible. Best comment Ive ever read.

someone thinks they are more important then everyone else.

She needs to get over herself.

OMG talk about a storm in a tea cup, the attendant was polite., who actually really cares, I get called miss not mrs, madam instead of Mrs but they are not rude.And if thats the worst you get called you dont hv a problem except maybe too much time on your hands.

Very well said!

She should get over herself. And get a useful degree.

It does take a huge amount of work but not more than a MD. Lets keep to the facts eh.

What a high and mighty madam!!!

I think Miss ODwyer is getting her knickers in a twist, the flight attendant was being respectful.She (the attendant) could have not even addressed Miss ODwyer by name.

I am just adding to my previous comment. From an ex Flight Attendant point of view being labelled a âtrolley dolly❠from another academic who commented on the piece of news in question. Heres the thing if in an emergency, and the plane is going down Ill bet your bottom dollar that the âacademics❠will have a totally different attitude toward the cabin crew and not mind if they are addressed Ms or Dr! FYI the emergency procedure training for cabin crew is huge and you have to pass every year believe me it is not a walk in the park!

I cant believe she spent 8 years studying and working hard just so someone could call her doctor.

I think this would be equally likely if she was man. I would call a man in the same situation Mr if I was the flight attendant. We arent in the hospital now so it would feel awkward and unnecessary - Would you like the chicken or the beef, Doctor? - so silly. This reminds me of the episode of Seinfeld in which Elaine dates the conductor who insists on only being referred to as Maestro...

She should be thankful she wasnt called mister...What is the world coming to? Offended over something like that...?? The (cough, cough) doctor needs to take a chill pill.