Just like when Mr. Roper, from the 70's show "three is company" used to break all cinematographic laws and look directly into the camera after telling a joke. Sometimes a porn actress looks directly into the camera for effect.
Not to be confused with a "goat rope", a Goat Roper is an archaic term for a redneck. It lost popularity in the late 1900's, but has had a resurgence in popularity recently. A goat roper denotes someone who is a "hick", and/or clumsy and stupid. Usually said person works in the farming industry, but is not exclusive to this.
"That guy Bill is a real goat roper, did you see the spit stains running down the driver's side of his old, dented 1978 Ford F150 pickup?"