What a Bright Idea

When someone has a bright idea why do we stick a light bulb above their head? Why are great ideas even bright at all?

Have no bright ideas ever taken place in the dark? What about the development of great photographs – in a dark room?

When I’m trying to have a great thought I close my eyes, and that would make turning on a light kind of useless, as well as a waste of energy. Or I go in a quiet room to focus but I don’t particularly need lots of light.

What did they use for great ideas before the lightbulb?

“Hey George, I have a great idea – The wheel.”

“Hold on, I’ll go light a torch and hold it beside your head.”

“Don’t set my hair on fire, like last time.”

I can only imagine the pressure on Mr. Edison to invent what would become the universal way to say, “Hey, I have a bright idea.” “Mr. Edison, will it work? Can we finally use the light bulb to symbolize a bright idea?”

“Yes, but it costs money.”

How did he even come up with the idea before the light bulb existed?

What if you only have a good idea instead of a great idea? Lots of ideas are only good, not great, like the dimpled carving knife, so the slices you’re cutting don’t stick to the knife. That’s good, but not life-changing.

For good ideas we need the dimmer switch. The dimpled carving knife does not deserve a fully charged light bulb.

I guess that’s where the term “dim-witted” came from. I have lots of dimmer-switch ideas. Or ideas that fade into a burned out bulb.

What about people who always have great ideas, like Einstein, or the ladies on The View? What should the symbol be? Maybe a hydro meter or a solar panel.

So I’m not sure the light bulb really works for great ideas. Has anyone who has been tortured and questioned under a bright light ever come up with a spectacular idea?

Maybe. Like, how about you stop torturing me.