tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post8836796063639007526..comments2023-12-28T02:11:22.501+00:00Comments on The Streatham & Brixton Chess Blog: Doctor NoTom Chivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-88141783929930589932012-09-20T23:56:42.126+01:002012-09-20T23:56:42.126+01:00It's not about snobbery, more about reality. H...It's not about snobbery, more about reality. Hon Dons don't use their titles, that's the normal way of things. Why would you use it? Usually it is for the facade - like the Rev Dr Ian Paisley for example. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-4822489024775784132012-09-17T07:54:31.350+01:002012-09-17T07:54:31.350+01:00I'd let it run in this case
Thing is, though,...<i>I'd let it run in this case</i><br /><br />Thing is, though, it's simply and demonstrably incorrect: and its use in this instance has rather more to do with people sucking up to Nigel than anything else. If this were not the case, the usage would be general, since everybody who gets an honorary doctorate has as much reason to be proud of it as Nigel. But it's <i>not</i>. People - the "most non-academics" you cite - <i>don't</i> normally go out of their way to call people "Doctor" who have honorary doctorates. There are, as I say, no other examples I can think of in chess. So why is this individual different?<br /><br />The point about Sam Allardyce is that he's in the papers almost every day, which Harry Kroto is not, and therefore he's a good person against whom to make the comparison. If people were to call him "Doctor" we'd know by now. We do: they don't.<br /><br />Whenever I write on here that something in chess is demonstrably wrong, somebody will pop up to say "why does it matter?" I have a theory that the "why does it matter?" syndrome is a reason why chess has a number of the problems that it does.<br /><br />By the way, I've attended more than a thousand professional football matches in my life, and written books and many many articles on the subject. So re: "snobbery", do me a favour eh?ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-82979142681656621982012-09-16T14:29:52.239+01:002012-09-16T14:29:52.239+01:00As someone who possesses both kinds of doctorate, ...As someone who possesses both kinds of doctorate, I don't think we should be mean-spirited and snobbish about this. Most non-academics, certainly most non-graduates, can't be expected to know all the customs and conceits of University life. Clearly Nigel is very proud of the award; by the standards that apply, he merits it too. I'd let it run in this case, and not get too exercised about it.<br /><br />And by the way, he was awarded his honorary doctorate in the company of Nobel prize-winner, Sir Harry Kroto (the other guy in the picture). You neglected to mention this somehow in your zeal to associate Nigel with Sam Allardyce. Universities float on a sea of snobbery. There's no need to add to the swellDavid Rnoreply@blogger.com