Honorary doctorate awarded

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...egree-18597260

Whenever you see someone with their name preceded by 'Dr', what image comes to your mind?
A physician or surgeon?
An academic who has attained the ultimate height in their specialism?
A scientist who has developed practically applicable nuclear fusion?
A footballer?
Eh!?

I had a laugh when I first read this article. Then I wondered whether there might be some confusion amongst the audience if this particular 'doctor' had been invited to deliver a lecture in the Royal Institution!

Re: Honorary doctorate awarded

Probably a spin off from the BLM garbage.

Re: Honorary doctorate awarded

I think he was banging on about something recently. I can't remember what because I really wasn't listening.

Anyway, now he is a doctor, do you think he would take a look at my dodgy knee?

Re: Honorary doctorate awarded

Seriously, though, I think some real doctors wouldn't look too kindly on this sort of thing.

I'm not trying to sound off about this, believe me, but Marge worked very hard for many years for her EdD (similar to a PhD). I know, because I was there for her when she needed some support.

MB ChB doctors work for five years at university and then for years in a clinical environment before they can be addressed as 'doctors', and even then it's a 'courtesy title' rather than an MD, which is a later postgraduate thing which only a few follow up.

A footballer given the title of 'doctor' makes for a bit of a joke in my book, bearing in mind that most of them have difficulty in even stringing a coherent sentence together.

Re: Honorary doctorate awarded

The laboratory where I worked before retirement had plenty of PhDs amongst the scientific staff. All but 2 or 3 of them never had the "Dr" honorific on their passport in case they were on a flight and a medical doctor was required.

Re: Honorary doctorate awarded

I don't get it .... according to the article it is for .....

his "remarkable campaign against child poverty off the field and outstanding sporting achievements on the pitch."

What has that to do with universities and learning ?
Isn't that the kind of good-deed-doing that the Queen awards one her dangly baubly things for?

Re: Honorary doctorate awarded

Yes, but as Todger posted, I suspect it has more to do with M/cr Uni's BLM credentials than anything else.

Re: Honorary doctorate awarded

Good point.

Something the Germans do, which might be wise for us to follow, is to describe a medical doctor as Artzt, rather than Doktor.

Re: Honorary doctorate awarded

It does seem a strange thing to award as a 'thankyou' for an achievement? It took nine years start to finish for our grandson to get his doctorate. He had to know a huge amount about his subject to attain it.

Re: Honorary doctorate awarded

Wouldn't surprise me.
I think we all know about 'academics' these days.
And to think that we once led the world in higher education.