Linking to authority Linking to authority describes a form of
deceit people use online and in print. If a person uses a link
as a reference to any claim, it appears to have authority
backing it. In the form of books, these come as footnotes or
endnotes which reference another print or online source.
However, following the links or reading the referenced material
often reveals the deceitful nature of the claim. Sometimes a
quote has been mined, sometimes the article linked has little to
do with the claim, or even sometimes argues the exact opposite
point the claim makes. Playing on the notion that few of their
followers will bother checking their work, or reading the
referenced pieces, this form of deceit gives the author an aura
of respect and his or her claim weight where none exists. You
know where the best examples are.