I have never been a name dropper. I just don't think that way. I don't think about trying to gain an advantage by using connections or perceived connections to get preferential treatment.
But I'm surrounded by name-droppers. My wife does it. Other relatives do it. Many people drop the names of television personalities in order to give their words more weight.
Even devotionals meant for us to center our minds on God do this. They quote authors and pastors of big churches. And then they encourage us to drop the name of God on people and we want to gain a little bit better access to things or gain some control over someone that's not the way they freeze it, but that's the result that they are looking for.
In a time when so many people are wailing against preferential treatment I always find it funny to see people use the fraternity or sorority affiliation to get jobs and to get discounts.
My father even did it! My father joined the Freemasons later in life. When he would travel he would slip on his Freemasonry ring and then he would wave it in front of the waitress or waiter in an effort to get a discount. He didn't do it around me, but I was told by plenty of people that he did that on numerous occasions.
I prefer to live my life with an approach on a level playing field. Or as level as it can be given the circumstances. That way when we do things we all get along. We all enjoy the possibility of similar outcomes.
But then I see people glory and me having to pay more than them because I'm not as well-connected. I see people take glee in abusing the system and then saying that they didn't say I couldn't.
I think the world would be a better place if we all approached it equally. Sadly, many people would prefer to cheat and lie and steal in their effort to avoid doing the work required to get an outcome similar to what I've got. Right now they're calling that equitable, but I'm calling it cheating and lying and stealing because so many people are doing just that.
