Do you give people their 'titles'?

[Padraig]

Don't get Richard harping on about that question.

Why not? Are there no strings attached?

[Serial_Apologist]

Why not? Are there no strings attached?

Only for people with the necessary pluck.

[Serial_Apologist]

I was having a chat with the late Lord Snowdon many years ago and he was really nice.

Only because he was late!

[Stanfordian]

When writing about a 'titled' person - Mark Elder, Paul McCartney, Harrison Birtwistle - do you automatically award them their 'title' or do you refer to them as I have done, withholding the 'honour'?

I think it's very strange and unnatural to do - over-formal, if you like, and also suggesting you 'buy in' to the idea that these titled people are somehow 'better' than little old un-titlted you.

Hst, I wouldn't call someone out for accepting an 'honour' (though my use of inverted commas indicates how I feel about them). If I was offered one - even a humble CBE/OBE - I'd accept it. Not because it I like the idea of having one or because it would make me feel superior to others - more, because so many others feel that, if you have a title, you are superior to them. And, life being what it is, that can help....

'Wow, you spoke to a knight', someone said to me recently when I mentioned I'd had a conversation with the Halle Orchestra's Principal Conductor (who isn't stuffy and seems to be known by his first name even to casual acquaintances).

Having an honour certainly helps - it will probably get you a 'good' table in a restaurant that claims to be fully booked and if you're an actor or a writer, it may up your going rate - but I don't see any reason why it should be permanently appended to your name, as if it makes you some kind of superior being.

Sir Ben Kingsley probably disagrees, of course....


What do others think?

A couple of years ago when I interviewed Sir Mark Elder right from the off I called him Mark and he didn't seem to mind. He was in his jim-jams at the time so I don't know if that mellowed him.

During my working life I used to have salesman visit me to trying to sell engineering equipment who after his name had the title Bart. short for Baronet on his business card.

[Conchis]

A couple of years ago when I interviewed Sir Mark Elder right from the off I called him Mark and he didn't seem to mind. He was in his jim-jams at the time so I don't know if that mellowed him.

During my working life I used to have salesman visit me to trying to sell engineering equipment who had the title Bart short for Baronet on his card.

I wonder if anyone was impressed (as that was surely the point?)? Or how many understood?

The diminutive 'Bart' is nowadays expected to be followed by the name 'Simpson'. I imagine a few of his potential customers joked about his lack of yellow hair (if he wasn't blonde) and made predictable cracks about seeing him on television and what a fat slob his father is - which he'd doubtless have to weather with an attempt at good humour.

Maybe he was a masochist? I suppose it's possible.

[Padraig]

Only for people with the necessary pluck.

Well, I'm no chicken either.

[Lat-Literal]

I forgot to (re) mention that in one of my working roles, I was responsible for many of the processes leading to honouring people (eg in the water industry). It was one of the few times when everyone sang my praises - partially as no one else wanted to do it and partially I think because I didn't consider it important and therefore performed with less stress than usual.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I was prompted by this thread to see if there was any basis for this anecdote (I prefer to believe its true...)

"….there was a legendary doorman at Bush" (House)"One cold winter’s night in the early part of the war, Reg had an interesting run-in…….."
“Can I help you?” asked Reg, briskly.
“Yes, my man. I am King Haarkon the Seventh of Norway……."
Reg checked where the office of the Norwegian section was……the phone……..was picked up by a Swede….. “Good evening,” said Reg. “I’ve got your king down here….."
“No, that’s not possible,” said the Swede.
.........“What do you mean?”
“He can’t be our king. Our king is in New York.”
................ “Here, guv’nor,” he said. “Which country did you say you was king of?”

https://kenwilsonelt.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/bush-house-stories-the-day-the-king-of-norway-met-bert-the-doorman/

[Lat-Literal]

I was prompted by this thread to see if there was any basis for this anecdote (I prefer to believe its true...)

"….there was a legendary doorman at Bush" (House)"One cold winter’s night in the early part of the war, Reg had an interesting run-in…….."
“Can I help you?” asked Reg, briskly.
“Yes, my man. I am King Haarkon the Seventh of Norway……."
Reg checked where the office of the Norwegian section was……the phone……..was picked up by a Swede….. “Good evening,” said Reg. “I’ve got your king down here….."
“No, that’s not possible,” said the Swede.
.........“What do you mean?”
“He can’t be our king. Our king is in New York.”
................ “Here, guv’nor,” he said. “Which country did you say you was king of?”

https://kenwilsonelt.wordpress.com/2...t-the-doorman/

Whereas it tends to be clearer with people like bishops:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTcx_IaI8BY