Appeal to flattery

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Appeal to flattery is a fallacy in which a person uses flattery, excessive compliments, in an attempt to win support for their side.^{[dubious – discuss]} Appeals to flattery are sometimes described by pejorative phrases, such as "suck-up", "ass-kisser", or "brown-noser".

Flattery is often used to hide the true intent of an idea or proposal. Praise offers a momentary personal distraction that can often weaken judgement. Moreover, it is usually a cunning form of appeal to consequences, since the audience is subject to be flattered as long as they comply with the flatterer.

Examples:

"Surely a man as smart as you can see this is a brilliant proposal." (failing to accept the proposal is a tacit admission of stupidity)

"I needed a beautiful woman to endorse my product, so naturally I thought of you." (failing to endorse the product a tacit rejection of being beautiful)

Appeal to flattery is a specific kind of appeal to emotion.

v • d • e Fallacies of relevance General Absurdity • Accident • Ad nauseam • Argument from ignorance • Argument from silence • Argumentum ad populum • Base rate • Compound question • Loaded question • Argument to moderation • Moralistic • Naturalistic • Proof by assertion • Irrelevant conclusion • Special pleading • Straw man • Style over substance • Two wrongs make a right Appeals to emotion Fear • Flattery • Nature • Novelty • Pity • Ridicule • Repugnance • Spite Genetic fallacies Ad hominem (Ad hominem tu quoque) • Appeal to authority • Appeal to motive • Appeal to tradition • Appeal to wealth • Appeal to poverty • Association • Bulverism • Chronological snobbery • Ipse-dixitism • Poisoning the well • Appeal to etymology • Reductio ad Hitlerum • Appeals to intellectual and mental stability or capability Appeals to consequences Appeal to force • Wishful thinking