For context, I have a PhD in Plant Biotechnology.
In India, an average PhD takes 5 years.
So that’s 3 years of graduation, 2 Years of postgraduation and 5-6 years of PhD.
Recently at my other friends wedding, all of us girls were sitting and chatting with the bride and discussing life. Some of them were asking me what I do as some of us had met each other when this friend (let’s call her Halley) laughed and said “oh, she is a fake doctor…”
I was so stumped by that that it took me a while to just hold back tears.
I didn’t cry but I also didn’t say anything back not wanting to create a scene at that point.
Halley shrugged it off saying that she was joking.
I am hurt and don’t know how to deal with such a comment from such an old friend
Comments
What does she do?
let me guess, Haley is a high school dropout ? because she talked like one.
You’re a doctor. What’s she? Jealous.
Stop being friends with her. These type of friends are the ones who put you down and pretend they know nothing about it.
I hate to be the one to say it but, yeah, a lot of people think PhDs who put “Dr” in their name are “fake” or poseurs, unless you’re an acclaimed expert in your field.
I think it’s a reaction not quite understanding what doctor really is or maybe the common meaning / explanation of what a “Doctor” is has moved on to only mean medical doctors.
Don’t pay it no mind and just keep some snappy answers ready.
“Better a fake doctor than have a fake nose. You former long nostriled bitch !”
“Maybe but the traffic cop tearing up my ticket midway doesn’t know.”
“Yeah so can you please tell your dad to stop calling me and asking for a prescription for his haemorrhoids ?”
“5 years from now you’ll be begging for Botox at my new clinic !”
Etc
This has nothing to do with you and 100% about her insecurities. Everyone who hears a person call a PhD a “fake doctor” knows that person is feeling inadequate and probably regrets a few life choices
It’s not about you
Among my friends from high school, there’s one who’s a medical doctor and another who has a PhD in history. There have been plenty of jokes about the PhD (e.g.: If someone yells “We need a doctor!” in a public place, they ain’t asking for no PhD!).
But there’s a way to go about keeping things good-natured, and your friend certainly didn’t.
If she ever makes a snide remark again just say, “dimming my light won’t make yours shine brighter.”
She hates you. And herself.
So annoying clearly a shitty friend who’s just uneducated lol
Dr title is not unique or specific to MD- but used to denote a variety of doctorate level degrees in various fields. Dr is merely used to address a LEVEL of expertise and education someone has, not a field
A doctor also happens to abbreviate to DR
People commonly use their degree abbreviations after their name also to identify the field of expertise
God drives me crazy!
Your a DR with your PHD – I would be passive aggressive and respond back to her comments of “oh someone’s a fake doctor” by saying uh oh someone does know how doctorate degrees work and chuckle
You worked exceptionally hard for your education, be proud of it , you deserve to
She’s jealous.
You don’t have to stay friends with someone who treats you like this. Would you stay with a partner who spoke like that to you? No. Same goes for friends.
Real friends talk you up, not bring you down.
May her children be as ugly as her attitude.
Idk among my friends we use the “fake doctor” as a joke for the few of us that have a PhD and not an MD. So maybe she’s just socially stupid and didn’t understand that you can’t always use jokes common to your circle with people you’ve just met because they might not take as intended.