I think it was the king of Spain. He had a lisp. So, after a spell, it became fashionable for all of his subjects to emulate this lisp ... which, I understand, they still do to this day for certain Spanish words. Such are the quirksof fashion and its strange consequences (powdered wigs and cod pieces?)
I think we see this phenomenon today in the United States. President Trump likes to belittle and give nicknames to his foes. So, what the result? The discourse, particularly among out media, has sunk to a new low. And yet these media bozos don't seem to realize the source of their vitriol. With their rudeness and insults, they are flattering by imitation the very man they seem to detest.
