# word association: police **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 14, 2001, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893 "2001-03-14T03:29:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TheNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerd)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/1 "2001-03-14T03:29:00Z")
which of these words do you think fits best with “police”? [list=A] [li]protect[/li][li]serve[/li][li]harass[/li][li]oppress[/li][/list] ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/2 "2001-03-14T03:30:37Z")
I would’ve said “pig” but since that’s not a choice I’ll go with ©harass. Yes, that’s my final answer. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/3 "2001-03-14T04:05:32Z")
C. Long story, starting on 22 April '99. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![gorkamorka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/87869e/32.png) [@gorkamorka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gorkamorka)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/4 "2001-03-14T05:29:18Z")
1. ---
**Author:** ![Catmarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8491ac/32.png) [@Catmarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catmarie)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/5 "2001-03-14T09:07:02Z")
a) and b); protect and serve but then I’m British, does that make a difference? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/6 "2001-03-14T10:40:17Z")
Apparently it does, Cat. In my experience, C. Although I’m willing to believe they engage in both A and D as well. B I’m not sure about. ---
**Author:** ![Catmarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8491ac/32.png) [@Catmarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catmarie)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/7 "2001-03-14T10:56:19Z")
I was replying to the op in that those were the first two that seemed appropriate. I sure that c and d occur but they’re not the first thing that springs to mind. Actually when I read the title the first word to do with police was car, not man (or woman), maybe cause you tend to see more cars than bobbies on the beat. I dunno. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/8 "2001-03-14T13:30:36Z")
In my experience, predominately A with a little bit of D. Although when I read the title of this post, the first word that came to mind was “blue”. I’m so simple. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/9 "2001-03-14T13:48:23Z")
Here in Australia I’d generally say: a) and occasionally b) Unless they work in the Valley here in which case it’s e) live off the brothel owners ---
**Author:** ![ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/10 "2001-03-14T13:48:52Z")
Handcuffs. 🙂 -L ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/11 "2001-03-14T13:50:10Z")
Sting. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/12 "2001-03-15T00:29:58Z")
(A) ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/13 "2001-03-15T00:38:17Z")
Stewart Copeland. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/14 "2001-03-15T00:58:10Z")
Sting. OK, that’s been said… Andy Summers. If they’re playing “Every Breath You Take”, then, choice C: Harass. Otherwise, B: Serve, as I’m getting music. But seriously, I probably feel occasionally harassed–more than oppressed–by the police. I’m not sure I feel protected or served, but I guess society’s being served–when it’s not being harassed. Sort of like what I said about the Police. ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Sue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Sweet\_Sue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Sue)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/15 "2001-03-15T01:31:33Z")
\*\*sub         [/sub]O         º       sub)[/sub]         +         A         " \*\* ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2001, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/16 "2001-03-15T02:21:03Z")
If the interaction I’m having with the police is part of both of our jobs, then B. If, at the time of the interaction, they’re the only ones working, then C & D. ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/17 "2001-03-16T21:36:32Z")
The first thing I thought of was the color navy-blue. ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2001, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/18 "2001-03-16T21:41:41Z")
The first thing I thought of was the color navy-blue. ---
**Author:** ![stormy652](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@stormy652](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stormy652)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2001, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/19 "2001-03-17T05:28:52Z")
When I think of Police: Donut Pig Oink Fucker Oppresser Liar Corrupt Unconstitutional Power Bored Lazy Fat Stupid Exempt Killing Racist Violent ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2001, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893/20 "2001-03-18T04:43:35Z")
E. Apathetic, F. Underpaid, and D. We get what we pay for. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-association-police/57893.md?page=2)