In
folklore, a
simpleton is a person whose foolish actions are the subject of often-repeated stories. Simpletons are also known as
noodles,
fools, and
gothamites. Folklore often holds, with no basis in fact, that certain towns or countries are thought to be home to large numbers of simpletons. The
ancient Greeks told tales of stupid populations in
Abdera and other cities; in
Germany, men of
Schilda are conspicuous in these stories; in
Spain hundreds of jokes exist about the supposed foolishness of the people from
Lepe; and in
England, the village of
Gotham in Nottinghamshire is reputed to be populated by simpletons. In
Sri Lanka whole districts in the central, southern, and western provinces are credited with being the abode of foolish people.