# Mopery? Must I have a clear destination or purpose just to live unmolested? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 21, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554 "2006-09-21T13:33:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/1 "2006-09-21T13:33:00Z")
[In this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=388978) Sublight introduced the word "[mopery".](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mopery) In looking it up it apparently was used against the the hippies. > [@](#): > > Mopery is a vague and obscure legal term, used in certain jurisdictions to mean “walking down the street with no clear destination or purpose”. Like loitering and vagrancy laws, it can be used legitimately by law enforcement to detain unsavory types before they have committed a clearer or more dangerous crime, or illegitimately, to harass otherwise law-abiding citizens. > > In 1970, in Columbus, Ohio, mopery was defined as “loitering while walking, or walking down the street with no clear destination or purpose”, and was used by police to harass counterculture “hippies” who were regarded as unsavory. Some of those arrested were aggressively prosecuted by public prosecutor Karl T. Chrastan. > > The word “mopery” has been used in this sense by authors Thomas Pynchon (Gravity’s Rainbow) and Dashiell Hammett (The Thin Man), among others, for whom it is usually a comic accent. > > The word is based on verb “to mope,” which originally meant “to wander aimlessly”; it only later acquired the overtones of “bored and depressed.” The word “mope” appears to have first been used in the 16th century, and appears in Shakespeare’s works. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/2 "2006-09-21T13:36:16Z")
We used to use “mopery” in law school as a sort of generic crime, for purpose of abstract discussions. I have also seen “aggravated mopery with intent to creep.” ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/3 "2006-09-21T13:38:25Z")
Mopery also means [exposing oneself to a blind person](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mopery). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/4 "2006-09-21T13:53:15Z")
I walk everywhere, and have been questioned by the police a few times, but only because police activity was going on in the area where I was walking. I can’t believe walking in and of itself is actually a crime. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/5 "2006-09-21T14:04:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Mopery is a vague and obscure legal term, used in certain jurisdictions to mean “walking down the street with no clear destination or purpose”. What if I’m very clear in my purpose of walking aimlessly? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/6 "2006-09-21T14:15:20Z")
Another SDMB coincidence. I used the word mope at work yesterday complaining about people who get off the escalator and " then mope around and get in everyone’s way." People acted as though it was a neologism. I said that I though everyone knew the word and recalled that my son had told me years ago that the best way to get mugged was to be “moping around” and that you should always walk along the street in a purposeful and brisk manner. He had received this advice from a police officer - I wonder if it related to those old “crimes”. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/7 "2006-09-21T14:51:54Z")
Just mopery? Why not mopery _and_ [dopery](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=211820)? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/8 "2006-09-21T15:14:25Z")
[QUOTE=Max Torque] We used to use “mopery” in law school as a sort of generic crime, for purpose of abstract discussions. I have also seen “aggravated mopery with intent to creep.” [/QUOTE] Exactly. I have only heard it used as a joke. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/9 "2006-09-21T15:14:49Z")
I read that when Dorothy Parker went to protest the execution of Sacco and Vanzetti, she was arrested for “sauntering.” Anyone know what this is? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/10 "2006-09-21T15:40:03Z")
Well, it’s pretty obvious that it’s one of those social control laws, which are only implemented when the “perp” is being irritating or offensive but not actually causing harm. Where I grew up, curfew was the same way - you’d never get busted for curfew alone if you weren’t being a pain in the ass, but if a cop decided you were a pain, or in danger of becoming a pain, he’d use the curfew law to get you out of his hair. I once worked at a dance club, and there was an asshole drug dealer who was dealing heroin in the back hallway to underage kids (it was an under-21 club). Anyway, no matter how carefully our security watched him, we could never catch him in the act or with the stuff on him. One night, one of the off-duty cops who worked the door got sick of his asshattery, and arrested him on something like “possesion of a rapist’s tool” or some such. Yep. He arrested him for having a penis. Of course it didn’t stick, but it got him the hell out of the club for the night, at least. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/11 "2006-09-21T15:52:24Z")
The ones I think should be arrested are those that display mopery while driving. Damnit, if you are in your car and on the road, at least drive with some intent and purpose! If you are not serious about getting somewhere, then get off the road and the hell outta my way. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/12 "2006-09-21T16:15:17Z")
[QUOTE=SkipMagic] Just mopery? Why not mopery _and_ [dopery](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=211820)? [/QUOTE] I think dopery should be redefined as wandering around the SDMB without a clear purpose. Of course, they’d have to arrest the lot of us. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/13 "2006-09-21T16:34:54Z")
[QUOTE=The Weird One] I think dopery should be redefined as wandering around the SDMB without a clear purpose. Of course, they’d have to arrest the lot of us. [/QUOTE] Great. Then we’d have even more time to spend on the Dope in prison. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/14 "2006-09-21T16:43:28Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Great. Then we’d have even more time to spend on the Dope in prison. [/QUOTE] And of course, we’d always be pretending to be sick just so we could hang out with **Qadgop the Mercotan**. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/15 "2006-09-21T17:14:28Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio] The ones I think should be arrested are those that display mopery while driving. Damnit, if you are in your car and on the road, at least drive with some intent and purpose! If you are not serious about getting somewhere, then get off the road and the hell outta my way. [/QUOTE] Three days ago I got stuck behind a car doing 30 on a fun curvy country road. It was a Ferrari. Talk about mopery. I should have been legally allowed to carjack him. He didn’t deserve that car. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/16 "2006-09-21T17:19:22Z")
[QUOTE=The Weird One] And of course, we’d always be pretending to be sick just so we could hang out with **Qadgop the Mercotan**. [/QUOTE] This reminds me of that thread elfbabe posted about the time she visited the prison. "MERCOTAN! Get us out of here, man!" I’d want him to find a way to sneak me out. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/17 "2006-09-21T17:22:32Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Three days ago I got stuck behind a car doing 30 on a fun curvy country road. It was a Ferrari. Talk about mopery. I should have been legally allowed to carjack him. He didn’t deserve that car. [/QUOTE] Case dismissed! No jury woud convict you. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/18 "2006-09-21T20:34:22Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] I used the word mope at work yesterday complaining about people who get off the escalator and " then mope around and get in everyone’s way." People acted as though it was a neologism. I said that I though everyone knew the word [/QUOTE] I knew the word but only in the “sit around and feel sorry for yourself” sense. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/19 "2006-09-22T13:18:59Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Three days ago I got stuck behind a car doing 30 on a fun curvy country road. It was a Ferrari. Talk about mopery. I should have been legally allowed to carjack him. He didn’t deserve that car. [/QUOTE] I would have helped you, even if I only got to ride in the passenger seat. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2006, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554/20 "2006-09-22T13:25:56Z")
Mopery dopery doc I just went out for a walk Leave me unmolested Not stopped and arrested Mopery dopery doc Okay, it’s lame and doesn’t even technically rhyme. But waddya gonna do? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mopery-must-i-have-a-clear-destination-or-purpose-just-to-live-unmolested/373554.md?page=2)