Herr Doktor
A Savage Minds PSA:
Americans with PhDs beware: Telling people in Germany that you’re a doctor could land you in jail.
P. Kerim Friedman is an assistant professor in the Department of Ethnic Relations and Cultures at National Dong Hwa University, in Taiwan, where he teaches linguistic and visual anthropology. He is co-director of the film Please Don't Beat Me, Sir!, winner of the 2011 Jean Rouch Award from the Society of Visual Anthropology. Follow Kerim on Twitter.
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This sounds sooo academic to me: “That changed last fall, when an anonymous tipster filed a complaint with federal prosecutors against seven Americans at the prestigious Max Planck Society, which operates 80 scientific research institutes across Germany. Federal authorities forwarded the complaint to prosecutors and police in at least three states, who decided to take action.”
Just who was this anonymous tipster? I strongly suspect disgruntled competitor of some sort — perhaps someone declined for a job?
But thanks for this tip Kerim. My friends in Germany kept telling me that I should refer to myself as ‘Herr Dr. Strong’ in conversation with, say, airline ticket agents. Now I know better!
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(from the article linked above)
“Smith holds a doctorate from Boston University and has tempted fate by answering to “Dr. Smith” during the two decades he’s lived in Germany. He said he was told years ago that there is a legal way for foreign PhDs and MDs to register for permission to use the appellation, but he has never bothered.”
I really would like to know what the legal procedure for permission to use the title might be….
I actually love this absurd law, perhaps because it reminds me of laws about what can be called “champagne” and “Roquefort” cheese. Though comparing PhDs to regional varieties of sparkling wines might be kind of a faux pas.
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I’m not a real doktor, but I play one on TV…
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If this happened to me I would force all police officers, court documents, and civil servants involved in the case to refer to me as Mr. Golub, Ph.D., University of Chicago every single time they used my surname just to make sure they get to experience the rules, good and hard.
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