Proper use of Dr. by Iranians

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bahmani
by bahmani
07-Sep-2011
 

Iranians with PhDs sure love to call themselves Dr.

Almost every one who completes the post graduate degree, and is Iranian, stomps about socially like a small child who didn't get the ice cream, as if they have really achieved something huge. If this describes you, remind yourself that Iran is oppressed.

As a self congratulatory pat on their own backs, they think they can walk around head high, unusually larger than most noses tipped into rarified air, and demand everyone call them Dr.

Often, Iranians are ridiculed socially in the US. Those of us who know it, juts know it and have given up trying to correct it. Partly because we seem oblivious to the plight of our country, but mostly if it isn't the rough accent, it's the penchant for pretending to be Tony and Italian, or the insistence that your Persian food restaurant is somehow Mediterranean cuisine, and that all Shiraz wine comes from Shiraz. (The Shiraz grape originated in Iran but was made famous by the French, as usual. Get over it.)

But to those of you who desperately yearn for the attention, and are simply dying to let everyone know that you have a PhD, unfortunately you can't use Dr., and should just get on with your life. Here's some hard to tell truth. Hard for me because I have been holding this in for now 30 years or so, as I have suffered the insufferable announcements and introductions.

Here's the etiquette in the West (In Iran you can ask them to call you whatever you want, if you are brave enough to go back and demand it, although I wouldn't announce it too loudly over there either) you can ONLY call yourself a Dr, under 2 conditions:

1 - You are a Medical Doctor.

2 - You are university staff with a PhD, who does not teach (if you taught a class, you could call yourself Professor).

Anything else, and it is not proper to use Dr. I know, but, but, but, stop crying right now, go and get them now and cross it out on the business cards you had made up, and just take it like a man.

You can of course use PhD all you want, but you have to put that at the end of your name so I hope you can handle that, so yeah.

Also, for all of you who have them, please know that having a PhD, does not make you necessarily smarter than everyone else. You don't get your own lounge at the airport. You merely have debatably more useless information than most people, but that is debatable. I think I have quite a lot of useless information (like use of Dr. etiquette) myself and am willing to put mine up against anyone's for comparison. And equal ridicule.

Finally, and I can't help but hope that this one stings just a bit, just so you get it. Having a PhD does not make you special or can force people to listen to you more than anyone else, it just means you really really really liked going to school.

A lot.

And there's absolutely nothing wrong or impressive about that.

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VPK

by comments on

You shouldn't be bothered.  That's the main key in business. 

We all want to feel likable.  We all want others to trust and listen to us.  That's not difficult when we target a few people or a family. 

But, when we want to target a majority we have to apply a technology which is called branding and marketing. 

It's like to say why we post our resume on the internet.  Or, why we advertise on billboards.  They say DR. because it brings value to their talk or article in influence people.  You or me don't get influenced by that.  Perhaps, that's not the best marketing technique for us.  I am sure it is not for others.  On the other hand, they don't lie at least in being a DR. in such a world that many lie.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Ph. D.

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

It depends what it is in. If it is in "Hajialogy" nonsense it ain't worth nothing. If it is in a real thing like Medicine; Art; Science it is valuable.

The only discomfort I feel is when I hear someone boast of their Ph. D. When they try substituting it for reason. For example "Dr so said it hence it is right". As opposed to "logical reasoning".

That is the only time I have a problem with Ph. D.


comments

Why?

by comments on

In my opinion two types of Iranians do Ph.D.s:

1) Those who follow their interests because they "can" since they are financially stable.

2) Those who have to do their Ph.D. because that was the easiest way to leave Iran.  They want a visa.  That's all.  Then, they might change their career towards something else like preachers, pasters or real estate agents.  I know those all and there is nothing wrong with that.  At age 10 one wants to be a national team soccer player, at age 16 a researcher and so on.  There is not a single standard in here. 

I haven't seen any Ph.D. Iranians who were "too" proud of their degrees except those who have nothing to offer except a Ph.D. degree.  I think you should ask yourself "why" you feel discomfort when you hear about a Ph.D. Iranian.  Do you have the same feeling for Chineese or Indian Ph.D.s who are so more than Iranians?  On the other hand, do you think those bad Iranian Ph.D.s would have a different personality or attitudes if they had a community college degree?  That's true Ph.D. does not bring money by itself though I know Ph.D.s in all different fields who are at the top of the country financially. 

p.s. As long as you care about somoone's career because you are nosy; then, that's fine I guess.  I know many Iranians entertain themselves by showing too much curiosity about other people's affairs.  It's safe as long as to respect the fine line that you never know when you reach.


JahanKhalili

What Are Iranians Good At?

by JahanKhalili on

There are Iranians I've met who really impressed me, but they aren't necessarlly people who are widely celebrated by other Iranians (which is all the more evidence of their worth, in my opinion).

That's a subject for another discussion, though. 


Soosan Khanoom

Bring it on JK ....

by Soosan Khanoom on

You know there are a few desperate and rude Iranian bashing crowds on this site who blog and comment Bla Blas daily. They have also invented some imaginary friends to boost their egos. Besides, if anyone challenges them they just accuse them to be an IRI junki, thug and agent anything you name it  ... Those are the ones that I am not going to waste my time with.  Not you ... so do not get discouraged ...bring it on 

You seems to be a reasonable guy... you have some points .... you have not created any imaginary friends to boost your ego and besides you are not calling people who argue with you an IRI thingy ... whatever that thingy is ...  LOL

Now if you just could be a little bit more polite that would be great. cause some of us including me and VPK are actually the wrong crowd to fight with on this  site ..

before bringing up more negative points , can I ask you what is it that we Iranians are good at ?

can you come up with something positive?  

Come on for God's sake ...   Don't you have anything good to say about Iranians?   not even their Chelo Kababs ?

: ) 

 

 

 


JahanKhalili

Iranians Always Worship "Success"

by JahanKhalili on

... even if they themselves put obstacles in the person's way at every opportunity.

How hypocritical. 


JahanKhalili

I Wonder, Too

by JahanKhalili on

Maybe we should ask him.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Bad thing

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

to be an artist in Iran. I wonder where this guy sprag from:

//iranian.com/main/blog/gordafarid/irania...

 


JahanKhalili

Translation of Veiled Prophet of Khorasan's BS

by JahanKhalili on

We Iranians can't admit we suck.

So I'm going to attack JK here, and pretend the discussion is about him, because I can't stand to see my precious Iranians and their royal culture criticized.

Better for injustices that result from Iranian culture to continue, rather than having them examined. 


Soosan Khanoom

VPK Jan

by Soosan Khanoom on

JK is the least of my worries on this site ..  he is fun and besides he brings some good points and I think most of the time he is just kidding  :)  


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Soosan Khanoom

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

You are right this person JK is out to pick a fight with people. He makes the accusations that may get a reaction out of us. But then gets mad when ignored. I think the best response is to ignore him. Obviously got a lot of baggege.

The funny part is the total ignorance of Iranian culture. No knowledge of what we value. Or anything that matters to us. I am guessing he got pumped full of hate by a divorced mother :-) But then I don't know or really does not matter.


Soosan Khanoom

wrong is wrong

by Soosan Khanoom on

I admit that culturally we , Iranians ,  have many-things to overcome but do not forget that not long time ago, here in the U.S, police would not even respond to domestic viloence cause they would see it as a personal matter between husband and wife ... I guess that was also a norm back then or a culture perhaps?  

I know you are not talking about this but things are similar especially if one looks into the roots of them.

I agree that there are some families in Iran exactly as you have mentioned but still I can not generalize it.  

 


JahanKhalili

This Isn't About Wife Beating

by JahanKhalili on

Its about a conflict of visions between an American and an Iranian. 

 


Soosan Khanoom

Those movies are based on real life events

by Soosan Khanoom on

come one ... now  ... get yourself enlightened by visiting some public sites concerning Domestic violence in the U.S of A 

But still I do not see all white guys being abusive towards women.... I once loved an American guy and he was the sweetest person ever... 

What I am saying is that you should not just generalize and label based on that ...We have morons in any society and only public awareness and well funded campaigns can stop these type of behaviors that mostly are being done due to ignorance and lack of education . 

By the way , I think any one who watches fox news and believes it is a real idiot the rest of us are probably idiots for watching TV in general but not as much .. .lol

 


JahanKhalili

Another Remarkable Thing

by JahanKhalili on

Is how all the relatives (Iranians, of course) of such a person as the one in the example I've describe, will back him up.

They won't condemn him for what he did. Instead, they'll hypocritically focus all their criticism on the son or the American wife.

At any rate, they'll refrain from criticizing the cause of this crap: their own culture and its stupid expectations. 


JahanKhalili

Soosan Khanoom

by JahanKhalili on

I'm talking about real life situatons.

You shouldn't conclude anything from movies. Anyone who gets their ideas about reality from movies is an idiot.


Soosan Khanoom

Jk ... not all Iranian men are like that

by Soosan Khanoom on

You know when I watch Lifetime network true stories movies, I see that almost 90 percent of the time the movie is about a white guy beating the hell out of his wife.  Should I then conclude that all the White guys or American men, are wife beaters ?  

I think you are here to pick a fight with some of the commentators on this site which is fine but please use some common sense as well .... Something that I am sure you have  but somehow you ignore it ..  perhaps because you like to shake the boat here  .. lol 

PS... and I give you credit for that

: ) 


JahanKhalili

What Happened to a Half-Iranian Friend of Mine

by JahanKhalili on

When his American mother was encouraging him to develop his artistic talent (drawing), his Iranian father beat her up.

I asked him (the Iranian father) why he did that, he said that his own father had beat HIM up when he discovered him drawing pictures, because it was regarded as a bad thing for a boy to be an artist in Iran.

But this same Iranian father was all eager for his son to get a graduate degree later on.

There you go, liars!

Keep denying. 


JahanKhalili

Iran's Poets and Musicians

by JahanKhalili on

... probably didn't come from PhD worshipping households.

If anything, they might have been people who were rebels against their own society and culture - in which case we could scarcely give their culture all (or maybe any) of the credit for producing them. 


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Iran produced

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

many great musicians of "Traditional Iranian Music". Not European music. People like Faramarz Payvar and many others. 

many great poets. I am not going to list them. Anyone needing that is not Iranian. Even the dumbest Iranian knows the names of dozens of top poets.

Many great painters one of whom was featured here a while ago. Rassam Arjangi. So shortage of Iranian artists.


JahanKhalili

Good Night, Refugee From a Third World Country

by JahanKhalili on

Go dream of a PhD.


maziar 58

remember

by maziar 58 on

we don't like to ignore even a lost puppy (MUTT).

Don't pass on that easy PHD from huze.

google does wonder ;Sorry for my broken English 

good night kiddo

Maziar


JahanKhalili

Probably a Conductor, Actually

by JahanKhalili on

Our little friend Maziar probably doesn't know the difference though between a composer and a conductor.

Bah.

Iranian Third World. 


JahanKhalili

So Iran Has Produced A Composer

by JahanKhalili on

Wow.

It must have been an accident. 

A scientific study should be done to find out how it was possible, given all the Iranian PhD facists running around stamping out any inclination to do anything like that. 


JahanKhalili

Maziar58

by JahanKhalili on

No, I wouldn't.

You Iranians are all the same.

You're comment is an example.

You're all full of concern for reputation, and so you think I care if you assault my reputation.

I don't care what you think of me, camel nose.

Get it? 


maziar 58

MYOB

by maziar 58 on

Jay kay would you like to study theology?

since hakim is your mentor (as you said) try Islamic huzeh and in no time you'll earn your own PHD to brag about .

An Iranian composer played for New york orchestra in 1958-63 and then retired in 2009 after 20 yrs with the san francisco plus there are few more talented musicians.

remember tostudy hard if you want to become a TALABE otherwise you'll turn to a MOTREB. 

Maziar


JahanKhalili

Perhaps We Should Have a Museum of Iranian PhDs

by JahanKhalili on

Maybe we should get them all together and see if they can produce a single great painting between the lot of them.

Or perhaps we could get these PhDs together and see if they could make us a single Iranian symphonic work. 

Then we could judge them: did they produce great art, or shitty art? Did they succeed in even making a nursery tune? 

What do you all think? 

Since Iranians are sold on the idea that there is no other worthy endeavor than to get PhDs, etc, perhaps they should fill the positions they prevented others from occupying.

Seems only fair to me. 


JahanKhalili

This Is Where Worshipping Reputation Leads To

by JahanKhalili on

People who live for the sake of looking good in front of others, will never do anything different or genuinely new.

Real mavericks and people who had really original ideas, had to endure some ostracism and ridicule at least in the beginning, before they finally succeeded.

Iranians love their reputations too much to ever attempt such a thing as risking ridicule or public scorn.

The result is that Iranians never do anything that hasn't had precident - i.e. something that has already gained public currency.

If it could damage their reptuation, or bring them into conflict with public opinion, they won't touch it. 


JahanKhalili

Iranians Have Succeeded

by JahanKhalili on

In eradicating the idea that there is any worthy goal in life except getting a PhD, MD or engineering degree.

That's why there are no Iranian Rembrants, Da Vincis, or Beethovens. 

They would be stamped out by the PhD, MD and engineering degree facists, if they ever happened to spring up in some Iranian family. 


JahanKhalili

Iranians Haven't Produce a Beethoven

by JahanKhalili on

Why?

Because, had Beethoven been born in Iran, his parents would force him to become a doctor, or to get a PhD or engineering degree.

This is so obvious that it doesn't need explaining.

I have an Iranian friend who left Iran as a small child, and who WANTED to become a professional lute player.

His Iranian parents went to work on him, doing everything that they could to disuade him and sabatoge his dream.

... and they did - and he lived to regret it.

That's what Iranians are: dream killers.

PhD, MD and engineering degree worshippers. Phillistines. People who imitate the West but who will never be Westerners, or produce art on its level. People who win kudos and prizes, strut and look important, and become big Iranian fish and that little Iranian pond, but who never make any major contribution to any field.