Greta Thunberg - Honorary PhD

[Ronson]

As someone who worked hard myself to obtain a real doctorate, it's mildly offensive to see honorary ones given away as freebies. That said, I've never come across anyone who takes honorary ones at all seriously in any situation.

So, I take it you won't be calling her Doctor Dingbat? I hope you don't mind if I do.

[tabibito]

As someone who worked hard myself to obtain a real doctorate, it's mildly offensive to see honorary ones given away as freebies. That said, I've never come across anyone who takes honorary ones at all seriously in any situation.

The first lot seem to have indeed been participation certificates: members of the king's retinue were handed honorary doctorates when he visited a university, but they come in different flavours. Maybe those who have earned their honorary doctorates the hard way are the victims of the system.

[Cow Poke]

As someone who worked hard myself to obtain a real doctorate, it's mildly offensive to see honorary ones given away as freebies.

Yes, sir - agreed 100%. Too often, an honorary doctorate is given to somebody who has contributed a lot of money to that institution, which sure looks like "buying the degree", not earning it.

That said, I've never come across anyone who takes honorary ones at all seriously in any situation.

Actually, I know a few people who have "honorary" degrees who act like they earned them, but that takes a 'special' kind of person.

[Starlight]

So, I take it you won't be calling her Doctor Dingbat? I hope you don't mind if I do.

Sure, if you call me Dr Star.

[rogue06]

Like how he just approved a massive Alaskan oil drilling project last week, that had environmentalists really upset?

Sometimes the things you write read like total fantasy.

Care to wager that will die in bureaucratic red tape or law suits that the government doesn't challenge before it ever gets started?

[rogue06]

As someone who worked hard myself to obtain a real doctorate, it's mildly offensive to see honorary ones given away as freebies. That said, I've never come across anyone who takes honorary ones at all seriously in any situation.

FWIU, Bill Cosby took several of his very seriously

[Machinist]

It's not like you can use these degrees to apply for some professors position at a college. Is there any college in the world that has hired someone based on these degrees?


I recall that Bob Dylan received an honorary degree.

[Cow Poke]

Several notable degree awards...

Ryan Giggs is most commonly known for kicking a ball around and sleeping with his sister-in-law. His great achievements were acknowledged by a Master of Arts from the University of Salford in 2008. In a typically florid statement, the United player gushed: “When I started my career as a footballer I didn’t envisage that one day I’d be made Master of Arts.” Neither did we, Ryan.

Dannii, the lesser Minogue and X Factor Judge, was recognised as a Doctor of Media by Southampton Solent University in 2011. In a statement, Minogue claimed to be ‘shocked and honoured’, probably because she had never actually been to Southampton.

Zimbabwean President Mugabe was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Edinburgh in 1984, despite four years in power marked by mass disappearances, rape and murder.
In a statement at the time, Edinburgh explained that he was being honoured “not only for his extraordinary intellectual discipline and energy but for those qualities of statesmanship which made him one of the great figures of modern Africa.”

[tabibito]

Several notable degree awards...

Ryan Giggs is most commonly known for kicking a ball around and sleeping with his sister-in-law. His great achievements were acknowledged by a Master of Arts from the University of Salford in 2008. In a typically florid statement, the United player gushed: “When I started my career as a footballer I didn’t envisage that one day I’d be made Master of Arts.” Neither did we, Ryan.

Dannii, the lesser Minogue and X Factor Judge, was recognised as a Doctor of Media by Southampton Solent University in 2011. In a statement, Minogue claimed to be ‘shocked and honoured’, probably because she had never actually been to Southampton.

Zimbabwean President Mugabe was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Edinburgh in 1984, despite four years in power marked by mass disappearances, rape and murder.
In a statement at the time, Edinburgh explained that he was being honoured “not only for his extraordinary intellectual discipline and energy but for those qualities of statesmanship which made him one of the great figures of modern Africa.”

I see that Kermit the Frog got an award too. He (it) seems to be the most deserving in the list.

[rogue06]

I see that Kermit the Frog got an award too. He (it) seems to be the most deserving in the list.

It's not easy being green

[Cow Poke]

I see that Kermit the Frog got an award too. He (it) seems to be the most deserving in the list.

Yes, that's why I omitted that one.