# Symbol to indicate cultural or literary reference

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbol-to-indicate-cultural-or-literary-reference/989272>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [August 29, 2023, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbol-to-indicate-cultural-or-literary-reference/989272 "2023-08-29T06:52:09Z")\
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**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2023, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbol-to-indicate-cultural-or-literary-reference/989272/18 "2023-08-30T02:55:13Z")

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> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> Seems to me the whole point of obscure literary or cultural or entertainment references is a variant on

A lot of the fun of an obscure reference is most people _not_ getting the reference. It is slipping one past the [mundanes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mundane). For instance, Dr. Strangelove very nicely slipped one into [this](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-musks-starship-reach-orbit-this-year/967583/407) post recently. (You’ll see it.)

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