What's in a title?

Personally I think titles are overrated

I've been hunting around for something new to write this week and a conversation we were having on the newsdesk about various people being called 'Sir' or 'Lord' struck a nerve.

What gives anyone the right to expect someone else to bow or scrape to them because they have a fancy title bestowed on them?

Frankly it doesn't impress me if someone is a Lord or a Sir, or in fact both. Lordsir? Sirlord? The latter sounds like a mispronounced steak dish. "I'll have the sirlord, please."

Half of the peerages awarded are hereditary (something I don't agree with) and the others such as "knighthood for services to entertainment" or "football management" - why exactly should that make someone a sir?

In this world of celebrity obsession - where more often than not, highly paid individuals are knighted for just doing their overpaid job - Sirs are two a penny.

It is the same in business with fancy/schmanzy titles - I have certainly come across some long-winded titles in my looooong career on CRN (13 years in August!) - some of them can barely fit on a business card.

But at the end of the day it boils down to what you can actually do. If you don't have any discernable skills, but a very long title - I personally don't think it stands you in good stead.

Give me a Ronseal title anyday - allowing you to do exactly what it says on the tin, and do it well.

So I'd love to hear from you my valued reader(s) - what is the most ridiculous business title you have heard of recently. Without naming names of course!