I am sympathetic to the idea that we should be "named" in our posting to AIR-L. In fact, it's part of the expectations of the list: http://aoir.org/?page_id=3 . And for those who wish to self-identify ("Hello, I'm Alex, and I have a doctorate..."), I see no harm in that. I choose not to for a few reasons. First, I'm not sure precisely what the credential means in my own case, let alone others' cases. Surely, not all Ph.D. granting institutions are of similar stature--should we also be saying where we graduated from, and in what field? Do Sociology Ph.D.s hold more sway than humble Communication Ph.D.s? What were our field exams, and how did we do? Does the fact that I hold no high school degree diminish my credibility? I'm reminded of Bernays on Letterman ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6hH3roMe4w ). My hope is that I can be convincing enough without those three letters. Second, I consider all of you--approaching 2,000--colleagues. I was lucky enough to be considered the same by some of the eminent members of this list before I completed my doctorate, and so I want to do the same for those who are starting out in their own studies. For me, the use of titles in this context creates an unnecessary social distance. Again, to each their own, and if you choose to put your affiliations and credentials in your .sig, more power to you. But I wouldn't want it to become an expectation. Alex Halavais Person of Interest, Man About Town, Perpetual Student, Neophyte Baker, and Sometime Bamboo Fancier