Pioneers in the history of higher end/accurate sounding components....and you..

Miller, I know what you mean.  I raced at Road America in a race that Mr. Newman was at.  Ate with Henry Kloss, and just happened to be in some place for some reason when a "known" person was there.  None of it made me any better/different than that fanfare for that "common man". .. As a sidelight.... Steve McQueen and Paul Newman were actually very good drivers and their fame may have made some people think it was their fame...but no, the were good drivers.  McQueen won his class at Sebring driving with Peter Revson.  From Bullitt, the the film Le Mans, McQueen did every bit of driving the insurance companies would allow and then he would do a bit more. 

The fact that Dick Van Dyke is a distant cousin doesn't help me as he has no idea I exist.  But you can't help but envy a guy that was in a show with a young, beautiful Mary Tyler Moore.

Name-dropping tends to go hand-in-hand with narcissism.  But hey, if the shoe fits ;-)

https://qz.com/907931/name-dropping-basically-always-backfires/#:~:text=Why%20we%20name%20drop,of%20Georgia%20psychology%20professor%20W.

Here’s the really bad news: “Name dropping is absolutely terrible for our credibility,” says Davey. When we name-drop, no matter how smoothly we try to insert another person’s name in the conversation, the listener almost always sees through the act. Interjecting another person’s name is distracting, and it also leaves the listener questioning why you’re so hesitant to just talk about yourself. One study (paywall) found that when someone name-drops to assert their closeness to a powerful person, they’re perceived both as less competent and as manipulative.

Who does this sound like? lol

Isn't it sad when you have done somethings in your life that included some people that others might recognize that it becomes "name dropping" to the insecure?  

I guess that some of my studies, travels and business experience that happened to include some people that did some very good work is seen as name dropping (Paul Land...?)....guess I shouldn't mention two of my parents friends....Roy Rogers and Ed Sullivan....but not the ones you think, but men that had those names.  I wonder how many men in the world have the name, James Bond, that have lived the encounters you can imagine.  I was at a restaurant in Chicago when they called out that the table was ready for James Bond. 

I am tempted to say something about James Van Allen...but....

Let me get this straight....only insecure people roll their eyes at name-droppers? You will never find one psychologist who will agree with that premise because it's backwards.  Name-dropping is a sign of insecurity...a need to garner more credibility by associating oneself with greatness.  Those who see through the thin veil are normal.

I can see why you say that.