Product Code Database
Name-dropping (or name-checking) is the practice of naming or alluding to important people or institutions in order to indicate one's association with them. The term often connotes an attempt to impress others; it is usually regarded negatively, and under certain circumstances may constitute a breach of professional ethics.. It may be done within a conversation,. a story,. a song, an online identity,. or other communication.
When used as part of a logical argument it can be an example of the false authority fallacy..
Name-dropping can also be used to identify people with a common bond. By indicating the names of people one knows, one makes known their social circle, providing an opportunity for others with similar connections to relate..
As a form of appeal to authority, name-dropping can be an important form of informal , as long as the name being dropped is of someone who is an expert on the subject of the argument and that person's views are accurately represented.
Name-dropping is also sometimes used in works of fiction to place a story in a certain historical timeframe, or to imply the involvement of a historical figure in the action (for example, in a story set during World War II, mentioning Adolf Hitler or Winston Churchill).
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