<p>I’m not sure I agree that something not easily earned needs recognition every time someone interacts with you-in-the-general-sense. The fact that somebody earned a Phd is certainly impressive, but so is the fact that someone else, say, raised five children to be happy and contributing people. There’s no title for the latter, and anyone who constantly reminded you about how hard it was to parent five kids would be pretty annoying. I see needing to consistently be called an honorific that has nothing to do with the situation/context you’re interacting in as being a mini way of saying, “Look what I’ve done!” and it seems inappropriate. </p>
<p>One of my friends earned his doctorate about a year ago, and he and I were in a group of a bunch of people on a boat. His wife said something about wondering what it would like to own a boat, but then noted that neither of them knew how to drive a boat. Ryan, who was thrilled about his doctorate and has quite a sense of humor, said, “Of course I can drive it - I’m a doctor.” Though silly and magnified, the joke seemed to show how accomplishments don’t really cross contextual borders in some senses.</p>