emperor

Something widely accepted as true or professed as being praiseworthy due to an unwillingness of the general population to criticize it or be seen as going against popular opinion. Taken from the Hans Christian Andersen fable of the same name, in which a vain king is sold imaginary clothing by two weavers who promise him that it can only be seen by those who are ignorant, incompetent, or unfit for their position. The company's newest device is, in fact, a complete waste of money, but so many people are invested in their brand loyalty that they will continue to buy and adore it like the emperor's new clothes.

An only child in a modern Chinese family who is seen as spoiled, overly protected, or the center of excessive amounts of attention. The phenomenon (and resulting term) is seen to have arisen in large part due to China's one-child policy. It's quite plain in their house that the parents yield to the whim of their little emperor.