We don't have houses here. Nobody wants to do construction so we live in trees.
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Student-Professor (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter HelterSkelter
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If you ask me it's bullshit. People try to excuse it as "tradition", but all it does is create distance between teachers and students that has no reason to be there. The level of formality says absolutely nothing about the quality of the education, and gives teachers something to hide behind when they're incapable. I suppose it varies a bit from field to field, but usually when you meet someone who's truly brilliant in their field, it's someone who is revered universally and has nothing to prove. And those people take pride in their achievements, without having to indulge in dumbass hierarchical gratification and so they're usually the most humble, down to earth people you'll ever meet, and often mildly embarrassed when people extol their achievements.
And another thing. Calling people "professors" who aren't professors. Dumbest thing I ever heard. In Poland you do this already at high school level. Needless to say these people are nowhere near being professors, for the very obvious reason that "professor" is a title that only a university that legitimately assign. Now if you've put in those 10-15 years of academic work after your phd to become a professor, fine. Otherwise you can piss off and stop trying to make yourself look good by association with people who've accomplished a lot more than you have.
And another thing. Calling people "professors" who aren't professors. Dumbest thing I ever heard. In Poland you do this already at high school level. Needless to say these people are nowhere near being professors, for the very obvious reason that "professor" is a title that only a university that legitimately assign. Now if you've put in those 10-15 years of academic work after your phd to become a professor, fine. Otherwise you can piss off and stop trying to make yourself look good by association with people who've accomplished a lot more than you have.
OP
Both terms are used as a sign of respect.The defination of professor that you're talking about probably varies from country to country.There isnt a worldwide rule that defines who a professor is,and who isnt.A doctor for example,is not always a person who has studied medicene.Its anyone who's done his Phd.Its not big a deal anyway.Its not like you're calling a college teacher a Colonel or Mr.President..you're calling him a professor.In a lot of countries,its a simple sign of respect for your college teacher,and its perfectly fine IMO.
OP
Something from the Internet :
The meaning of the word professor (Latin: professor, person is professed to be an expert in some art or science, teacher of highest rank[1]) varies. In some English-speaking countries, it refers to a senior academic who holds a departmental chair, especially as head of the department, or a personal chair awarded specifically to that individual. For example, in the United Kingdom and
Australia it is a legal title conferred by a university denoting the highest academic rank, whereas in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, individuals often use the term professor as a polite form of address for any lecturer, or researcher employed by a college or university, regardless of rank. In some countries, e.g. Austria, France, Romania, Serbia, Poland and Italy, the term is an honorific applied also to secondary level teachers.
The meaning of the word professor (Latin: professor, person is professed to be an expert in some art or science, teacher of highest rank[1]) varies. In some English-speaking countries, it refers to a senior academic who holds a departmental chair, especially as head of the department, or a personal chair awarded specifically to that individual. For example, in the United Kingdom and
Australia it is a legal title conferred by a university denoting the highest academic rank, whereas in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, individuals often use the term professor as a polite form of address for any lecturer, or researcher employed by a college or university, regardless of rank. In some countries, e.g. Austria, France, Romania, Serbia, Poland and Italy, the term is an honorific applied also to secondary level teachers.
It is quite formal in Belgium. In Italy professors are very serious about their title and you always have to adress them that way. Eating in the aula or being late don't matter at all. First time I went to class it said I had to be there at 1 pm so I was there at 1 pm. 20 minutes later everyone else showed up.
First, let me clarify "sir" a bit more. "sir" is a colloquial term that is a bit silly, but it so ingrained in culture that it has no special meaning. It useful sometimes, for instance to patronize people. When you're a customer with some kind of complaint, and you talk to someone from the company (support desk etc), it's very convenient for them to call you "sir" when they don't plan to give you what you want. It makes you feel respected, which is exactly what they want, to slightly distract you from the fact that they're screwing you.
Now, I would never call you "Sir Salman" unless you were actually knighted, in fact not even then. "Sir" with an uppercase letter is pretty much meaningless to me. It's a title given out on a whim by the royalty who has no other function in society left than filling up gossip magazines and giving out knighthoods. Furthermore, my king doesn't give them out, so I don't have the foggiest reason to recognize them. As far as I'm concerned it's Alex Ferguson, or mr. Alex Ferguson, period.
That makes it very different from "professor", which is an academic title that has a certain agreed upon meaning internationally.
Now, I would never call you "Sir Salman" unless you were actually knighted, in fact not even then. "Sir" with an uppercase letter is pretty much meaningless to me. It's a title given out on a whim by the royalty who has no other function in society left than filling up gossip magazines and giving out knighthoods. Furthermore, my king doesn't give them out, so I don't have the foggiest reason to recognize them. As far as I'm concerned it's Alex Ferguson, or mr. Alex Ferguson, period.
That makes it very different from "professor", which is an academic title that has a certain agreed upon meaning internationally.
Glad you brought it up. Now tell me, why do these people want to be called "professors"? To distinguish themselves from lowly teachers, that's why. "No, I'm not a teacher, I'm a professor."
But now, what does it mean when you call yourself professor? If this title was otherwise unused in society, I wouldn't care. But the fact is that university professors who legitimately have this title use it. And so the reason people want to be called "professor" is not because it's some nice sounding, abstract title that makes them feel cozy. It's because they want to associate them with the highest academic title there is. Ie. it's deceitful.
But now, what does it mean when you call yourself professor? If this title was otherwise unused in society, I wouldn't care. But the fact is that university professors who legitimately have this title use it. And so the reason people want to be called "professor" is not because it's some nice sounding, abstract title that makes them feel cozy. It's because they want to associate them with the highest academic title there is. Ie. it's deceitful.
OP
You're making too big a deal out of it Martin.Sir is a term used a sign of respect.Thats as far as it goes.If.You've already said it a part our global culture.Anyone that you respect,or anyone that you are 'made' to respect..you'll call him Sir.A customer service center is there for customer service,which a major issue for all companies.People on customer support centres will call you 'Sir(or an equivalent in the langauge that you're talking in)' in all situations.Wether they intend to give you what you want is not relevent.They'd call you 'Sir' anyway.
What does a person need to achieve in order to use the term 'Professor' by his name?A Phd in some countries perhaps,and nothing in other countries - All you need to do is be a teacher at college level(or at some other level).In the latter case however,a lot of times atleast,it is the students that would call a teacher 'professor' because the word has become so strongly associated with teaching.The teacher himself might not demand use of the word,but the students would use it anyway as long as the person is teaching them..as a sign of respect.
What does a person need to achieve in order to use the term 'Professor' by his name?A Phd in some countries perhaps,and nothing in other countries - All you need to do is be a teacher at college level(or at some other level).In the latter case however,a lot of times atleast,it is the students that would call a teacher 'professor' because the word has become so strongly associated with teaching.The teacher himself might not demand use of the word,but the students would use it anyway as long as the person is teaching them..as a sign of respect.
No, it's not. If it was purely a sign of respect you would call them "sir" or whatever polite title exists in your language. A general title of respect that has no specific meaning. The title "professor" does have a very clear, specific meaning, in education. Therefore it means much more than just respect.
The point I was trying to make (which you completely missed) is that the title "sir" by now is completely incidental to the fact that it has something to do with knighthoods. We don't have monarchies in the world universally, so to us non-British the word doesn't mean anything. And the reason it has spread so far is because it was also used as a non-formal polite term in the English language, which has spread worldwide.
The same is not the case with "professor". We do have universities everywhere, it's a term that means something.
Yes, and you can buy a phd for $30 online, does that make it legitimate? Does that mean it's meaningful to call such people doctors? Not to me it doesn't.
Don't get me wrong, if you want to call people something out of respect, I won't stand in your way. In fact if you want to call Del Piero a king, you have my blessing. We even called Adriano Emperor for a reasonably short amount of time (
). What I'm protesting is an expectation, a NORM for people to be called what they are not. That is, completely non-optional. And when that term in addition is fraudulent, then we are basically lying, calling people what they are not, saying things that aren't true. It's not honest.
And from a purely selfish point of view, why should I have to address someone by a fictional title if they don't return the favor?
The same is not the case with "professor". We do have universities everywhere, it's a term that means something.
Yes, and you can buy a phd for $30 online, does that make it legitimate? Does that mean it's meaningful to call such people doctors? Not to me it doesn't.
Don't get me wrong, if you want to call people something out of respect, I won't stand in your way. In fact if you want to call Del Piero a king, you have my blessing. We even called Adriano Emperor for a reasonably short amount of time (
). What I'm protesting is an expectation, a NORM for people to be called what they are not. That is, completely non-optional. And when that term in addition is fraudulent, then we are basically lying, calling people what they are not, saying things that aren't true. It's not honest.And from a purely selfish point of view, why should I have to address someone by a fictional title if they don't return the favor?
It's not like that at all at my Uni. You can wear pretty much what ever you want; unless you're having a gourmet dinner you can eat/snack what ever.
We call our teachers Mr or Miss and sometimes just by their first name. Very few teachers bitch about being late but most don't so you can come and go as you please. If they bitch about it they'll take away points which will effect your final grade in the class. Leaving is never a problem, unless you leave like 2 mins after you get there or something.
We call our teachers Mr or Miss and sometimes just by their first name. Very few teachers bitch about being late but most don't so you can come and go as you please. If they bitch about it they'll take away points which will effect your final grade in the class. Leaving is never a problem, unless you leave like 2 mins after you get there or something.