Prior to the Industrial revolution, before swarms of people migrated from Small towns, villages, and farming hamlets to large industrial cities and Metropolises, the populations people were around all the time (their community) were so small, that if one person within that community was feeble of mind, they were designated
the village idiot.
Think
Adrien Brody's character in
M. Night Shyamalan's "the Village" (2004)
TRIVIA
"Idiot" was a category in the U.S. Census back during the 19th Century which refered to mental retardation.
In the episode of Ren and Stimpy "Magical Golden Singing Cheeses" (
Air date: November 11th, 1994)
Stimpleton comes across the Man Eating Village Idiot, owner of the (see title).
The Village Idiot agrees to the trade, but threatens that unless Stimpleton can prove his stupidity in a "battle of witlessness" he will eat Stimpleton.
To make a long and greusome story short, Stimpleton wins the contest, leaving the Man Eating Village Idiot dead from his own stupidity.
