Argument from authority

a.k.a. Argumentum ad verecundiam a.k.a. Argument d'autorité Whatever the language, it sucks. As far as I can remember I always considered arguments from authority as the crappiest things I could ear, because as a child, it often meant I was too inquisitive, too logical, and therefore impertinent for the adults around me. At school I would be put in the dog box. At home I would get a slap or two in my face to teach me that being curious is naughty and definitely not a trait of character I should hang to. I didn't know it had a name. The only thing I knew was it was a lie in disguise. Thanks to that inner certainty, I remained curious and impertinent, and never shied away to explaining something very complicated to children or anyone else who asked me a question – and made enough time to ear the answer. Today, I asked a simple question to two different people, and got served with two of these arguments from authority from both of them, and both claimed 30+ years expertise each in order…