THERE ARE TITLES AND 'TITLES'!

This wonderful photo from Google Images shows two brilliant academics (aren't they all?) working together on a joint project. The skinny, sharp-edged one is the Professor while his hardworking colleague is a Senior Tutor and Lecturer. Once can only guess at what they are looking at with the telescope because, generally speaking, no stars are visible during daylight hours. Besides, there are not many stellar objects to be found at street level.

Perhaps they are Psychologists. In the distance, there might be a large window to a woman's apartment, one that has no curtains. The woman might have unusual sexual appetites. Watching the actions of such a woman who doesn't know she is being watched might reveal hitherto unknown behavioural characteristics of females to say nothing of their diverse cognitive functions. Such innovative research is very common in Universities.

Arrogance is also common in Universities as many students will attest. Staff observe a clear distinction between themselves and the dumb students. And between each other. You show me your titles and I'll show you mine is a very common ritual, much like dogs sniffing each other's tail areas. It takes place within faculties and is most pronounced when new members appear. "You're so welcome...and where did you do your degrees?" is the standard greeting.

Unfortunately there is sniffing and there is sniffing. This arises from the complication created by differences in prestige between title-awarding institutions. For example, a Ph.D from Yale is considered to be superior to one from Upper Boonsville in Bottswana. A degree from ANU is prestigious whereas one from the University of Perth may be thought of as ho hum!

Then there are further complications created by differences between faculties. People who hold multiple degrees in Philosophy or Language or Quantum Physics or Law are considered to be superior to those who are merely educationists, accountants or dental technicians (in the average High School the same distinction applies between those who teach English and Science and those who teach Woodwork and Cooking). The old saying that oil and water do not mix is carefully observed at most Universities.

The truth of the matter is that titles mean little in the real world except perhaps to open the door to a job. However they continue to have major status in the incestuous, restrictive world of Academia where mediocrity and small-mindedness too often prevail.

In the real world, people are judged by what they can do and whether they are decent human beings and whether they help to make the world a better place, not by bits of paper enclosed in fancy frames hanging on office walls.