This is inane. Professors who require grad students to refer to them as "Docotor or Professor So and So" can kindly get over themselves.https://twitter.com/doctorwhy/status/778215176541732864 …
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I've heard in the US things are a lot more formal. I'm Olivia to my students.
In the US I never called any professor by anything other than a first name
but I believe everyone has an ironclad right to be called what they like
truly? Equally ironclad for *grad students*, post docs, and profs asking to be called "doctor"?
this isn't simply about getting to chose what one is called. It's very clearly hierarchical.
yes, academia is very hierarchical. If just curious about a subject, PhD probably isn't best option
why did this turn into dissuading somebody from doing a PhD? 
or assuming that because I disagree with Dr-by-default, I must be in it merely for curiosity?
nothing to do with Dr. You said hierarchical - and academia is very hierarchical by definition
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