Absolutely also doesn’t help that they can now communicate over the internet, which means every person who has the potential to be the village idiot almost inevitably becomes one.
To add to your point, it used to be that the village idiot was just that, known for it, and shamed or shunned. Now that they can connect to other village idiots, they can find a community of like minded idiots that reinforces their beliefs.
Absolutely also doesn’t help that they can now communicate over the internet, which means every person who has the potential to be the village idiot almost inevitably becomes one.
To add to your point, it used to be that the village idiot was just that, known for it, and shamed or shunned. Now that they can connect to other village idiots, they can find a community of like minded idiots that reinforces their beliefs.