No one was ever actually designated as the village idiot, although I knew a few people who could easily have qualified. No, the term was used somewhat hypothetically. For example – if I did something stupid, my parents would warn me about becoming the village idiot. At the time, most parents used the same tactic and it collectively helped us kids from doing stupid things. To be known as the village idiot was far worse than the stupid thing we were about to do and so we didn’t do it – well, most of the time.
I’m certainly not above reproach as I have done some stupid things in my time. I’m sure we all have. But unlike today, I didn’t go looking for stupid things to do. None of us did. None of us wanted to be the village idiot.
Andy Warhol once said, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” Well, Andy – that ‘future’ you referred to seems to have arrived when social media allowed acts of stupidity to be encouraged and admired.
Social media has provided platforms whereupon people can get attention by performing acts of stupidity. How stupid do you have to be to think that doing something stupid is something to be admired? Apparently, there are THUMBS UP buttons that are used to encourage these stupid people.
There is a popular saying – “Don’t make stupid people famous!”
So, let’s look even further into our future. For example, when will acts of stupidity become an Olympic event? Perhaps one day, universities will offer degree courses in stupidity. Who knows – perhaps I could get a PhD. in stupidity! But I think that would be stupid!
Perhaps Pamela Clare is right when she said – “There is no cure for stupid.”
Long live the village idiot, whose ideology gently steered us to make smarter decisions.
Updated May 23, 2023
© Copyright 2023 – MAC
Stop! Restart! 
What’s worse than a village idiot??? A cityot.
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