In a town full of academics?

Yes.

I know a couple PhDs who PREFER to be called Ms. Or rather, Mrs. Baffles me, but there ya go.

I agree about things working out for Allison's emotionally-based, potentially-disasterous decision by sheer luck, not through any knowledge or action of hers. In a way I liked how it highlighed the different way she and Stark made decisions, and showed that her way was not intrinsically bad. (Please, guys, don't cut this along gender lines. It's nice as a counterpoint to have Jo there making the hard-ass decision calls, and Jack so often going with his gut and risking erring on the side of trust.) And it was her first day, sheesh. However, I do hope they show her growing steel gonads pretty soon, or I'm not gonna believe she could handle this position. Another thing I do like, though, is that from her expression and body language, Allison herself isn't totally sure she can handle it. And it will be fun to watch her grow into the role.

Yes.

Doesn't even happen to my mother, which is why it never occurred to me it was SOP.

Doesn't even happen to my mother, which is why it never occurred to me it was SOP.

well, I imagine that your mother is quite a formidable woman, and in a situation where she might be a Ph.D., people wouldn't take the risk of offending her by not using the preferred title.

I'm now sort of idly half-wondering how often ita's mother gets called "Your Majesty".

That said, I know many many dozens of Ph.D.'s who neither use nor like the title. It tends to depend a lot on both the person's field and the culture of the institution they work in.

That said, I know many many dozens of Ph.D.'s who neither use nor like the title. It tends to depend a lot on both the person's field and the culture of the institution they work in.

absolutely. Also, GD strikes me as the kind of place where a person's skills and abilities are what matters, not their title. And many Ph.D. I know introduce themselves as "I'm Dr [last name]" so, if someone doesn't, I won't make the connection, unless their job is clearly a Ph.D. level job (i.e. someone says "I'm Bob, I teach graduate physics", I know he's a Ph.D. But if someone says "I'm John, I run the AGEP program", I don't necessarily make that assumption)

Also, GD strikes me as the kind of place where a person's skills and abilities are what matters, not their title.

Yep. At real-life GD (as if!), everyone at all levels is called "Henry", and then some newbie bureaucrat wanders in every few months and says "Dr. so and so" and they all look a little flustered because they can't quite figure out who that even is.

(Note: everyone is "Henry". Regardless of real name.)

I guess it would depend on how much space has been put between academia and the government/armed forces.

Point taken about Jo as a gender counterpoint.

Definitely pinged by the Dr./Ms. discrepancy, but I chalked it up to the whole new role, new identity thing. Maybe it'll smooth out in the future.

Jo's a textbook counterpoint, though.

No, I'm being harsh. Can she cook?