Hey, don't scoff too hard. When working for a startup, one can quickly go from zero work history to being the most senior person on the team. Nothing wrong with recognizing talent and hard work, even if it's only in name.

But if your peers are in the same category, how are you "senior" to them?

10 years good experience + a boatload of talent + rock-solid theoretical knowledge is my minimum bar to call yourself "senior".

I laugh when I see positions advertised with "senior" in the title that are only asking for 3 years experience. Around here, that's normal. Does this happen in other industries?