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A mocker repeatedly breaks the law or ignores legal subpoenas, often for minor crimes. The word originated during Prohibition and refers to those who knowingly break the law and belittle it. Tax resisters and those committed to personal freedom may also be considered scoffers, but many distance themselves from serious criminals. Choosing to be a prankster is risky and can result in serious penalties.
A mocker is someone who repeatedly and knowingly violates the law or ignores legal subpoenas in court and other proceedings. Many people use the word to refer to minor crimes, such as parking violations and littering, reserving “outlaw” for more serious crime offenders. Ignoring the law is usually not a very wise move, even when the laws seem minor, as repeated offenses can lead to an arrest warrant and serious fines.
The history of the word is quite interesting. It was born during a contest held during Prohibition to describe people who violated the laws against alcohol consumption. A prize of $200 United States Dollars (USD) awaited the winner, and since it was a large sum, a flood of entries poured in. Out of 25,000 entries, “scofflaw” became the clear favorite and was announced in 1924. Two people actually entered “scofflaw” in the contest, and they split the prize between them. The neologism remained, in stark contrast to other contexts of the time that were supposed to coin lasting additions to the English language.
Merely breaking the law does not make a person a scoffer unless he or she is aware that the law is being broken. A scoffer may also make fun of the law, or belittle it, by claiming that the law in question is useless or frivolous. In urban areas, pranksters may ignore parking restrictions, avoid paying bus fare, or throw litter on the streets instead of depositing it in a trash can. In rural areas, scoffers speed, fail to restrain their dogs, don’t wear seat belts, and refuse to permit their firearms.
Tax resisters can also be referred to as cheaters, as can other people who are deeply committed to personal freedom. Some people may actually identify as irreverent, rejecting government control over their personal lives. These people may even consider themselves iconoclasts, arguing that they are rejecting the law because they are innovators. Many self-identified scoffers distance themselves from outlaws who commit significant serious crimes such as murder, arson, and grand larceny.
Choosing to be a prankster is undertaken at personal risk. Many scoffers choose their battles poorly, rather than carefully considering their actions and backing them up with good reasoning. For example, choosing to evade the bus fare is accompanied by a hefty first-time fine in many areas of the world, and repeating it can result in other serious penalties. Likewise with parking offenses, which can end up with the scoundrel’s car impounded in a city parking lot until he pays to release it.
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