Is there a Doctor in the house? /Was Joanne Rowling's Doctorates

[dradamsapple]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, Ivan Vablatsky 
<ibotsjfvxfst at y...> wrote:
>
> My answer:
>  
> Yes I accept that the person's own choice is the overriding issue. 
I have gone straight to the horse's mouth (well, as near as you can 
get) and asked JKR's agent how JKR wishes to be addressed. I quote my 
email and Christopgher Little's answer in full:
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ivan Vablatsky [mailto:ibotsjfvxfst at y...]
> Sent: 13 May 2003 12:45
> To: Christopher Little
> Subject:  Dr Rowling?
> 
> 
> 
> Dear Mr Little,
> 
> We're having difficulties deciding what exactly is J K Rowling's 
proper title. Some of us think it's Doctor Rowling, others say her 
Doctorates are only honorary and so she can't be called Dr Rowling.  
It all boils down to what she herself prefers to be called, as we all 
agree.
> 
> Would you be kind enough to let us know by what title she wishes to 
be addressed?
> 
> If you would take a minute to asnwer this email I'd be very 
grateful.
> 
> Yours sincerely,
> 
> Hans Rieuwers,
> 
> Haarlem,
> 
> Netherlands
> 
> J K Rowling O.B.E.


Anna says . . .


Wow!!   I though the use of the term "Doctor" was a pretty universal 
thing.  I had no idea it varied world wide as it  does.

Being in the medical field, I've been around both MD's and Phd's for 
the past 20 years or so, and I've heard it all. 
I worked for a "Medical Director" of a major teaching, Cancer 
research center who just wanted to be called "Ken", and I've worked 
for a Phd  of a small community hospital  who insited you call 
her "Dr. B".  So, like everything else, I just figured it depended on 
the person who held the title and chose to  be called "Doctor" or not.

But I do agree that I would not choose to call someone  with an 
honoray degree "Doctor".  I mean, I believe that Steven Tyler 
(Aerosmith) just recieved an honorary degree from the Berkley College 
of music here in Boston.  So, are we calling him "Dr. Tyler"?, "Dr. 
Steve"? Sorry, but I just can't see it.

And, can someone explain what the initials O.B.E. stand for?

Thanks,

Anna . . .(who is thinking of changing her title to "Dr. of Domestic 
Engineering)

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