"dentists are like carpenters. they're not really doctors, they just take people for money". Of course i know now that he is wrong, and he didnt use the same exact words, he's more diplomatic. But the fact is people think if im going to dental school, i'm a medschool reject.
Listen, this guy is a complete and utter acephalic *****. Here's a few things for you to ponder, kid. First, in the United States, the word/title doctor immediately brings to mind a physician of any specialty. When the average person says, "I'm going to see my doctor," he/she is usually referring to an MD or DO, not a dentist/psychologist/pharmacist/vet/optometrist/whatever.
Americans have this misconception that "doctor" equates to physician. It most certainly does not. If one is a doctor, one holds a doctoral degree -- either professional (e.g., MD, DDS, DVM, PharmD, OD, PsyD, JD) or acamdeic (e.g., PhD, EdD, ScD, DA, DPH). A professional doctorate is 3-4 years of post bachelor's education, at the doctoral level, that involves minimal or no research proficiency, no dissertation, and upon graduation, a rigourous licensing exam. An academic doctorate involves intense research and a dissertation either post-bacc or post-master's.
Thus, in reality, a "doctor" can be a PharmD, DVM, OD, MD, PhD, EdD, JD (yes, even lawyers are doctors, but choose not to use the title), AuD, DPT, DPM, DO, ScD, DPH, DBA, DSW, DMin, etc.). Anyone who has an EARNED doctor level degree is a doctor. Period! No questions. If your degree says "doctor" in it, you are a doctor. Not a physician, but a doctor. The terms physican and doctor have been inappropriately merged in the US. You do not find this problem in Europe.
In fact, in many parts of Europe, medicine and dentistry are undergraduate degrees (England, Ireland, etc.). In Germany and other Germanic countries, if you say "I'm Dr. so-and-so", it will be assumed that you are a PhD or lawyer, not a physician. When you say, "I'm a physician", you'll get..."Oh, a mere body mechanic...not an intellectual."
Secondly, your family friend has it all wrong. I just explained that anyone with a doctoral degree, even a lawyer or chiropractor or pharmacist, is a REAL doctor. Now, of course a dentist is NOT a physician, but so friggin' what? How does that make you any less of a professional?
Thirdly, no intelligent person would ever say that a dentist is a med school reject. If that were true, that would mean that no one, at any time, would voluntarily choose to be a dentist. That only those rejected from medical school would stoop so low as to enter dental school. That simply is not true. No intelligent person would believe that. I guess that one episode of Seinfeld had an impact on you or your family friend. In every country, dentists are highly respected professionals who enjoy a great standard of living with great prospects for career development.
Gee, I wonder if all veterinarians, pharmacists, optometrists, chiropractors (well, this one is true!), podiatrists, physical therapists, psychologists, audiologists, NPs, and PAs are all med school rejects? I mean, why would anyone voluntarily choose to be a vet or optometrist or pharmacist? Come on, you don't really believe anyone would think that, do you? If you, I can let you know my hourly rate and we can discuss a tx plan.
As for that guy getting mad and calling himself a dr. It has nothing to do with his pretentiousness, because he has nothing to gain in that situation, he doesnt even know those people... Being prestigious is when some family friend has a friend or whoever taking college courses and asks you general questions about what courses to take. And if you're a physics ph.d. or an m.d., then everyone values your opinion... Obviously everyone picks on chiropractors.
The chiropractor acted like a public ass because he is an insecure little man and he feels that his title will garner him respect. Guess what, pip? In general, no one gives a rat's ass what your title is or what you do for a living. When I got pulled over for speeding last week, do you think the cop cared that I was an MD/JD? Do you think he was impressed by my lab coat sitting on the passenger seat with my hospital badge displayed? NO. I still got a ticket. Do you think my title gets me better service from Sprint when I have problems getting an upgrade for my cell phone? NO. Do you think my title gets me better service or even discounts from the vet I bring my cat to? NO! Unless I'm at work, no one cares that I'm a "doctor".
Only someone who is very insecure insists on being called doctor, especially outside of a work situation. If you are calling yourself doctor outside of work, you really have some serious ego issues.
Prestige does not come from college classes. Prestige does come from having the respect of others, but prestige is relative. Like I said, in the US, the title doctor connects with being a physician. If I say I'm a doctor, most Americans will assume MD or DO, not DDS/JD/PharmD/PhD. Here, in the US, we think physicians are revered and given a great deal of prestige, while we look at other professions with less prestige (optometrists, podiatrists, nurses, etc., are not respected as much). In Europe, physicians are often given much less prestige than in the US. In fact, in Germany, scientists and lawyers are given much more respect than physicians.
Prestige is also earned based on your reputation, character, and professionalism.
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