What do people mean when they call someone the villiage idiot?

Answer 1

person whom does not apply common sense to his activities ,repeatedly offends same crime
can be educated
you used the word "idiot" not "stupid"

Answer 2

There's always that one "idiot" in the villiage... it's like a stereotype about villiages. It's assumed there's an idiot in one- the total buffoon who wouldn't know a rock from his head. If someone is called the villiage idiot, it means someone thinks they're the stupidest person around.

In relation to another question I answered about renaissance faires- there's oftentimes a "villiage idiot" who, dressed in rags, will beat himself on the head with a pan and blow a trumpet with his nose. People pay him money to act like a total dolt. It's kind of funny.

Answer 3

Dear Word Detective: Where did the term "village idiot" originate? -- Stephanie Cachez.

Funny you should ask. Our local Township Trustees (Larry, Moe and Curly) recently undertook to widen our road, a good idea since it was, at its widest, perhaps one and one-half lanes. Unfortunately, the result is not much wider, rises between eight and twelve inches above the level of the surrounding land, and is already crumbling at the edges, making passing oncoming vehicles even more exciting than before the "improvement." There is also now an inexplicable four-foot drop between our mailbox and the road. Incidentally, since we have three Trustees, that means that there are two villages out there somewhere each lacking its idiot.

For a term that must surely rank as among the most derogatory that can be printed in a family newspaper, "idiot" has a deceptively civil origin. The Greek "idiotes" meant simply "private individual" (based on "idios," meaning "personal" or "private"). Gradually, however, the connotation of the term shifted to "a person without advanced education" and, eventually, to "an ignorant, simple man, a fool." It was in this sense that "idiot" entered English (via Latin and French) in the 13th century.

While today "idiot" is generally considered synonymous with the equally derogatory "moron" and "imbecile," around 1910 there was an attempt to distinguish these three terms as actual scientific categories of mental retardation. The IQ of a "moron" was decreed to be between 50 and 69, that of an "imbecile" between 20 and 49, and an "idiot" below 20. This system of classification has since been replaced by far more sophisticated diagnostic tools, and no mental health professional would dream of using any of those terms. Even the term "idiot savant" (French for "learned idiot"), meaning a person afflicted by autism or another disability who demonstrates extraordinary ability in math or another area, has been replaced by "autistic savant."

Although one thinks, perhaps, of the Middle Ages when the term "village idiot" arises, it seems to be of surprisingly recent vintage. The earliest known use in print comes in George Bernard Shaw's "Major Barbara," written in 1907 ("I myself have had a village idiot exhibited to me as something irresistibly funny"). Underlying the term is the supposition (especially popular among urban sophisticates) that each small country village must have one exceptionally simple resident who serves as the butt of jokes and provides endless amusement for the townsfolk. But, like many stereotypes of rural life, the legend of the lone "village idiot" is unfair and inaccurate. Many villages have two or three, and sometimes we even elect them to public office.

Answer 4

When people call someone the "village idiot" they are using it as a derogatory term and way to call some one stupid. A village idiot is commonly one who is lacking common sense and is very ignorant. The term was first heard in the prefrace to the play "Major Barbara" (1907) by George Bernard Shaw.

Answer 5

that is remarkable the way little ones have become so violent those days. i have self belief that is all right down to the mum and father and how they're treating their little ones. some people like the mum and father of those 2 villains at the prompt are not in good structure to lift little ones. i imagine they should be locked up for a lengthy time period and given extreme psychiatric remedy. even if, there are so a lot more suitable thugs to take their position and by no skill sufficient supplies to unravel the social complications in society.

Answer 6

I guess they want to satisfy their egos as a metro / urban person, who think that all village people are idiots (or buffoons). Normally, the village people live simple life and they may not be all that educated, but it does not mean that they are not smart. Possibly, they are much better equipped to survive in the difficult circumstances.

The term village idiot could be an rural person who is not educated enough and is not techno-savvy, but again he could handle a grizzly bear better than any one of us could.

Answer 7

Nowadays we have programs and institutions and help for families in taking care of people who have various handicaps that affect their mental abilities.

In an older age these programs didn't exist. So in smaller towns, a person with this kind of problem would be given this label. The label was a kind of protection for him, mostly (although I imagine, human nature being what it was, foolish boys made fun of him at times), but it let the adult population know that his behaviour was not deliberate, but couldn't be helped. And allowances would made for him, and charity offered by individuals that would help him through life.

Answer 8

It puts me in mind of small rural towns where there is one barber, one convenience store, one gas station, etc. So you have the village mechanic, the village shopkeeper, etc. In this case, this person is such an idiot, he is the eiptome of idiocy, the biggest idiot in town, the village idiot, the only one in town who is such an idiot.

Answer 9

Not a compliment, this is one that has to be cared for by the community and usually has an answer for everything based on life experiences being repeated over and over and over etc.......
Repeating half truths for truth with no concern for their reputation
in the future.

Answer 10

that he is happy, only the villiage idiot is carefree enough to be happy and trust in himself