Origin of the term "ploppy"

I see the term 'ploppy' used all the time in blackjack fora, always disdainfully! I know it refers to uneducated or ignorant card players. But I'm wondering where the term comes from.

Perhaps some of the long-time players in here can educate me? Where did you first hear it? Is there a source where the term first appears?

Quote: theoriemeister

I see the term 'ploppy' used all the time in blackjack fora, always disdainfully! I know it refers to uneducated or ignorant card players. But I'm wondering where the term comes from.

Perhaps some of the long-time players in here can educate me? Where did you first hear it? Is there a source where the term first appears?

Author and forum member Frank Scoblete lays claim to coining that term. When I asked him about it he said it was the name of some characters in an English sit com.

I don't personally use it because I find it disrespectful. We are all ploppies at something. I have to admit though, it's a great word.

Yeah, we're all ploppies at something.

I believe it means someone who PLOPS down, ready to participate, but without a clue what to do.

That definition certainly applies to any use of the word, not just casino novices...

I use such terms occasionally, mostly for the sake of brevity. But I think it can be kind of a weak minded way to build yourself up. "I'm better at doing X than this guy."

Well, if you devote thousands of hours and a ton of mental energy to being good at it, and the other guy is just messing around and doesn't give a shit, that's not much of an accomplishment.

Extreme case: I've seen a mediocre 1/2 grinder call a medical doctor an "idiot" for the way he played a poker hand. "You're an idiot because you were performing surgery while I was reading an Ed Miller column!"

At the same time it can be a useful concept. Now that a vulture UX, I'll definitely look at someone playing a machine and try to evaluate how sharp they look. If you were telling someone else about such a scenario, it might just be the easiest thing to say. But I try to limit it.

I agree the term was coined by Frank Scoblete

I self-identify as a "ploppy" as the definition of a non-sharp (anyone who's not AP'ing). I guess it's derisive, at least among this group, but without ploppies, there would be no game for the AP's, so I sometimes wonder at the usage or intent. At the very least, ploppies are protective coloration for AP's.

I first heard/read the term from Bob Dancer somewhere. Now I haven't read any Frank Scoblete's books so I'm probably wrong. The way I thought I read it from BD was along the lines of-

Ploppy: Person who plops down (sits down) and plays any video poker machine without regard to the pay tables.

It makes sense in that definition. When ploppy is used in a blackjack context it doesn't make as much sense. At least when the term first came about there was no 6:5 to worry about.

I'm probably wrong, been wrong many times before and will be again, and I'm going off my memory to make my case even worse, just saying it makes more sense from a video poker player perspective and makes less sense from a BJ player perspective and even less from a craps player perspective (they don't normally sit).

A ploppy plops down at the closest game available without consideration of how crappy said game is. They are well respected in the casino.

I first saw ploppy in one of John Patrick's
books on gambling, probably 35 years
ago. I'm sure it was a commonly used
term from the 50's and 60's.

Quote: EvenBob

I first saw ploppy in one of John Patrick's
books on gambling, probably 35 years
ago. I'm sure it was a commonly used
term from the 50's and 60's.

Is that where you got your roulette system from??

Quote: Mikey75

Is that where you got your roulette system from??

Bet red until black hits, then bet black.

Thanks, JP.

Quote: EvenBob

Bet red until black hits, then bet black.

Thanks, JP.

Alright!!! Does this method come with a guarantee?? I'll try it next week when I hit the casino.

Quote: EvenBob

Bet red until black hits, then bet black.

Thanks, JP.

EB has been saying "bet with the streak" for as long as I've been on this board, at least. So I don't know as that's news...or has anything to do with how he actually plays. lol...

Betting with a streak or against it is the
oldest roulette system there is. It works
as good as anything else. Or as bad..