HN NOTES & PHOTOS: “The Popular Idiot”

“If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.”

~ W.C. Fields

The Rights of Idiots [and HN’s Notes & Mullings on the Matter]

* For the purposes of today’s notes and mullings, HN has chosen the contemporary definition of the term “idiot” to mean a stupid, “mule-headed” person… or in other words, a fool, halfwit, jackass, nincompoop, dunce, dolt, fuckstick, ignoramus, cretin, imbecile, dullard, moron, simpleton, dope, ninny, chump, dimwit, nitwit, goon, dummy, douchebag, bonehead, loon, numb-nuts, knucklehead, pinhead, peabrain, asshat, twerp, schmuck, bozo, clown shoes, bananahead, ding-dong, or knobhead… or else basically anyone who drives while intoxicated… or else anyone who wantonly and recklessly operates a motor vehicle in a way that endangers others… or else anyone who drives while texting, etc.

I have always considered myself a big fan of liberty and individual freedoms. And I have even been, on occasion, a staunch advocate for the rights and freedoms of so-called “idiots” to do whatever idiotic things they can dream up inside their own depraved, idiotic craniums, PROVIDED THAT their idiotic machinations DO NOT EVER INTERFERE with the lives and liberties of others!

In short, the only issue I have ever had with idiots being “idiots” is that invasive moment when they ultimately decide to take their idiotic behaviors to the street. Or, in other words, the precise moment when their wiles and ways interfere with the lives and liberties of others.

Otherwise, idiots should be free to be idiots, in their own time and obscurity, ad infinitum, as long as they do not mess with the liberties and freedoms of others… etc, etc…

Thus, in a nutshell, is HN’s basic view on The Rights of Idiots who freely dwell and roam among us.
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The philosophical question regarding “whether idiots are people too.”

The notion as to whether idiots are, indeed, “people too” has been debated by scholars and idiot experts since the dawn of human history. For centuries, entire faculties of western academics have literally pulled their hair out trying to decide whether or not idiots should be considered full, enduring members of the so-called “human race.”

A wise, well-to-do friend of mine once said, Rob, you cannot simply hate them (meaning idiots) simply because they are stupid. According to this wise friend, idiots, like the rest of us, are supposedly sentient beings – “the sons, daughters, sisters and brothers” of someone, or some thing. And I supposed he may have been onto something in his line of thinking… and it was difficult to argue with his logic, for I, myself, have several family members who are, in fact, blatant, unrepentant idiots. And in the immortal words of Sylvester “Sly Stone” Stewart of “Sly and the Family Stone,” in affairs of the family, “blood’s thicker than the mud.” And of course, he’s quite right about that…

… and so, yes, I personally must concede that idiots are people too. Albeit they’re quite often not very endearing people… especially when they ruin things for others.

Thus, in a nutshell, is HN’s basic view on whether the idiots who freely dwell and roam among us are, in fact, “people too.”
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Did you know there are two types of idiots?

It’s true. There are two types of idiots, “regular idiots” and what HN calls “popular idiots.”

Regular idiots are the simpler of the two types of idiots, so I’ll deal with them first.

A “regular idiot” is an idiot who has learned the word “no,” but consistently chooses to disobey common sense, or what he has been told not to do.

Regular idiots can be found roaming or driving around the streets of Hyannis, or any other contemporary city for that matter. Right now – Sunday evening, 8/21/2022 @ around 10:30PM – as I’m listening to police radio traffic, there’s a grown-ass male idiot reportedly pulling his pants down in front of others inside a local Hyannis candy store. This clearly falls under the definition of “regular idiotic behavior.” He knows that dropping his pants in public is wrong but does it anyways. (And if, by some odd chance, he honestly does not know it’s wrong to drop his drawers in public, he’s about to promptly learn the word “no” in regard to this particular type of idiotic behavior, as illustrated in the following audio…)

The following is the actual Barnstable Police radio traffic regarding what happens next, when a regular idiot decides to pull his pants down in public:

[HN VIDEO – PRESS PLAY]

The above is a prime example of what happens when a regular idiot allegedly decides to drop his pants in public. There are consequences. In this case, the suspect was eventually Tasered and arrested for his alleged idiotic actions.

Although rare, a regular idiot can sometimes learn their lesson and refrain from future idiotic behaviors.

* The details contained in the above report are allegations based solely on police radio transmissions. The defendant (or regular idiot in this case) is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Thus, in a nutshell, is HN’s basic example of behavior allegedly perpetrated by a “regular idiot.”
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The so-called “Popular Idiot” is different, and exponentially more dangerous.

A “popular idiot” is an idiot who has NEVER LEARNED the word “no,” AND consistently chooses to disobey common sense, or what he darn-well knows he should NOT be doing.

Popular idiots never learn their lesson and seldom refrain from future idiotic behaviors.

Cape Cod is one of the world’s largest breeding grounds for popular idiots. They are a special brand of idiot who continually get away with acting like idiots, without any consequences whatsoever.

One example of a popular idiot would be the son or daughter of a powerful government official who literally gets away with breaking the law on a regular basis due to corruption and double standards.

Courts are also often guilty of enabling popular idiots, often until the idiot in question does something so vile it can no longer be ignored or swept under the rug. (In which case the popular idiot may receive a token “slap on the wrist.”)

We have all known or met a popular idiot… and they are quite easily identified by their learned asshole vibe. They are the entitled ones who recklessly move along in life, leaving behind a horrible wake of destruction while being unfairly promoted upward and onward without any evidence of merit. Many government agencies, especially here on Cape Cod, are rife with their unfair share of popular idiots. These are dangerous idiots who have never learned the word “no.” The most dangerous idiots of all…

Thus, in a nutshell, is HN’s basic definition of a “popular idiot.”
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Today’s HN Photos (see top photo):

In general, many of HN’s photos deal with a wide, expansive range of idiotic behaviors caught on camera. Today’s photos are from this past weekend, where Barnstable Police officers discovered a sedan stuck on the railroad tracks in Hyannis during the wee hours. The driver had fled the scene without notifying anyone, leaving behind a potentially dangerous obstacle on the train tracks.

With the assistance of the Yarmouth Police Department, Barnstable cops later caught up to the driver of the vehicle at a residence in the Town of Yarmouth. As the story goes, the driver reportedly left the scene because he was not licensed. He had also been drinking, but it would be tough to prove that he had been drinking at the time when he made “the wrong turn” onto the railroad tracks.

An expensive rotator tow truck needed to be called in from Buckler’s Towing in order to hoist the vehicle off of the tracks without causing further damage. It’s uncertain who will be paying for the hoisting expense…

The driver, I’m told, will likely be cited for motor vehicle charges, according to sources from that night.

I chose these photos from this past weekend to illustrate the popular idiot definition and the dangers of living in a society without the notion of accountability or consequences. If the driver in this case is, in fact, held accountable for his actions, then his actions shall fall under those of a “regular idiot.” He will have learned the word “no.” The decision whether or not he chooses to continue his idiotic behavior is firmly placed upon him.

If, on the other hand, the driver is not held accountable, he will be at high risk or well on his way toward becoming a “popular idiot,” or someone enabled by the “justice” system. He will not learn the word “no.” And will be one step closer to becoming one of those extremely dangerous idiots who just do whatever they damn-well please.

It is, indeed, my sincere prayer that the aforementioned train track idiot who reportedly left the scene does not ever become a popular idiot. It’s my prayer that he is held accountable (for his own good and the good of others).

Bottom line:

Regular idiots can be deadly, but popular idiots can be the deadliest of them all. And, unfortunately, Cape Cod currently has no shortage of popular idiots. It’s a big problem that’s perpetuated by our current “leadership.” Or lack thereof…

It’s something to think about, especially with the rash of reckless hit-and-run crashes we’ve all been experiencing lately…

P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is a brought to you by Sly & The Family Stone… [CLICK IT/CRANK IT!]