Why do carnival and circus workers call their customers rubes?

The term "rube" is often used by carnival and circus workers to describe their customers. The term has a long and interesting history, which is rooted in the 19th century United States. The term "rube" is derived from the word "reuben," which was a popular name at the time. It was used to refer to naïve and unsuspecting people from rural areas who would be taken advantage of by carnival workers.

During this time, it was common for traveling carnivals and circuses to set up in rural areas, and the workers had a reputation for taking advantage of the naïve and unsuspecting locals. They would often use trickery and manipulation to get people to buy goods or pay for services that they did not need. In order to make this easier, they began to refer to their customers as "rubes" or "reubens," which was a way of mocking the locals and their lack of knowledge.

Over time, the term "rube" has become a popular way to refer to people who are taken advantage of by carnival workers, as well as people who are generally naive and unsuspecting. While it may not be a term of endearment, it is an interesting part of the history of carnivals and circuses and how they interacted with their customers.