BS: Sad people

Subject: BS: Sad people
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 05:46 AM

Many years ago, when I was on a sales training course, I was taught to beware of people who like their titles or badges of rank
You know the type, they have their name on the door, and/or on a plate on their desk. They usually have nothing else to be proud of in their miserable lives, and are often writers of, and adherents to, rule books.
The technique that was supposed to work, was to try and draw these people out from behind the desk they were hiding behind, and so bring them on to the same level as yourself. However I never found this worked, maybe I wasn't a persuasive enough salesman :)
Up here in the highlands of Scotland, we have a plethora of retired servicemen, and most of them still hang on to their rank, still calling themselves Colonel X or Captain Y.
They are like the people who must put their title or their degree after their name when they sign a letter or a document.
I feel sorry for people like that, but at the same time wary too, as it's often an indication of a closed mind.

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: GUEST,Silas
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 05:53 AM

Personally I'm OK with it. Its a title or rank they have earned and are entitled to, much as a retired vicar is still a 'Rev', or a retired doctor is still a 'Dr'. Fairly harmless really.

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: kendall
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 06:42 AM

I agree. (Captain Kendall Morse)

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: kendall
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 06:50 AM

Fact is, John is right. So many old veterans have nothing in their lives but a few years in the military. As Eric Bogle wrote: ..renewing their dreams of past glory...

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: Midchuck
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 06:52 AM

I agree that it's harmless, as a general proposition. Especially with military rank, a person who has served is entitled to the recognition - 'tho I don't insist on being addressed as "PFC."

What does irritate me is people with PhDs or whatever wanting to be addressed as "doctor." Someone called "doctor," I just assume is an MD or maybe dentist or vet. Hell, I also have a doctorate ("of Jurisprudence"), but I'm really not interested in people coming up to me and wanting to show me where their elbow hurts...

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: GUEST,Silas
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 07:47 AM

I have no problem with a PhD wishing to be addressed as 'Dr', why should I, they have eaened it, it is a bit different with people like 'Dr' Ian Paisley who bought his!, but if it is a genuine qualification that has been eaned - why not?

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: mauvepink
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 08:18 AM

PhD's actually have more entitlement to be called Doctor and certainly as much as any MD/GP. I have no problem with someone wearing a title they have earned. As for military titles: Why is it that mainly only Officers get to carry their title? A Corporal or Sergeant will have served, and maybe done more on the front line, than some officers. They should be entitled to the title too. I certainly do not begrudge old soldiers and servicemen their memories. For many it really is all they have left (Folk songs would be very much more worse off had it not been for some of the things these people went through). It's no different than a grandmother having memories and talking about her life and the children she has had in them. In years to come many women too will have tales to tell and medals to wear from the front line. Thinking about that.... "Mother" or "Mum" has the be the title that is most undervalued in our language, along with "Father" or "Dad". You get no medals for being a parent!

Let people have what they have earned. What possible harm is there in it? Could it be that some who moan about titles who have no title themselves, feel they lack something and are challenged by it?

ms mp <----- with missing titles lol

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 08:34 AM

Yes Minister

"Bernard Woolley: In the service, CMG stands for Call Me God. And KCMG for Kindly Call Me God.
Hacker: What does GCMG stand for?
Bernard: God Calls Me God."

From: Doing The Honours

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 09:41 AM

I guess better to call yourself by those 'rank' names than by some of the names others should be called...... I know many SPs..... PAs....... TAs....... IPs.................

Stupid Pillocks..... Piss Artists....... Thick A...les..... Ignorant peasants..... and could label a good few more.


I don't call myself Manager because I was one though.... so I guess those hanging on to rank must lack a little something to need their title.... or maybe gain from using it......
Captain Smith might well get preference for a restaurant table over me....... I know my place!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: kendall
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 10:05 AM

Call me anything except late for dinner.

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 10:15 AM

As the old saying, quoted in one of Evelyn Waugh's novels, has it: "It doesn't matter what people call you, as long as they don't call you 'Pigeon Pie' and eat you up."

~Michael Grosvenor Myer~
MA Cantab, FRSA, MJI, 2nd Lieutenant Royal Fusiliers {TA} [Retired]

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: bobad
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 10:31 AM

A lot of peoples' self identity comes from their jobs, hence their use of self identifiers. I'm always stumped when, upon meeting someone for the first time and being asked "and what do you do?" I do a lot of things is my usual reply.

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 10:41 AM

I think some of these titles are great e.g.

Baron Prescott, of Kingston upon Hull in the County of East Yorkshire

I like Prescott, good old down to earth bloke. Best thing he ever did was thump that bloke. Good on yer John

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: kendall
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 07:38 PM

On the rare occasions that someone asks me what I do or did I say Retired conservation Officer. I'm proud of what I did for work.

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 08:08 PM

Whwn I was in the Service , we had a lot of work being carried out across the camp by a Civilian Contractor . The Big Boss had Wing Commander Status hich qualified him for an Office etc ! His Desk nameplate had his name , and (RAF LAC Rtd) after it !

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: Tangledwood
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 10:02 PM

I agree with John on this one. Maybe a serviceman has earned the rank while serving in the military but is that relevant in their later civilian life? It seems to be only the pretentious that think so.

In civilian flying schools I've come across instructors that insisted on "Colonel" and "Wing Commander". My first instructor had a more prestigious background than either of them but you would never hear that from him, only from those that knew him.

What is the pecking order in the civilian world? Does a Major outrank a Clerk grade 8 or vice versa?

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 10:41 PM

PhDs usually leave "Doctor" on the campus; those who insist on it for purely social occasions are likely to be disappointed, especially by me and my family. I'm not impressed by titles, including "Queen" "King" "Pope" or "God Almighty."

I am a PFC, a Poor F*****g Civilian. I can put letters after my name, though, which I earned. If you want to address me correctly you may call me "My Lord and My God."

Rapaire
BA (English Lit.); MS (Lib. & Info. Science); CDSA; Past Pres., CODI; Cert. in Advanced Lib. Management; OCLC Ad Hoc Committee on ILL; Ex-SGT (Infantry), etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 10:43 PM

Oh, shoot. I forgot:

NDSM, AFEM, KDSM, ROK PUC, IL State Duty Ribbon.

All of which, when I add a couple bucks, will get me a beer.

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: Beer
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 11:12 PM

I agree with most. Once the party is over , it is over. drop ranks and and get on with your new life.
I am also proud to say that I have earned a few initials after my name. And I say this because schooling never came easy for me. I had to work my f...ing butt off to earn those letters and I am very proud of it. What are they?? Well 99% of you folks probably would know what they mean because in your eyes they wouldn't be important to you anyway. But to me they "were".

To date I am the only person in the Province of Quebec that has a certification in the "Canadian Executive Housekeeping Association" and the only person who has his certification in the "National Executive Housekeepers Association" which is a program provided by our American friends.

Today the Certificates hang in my workshop as a reminder of those days of struggle.
Adrien Doucette CEHA, NEHA

Subject: RE: BS: Sad people
From: kendall
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 04:59 AM

A friend of mine gave me a cap that boldly says; US COAST GUARD across the front. I wear it sometimes and the other day a young man said, "A Coastie? thanks for your service." I was gobsmacked.