General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

Really they are an advertisement for the university/college. They don't mean anything to anyone and if they do put it in writing they should put afterwards 'honoris causa' or 'honorary' to show it hasn't been obtained through successful completion of acadamic programme.
It's a bit like the reason for honours to the Lords, granted for outstanding services to the public, etc.
When I went to my son's graduation ceremony, the guy granted an honorary degree to that Uni (can't remember his name) had a proper degree from Oxford, but he gave a magnificent speech, he was in the armed forces.