| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6] > | When is it okay to pretend you've got a PhD? Thread poster: Dylan J Hartmann
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:53
Member (2008)
Italian to English
When I see anyone who puts PhD after their name I always think they must have an inferiority complex. Like they're trying to prove something to a world that just doesn't appreciate them. Look at me ! Look at me! I did a PhD !
These days nearly everyone who teaches anywhere has a PhD - so it isn't impressive to have one.
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Tom, I can only assume you haven't discussed this theory in Scotland.
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Rita Pang wrote:
David GAY wrote:
I think you don't fully understand the meaning of the word pension because it's almost non existent in China.
Given the fact that you have worked in all these countries, I think the amount of your pension will be close to zero.
Please research before commenting.
In terms of jurisdiction, Hong Kong belongs to China, but the two have very different pension systems. It's actually almost non-existent in Hong Kong but very much alive in China. I happen to live and work in the former. I am doing quite fine and there are many ways for one to invest and save towards future retirement without being employed by another company. I would suggest that you stop assuming that others are struggling without your advice. It's highly condescending. [Edited at 2018-10-22 19:16 GMT]
I thought that HK is more developed than mainland China. I don't doubt that there are many ways to invest and save for your pension in HK but it just means you need to save money each month on what you earn. And even though state pensions do exist in mainland China, I guess their amount would be too low to survive in a country like Canada.
[Modifié le 2018-10-23 09:12 GMT]
[Modifié le 2018-10-23 09:33 GMT]
| | | | | Revenons à nos moutons | Oct 23, 2018 |
To return to the original question - "Is it ever OK to pretend you've got a PhD":
No, I don't think it's OK (or, indeed, wise) to pretend to have qualifications or diplomas you don't really have, if only for the prosaic reason that you'll look and feel a fool if it ever emerges that you don't have them.
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Dylan J Hartmann 
Australia
Member (2014)
Thai to English
+ ...
MODERATOR TOPIC STARTER | Prestige Versus Accomplishment? | Oct 23, 2018 |
Tom in London wrote:
When I see anyone who puts PhD after their name I always think they must have an inferiority complex. Like they're trying to prove something to a world that just doesn't appreciate them. Look at me ! Look at me! I did a PhD !
This is more a case of "Look at me, I started a PhD 20 years ago!"
These days nearly everyone who teaches anywhere has a PhD - so it isn't impressive to have one.
Yes, sure. That's why one has to look and see where they got their PhD from! This person did complete a bachelor's degree from the Australian National University. This must be why they insist on parading their unfinished PhD from the same institution! Is it a matter of prestige versus accomplishment then?
| | | | | Glass houses | Oct 23, 2018 |
So, Dylan, it's not okay for someone to claim they studied for a PhD when they didn't complete it, but it's okay for you to claim you are an "award-winning literary translator" in your profile when in fact you were the runner-up?!
| | | | Dylan J Hartmann
Australia
Member (2014)
Thai to English
+ ...
MODERATOR TOPIC STARTER | Runner-up is still an award | Oct 23, 2018 |
Chris S wrote:
So, Dylan, it's not okay for someone to claim they studied for a PhD when they didn't complete it, but it's okay for you to claim you are an "award-winning literary translator" in your profile when in fact you were the runner-up?!
I’ll be attending the awards ceremony in January.
The prize money has already been paid into my bank account.
Good point though. The same translator claims to be a literary expert.
Thanks for checking out my profile.
I couldn’t have been any more transparent, literally stating: Award-winning literary translator (BKKLIT 2018 Translation Prize runner-up)
[Edited at 2018-10-23 19:48 GMT]
[Edited at 2018-10-27 18:45 GMT]
| | | | | Pretty much the same situation | Oct 24, 2018 |
Dylan Jan Hartmann wrote:
Chris S wrote:
So, Dylan, it's not okay for someone to claim they studied for a PhD when they didn't complete it, but it's okay for you to claim you are an "award-winning literary translator" in your profile when in fact you were the runner-up?!
I couldn’t have been any more transparent, literally stating: Award-winning literary translator (BKKLIT 2018 Translation Prize runner-up)
Well, then we came to full circle.
This is from your initial post:
Dylan Jan Hartmann wrote:
If you read in the highlights of someone's ProZ.com profile "...[xyz studies] at PhD level..."
This is transparent exactly the same way as your own statement. It does not state the person received/earned a PhD, only that he/she took PhD-level courses, which is true. To me, it does not look deceptive.
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Dylan J Hartmann
Australia
Member (2014)
Thai to English
+ ...
MODERATOR TOPIC STARTER | Best to be honest | Oct 24, 2018 |
Thanks for keeping me on my toes, keeping me honest....
The profile in question has added 3yr PhD to their credentials.
from my first post:
If you read in the highlights of someone's ProZ.com profile "...[xyz studies] at PhD level..." what would you think?
99% would assume this person finished their PhD, am I right?
So, when is it okay to pretend you've got a PhD?
[Edited at 2018-10-24 05:19 G... See more Thanks for keeping me on my toes, keeping me honest....
The profile in question has added 3yr PhD to their credentials.
from my first post:
If you read in the highlights of someone's ProZ.com profile "...[xyz studies] at PhD level..." what would you think?
99% would assume this person finished their PhD, am I right?
So, when is it okay to pretend you've got a PhD?
[Edited at 2018-10-24 05:19 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Dylan J Hartmann
Australia
Member (2014)
Thai to English
+ ...
MODERATOR TOPIC STARTER | Transparency | Oct 24, 2018 |
Honesty
[Edited at 2018-10-24 05:18 GMT]
| | | | | Misleading title | Oct 24, 2018 |
I came into this thread expecting a theoretic talk about "When is it okay to pretend you've got a PhD?" and what I see instead in the initial message is a specific example that has almost no bearing on this topic.
Trying to mix both topics into one creates a confusing discussion, and I find this quite misleading.
Please define what "pretending" and "lying" means, because, I don't see how the phrasing "...[xyz studies] at PhD level..." can qualify as such an action, with... See more I came into this thread expecting a theoretic talk about "When is it okay to pretend you've got a PhD?" and what I see instead in the initial message is a specific example that has almost no bearing on this topic.
Trying to mix both topics into one creates a confusing discussion, and I find this quite misleading.
Please define what "pretending" and "lying" means, because, I don't see how the phrasing "...[xyz studies] at PhD level..." can qualify as such an action, within the given context (the author having studied at PhD level).
If anything, it just shows a certain way with words. In regular CV/profile practice, it's not what I would call misrepresenting oneself, so I really don't understand what seems to me like an almost obsessive bashing of the example's author in various points of this thread. What gives?
And, what's the topic here?
Is it about "When is it okay to pretend you've got a PhD?" or about giving a personal appraisal of the example's author supposed level of "deceptiveness"?
Because both can't be answered at the same time. You can't be asked one question to answer another, completely different one.
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As for the rampant "titulitis", I have already shared my point of view in another thread:
"Certification constitutes a form of market manipulation and is plausible only to a schooled mind." - Ivan Illich (Deschooling society)
[Edited at 2018-10-24 05:56 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
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| Modality: I can swim ≠ I like to swim ≠ I'm swimming ≠ I swim like a fish | Oct 24, 2018 |
Jean is talking: I also can't see how "[studied X years] at a PhD level" turned into an alleged "professor" somehow, nor where "99%" assuming came from, let alone what it might have to do with translation or some local contests and specialized titles.
To me, a phrase "[studied X years] at a PhD level" implies a past fact--an activity [once] in progress, so now it's important to update the status, if any. How is it different from a "four year" remark in a CV by a fourth-year student... See more Jean is talking: I also can't see how "[studied X years] at a PhD level" turned into an alleged "professor" somehow, nor where "99%" assuming came from, let alone what it might have to do with translation or some local contests and specialized titles.
To me, a phrase "[studied X years] at a PhD level" implies a past fact--an activity [once] in progress, so now it's important to update the status, if any. How is it different from a "four year" remark in a CV by a fourth-year student or a dropout? If it was true at that time, he either (1) has completed the Curriculum and graduated from the uni, or (2) it's just stating of the fact he did study, but has not finished. Where is a lie or harm exactly? A simple question will put everything into place.
However, as far as Dylan did try to address the "issue" via the uni, I'd like to hear from them too ▲ Collapse
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| This is not pretending to have a PhD | Oct 24, 2018 |
Dylan Jan Hartmann wrote:
If you read in the highlights of someone's ProZ.com profile "...[xyz studies] at PhD level..." what would you think?
99% would assume this person finished their PhD, am I right? Why would anyone dare be so brazen, right?
I would assume that the person had studied for a PhD but not completed it. I think most people would assume the same unless they really weren't paying attention, so I don't see this as deceptive. The studies may also be relevant and worth mentioning because of the knowledge gained. So what's the problem?
| | | | | Enough already | Oct 24, 2018 |
Dylan Jan Hartmann wrote:
I couldn’t have been any more transparent
Well, yes, you could have been.
I think 99% of people would take award-winning to mean that you were the winner, not that you came second. (Well done, by the way.)
My point is that everyone adjusts the content and wording of their CV to make them look as good as possible.
Dylan Jan Hartmann wrote:
99% would assume this person finished their PhD, am I right?
From the replies in this thread, clearly not...
So it might be time to back down and show some of AUSIT's "professional solidarity"!
| | | | Dylan J Hartmann
Australia
Member (2014)
Thai to English
+ ...
MODERATOR TOPIC STARTER | In conclusion | Oct 24, 2018 |
Chris S wrote:
Dylan Jan Hartmann wrote:
99% would assume this person finished their PhD, am I right?
From the replies in this thread, clearly not...
So it might be time to back down and show some of AUSIT's "professional solidarity"!
I think the question was worth posting, as a fair number of people have mentioned that it’s not okay to exaggerate credentials.
Professional solidarity:
Ethical principle:
Interpreters and translators respect and support their fellow professionals and they uphold the reputation and trustworthiness of the profession of interpreting and translating.
I began this thread questioning whether an ambiguous and misleading statement was ethical. I would suggest that openly discussing the matter was in fact contributing to ‘professional solidarity’.
In conclusion, I believe that clients should ask to check copies of credentials because there may be many more examples of this, if of course they believe tertiary studies are even required or important.
Many have argued that a PhD isn’t required in our profession. Sure, I agree. On the other hand, many have stated that such ambiguous claims can only backfire if (and when) clients ask to see copies of credentials.
@Chris trying to draw a counter-example with my prize is not equivalent, because a) I’ve actually been awarded a prize (didn’t just ‘take part’ in a competition) and b) immediately after it I’ve stated runner-up.
Thanks for everyone else’s contributions to this thread!
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