>>>and stated it as a scheme of a number of friends, who had requested me to go about and propose it to such as they thought lovers of reading Wow. That's right out of the later playbook of Edward Bernays. Set up a fictional committee that "endorses" something in order to enhance its marketing.
I think the point is less about social proof here and more about understanding that a good portion of rejection from investors and prospects could simply be the way you are pitching elevates you above their level, and their natural ego -based response will be to reject it, find holes in it, etc... If you want to succeed at pitching investors or finding customers, it would do you well to check your vanity at the door,…
That is lying. Dishonesty is effective; that doesn't make it honesty.