General Discussion

Igel

(37,546 posts)

29. Being officious and defensive isn't a great thing.

Sun Jul 26, 2015, 10:49 PM

Jul 2015

Cops are people. They have crappy days and good days, crappy encounters and pleasant ones. Often if you show contrition, they're in no mood to show up in court when you contest the ticket so they give you a warning.

If you're pissy and defensive, they wonder why. Too often we dehumanize them, treat them like they're not human or they're the enemy, and then wonder why they act the way we'd act if we were treated like we're not human or we're the enemy.

And if you think that's how you are treated, then you know that it doesn't bring out good will and that old kumbaya-let's-hug feeling.

Works the same in court. It's the basis of plea bargains. And fighting the judge--or the cop--is not a way to get him on your side, to encourage leniency, etc.

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Know Your Rights With The Police [View all] damnedifIknow Jul 2015 OP

This is extremely bad advice oberliner Jul 2015 #1

Good points... ret5hd Jul 2015 #3

Yes, I was taught the same oberliner Jul 2015 #4

We have rights in this country damnedifIknow Jul 2015 #8

Indeed we do oberliner Jul 2015 #11

They're not "reasonable questions;" they're a fishing expedition. Comrade Grumpy Jul 2015 #30

He is also Profiling for Evasive Answers One_Life_To_Give Jul 2015 #46

I agree. cwydro Jul 2015 #42

Same here. 840high Jul 2015 #13

Don't be a tool unnecessarily is excellent advice... Positrons Jul 2015 #19

No, it's more like "play the game," as linguists would say. Igel Jul 2015 #27

You're right. Usually the only good reason not to answer COLGATE4 Jul 2015 #6

If they are that hostile you are pretty much guaranteed to get a hostile reaction anyway Major Nikon Jul 2015 #7

Good point oberliner Jul 2015 #12

I think it would have gone better Major Nikon Jul 2015 #18

You have the right to remain silent. More people should exercise it. Comrade Grumpy Jul 2015 #31

Fuck the police. nt MrScorpio Jul 2015 #22

Where are the "rights?" Downwinder Jul 2015 #2

if it's just you and the cop on the side of the road, you have no rights since he has a gun geek tragedy Jul 2015 #5

I never knew I wasn't supposed to get out of the car. TexasProgresive Jul 2015 #9

If a cop asks me a question I ask them to repeat it gwheezie Jul 2015 #10

Has that ever led to a hostile response? oberliner Jul 2015 #14

I'm an old white woman gwheezie Jul 2015 #21

I was stopped up here the other day, it was the weirdest damn thing. polly7 Jul 2015 #15

I was pulled over just outside a small town in Utah. . . Journeyman Jul 2015 #26

I live 17 minutes from that town .... much of my family lives there. polly7 Jul 2015 #28

Just writing off their assholery as being human is really not a good excuse Major Nikon Jul 2015 #35

I recommend information from Flex Your Rights as a good starting place... Bluenorthwest Jul 2015 #16

Thanks for posting this oberliner Jul 2015 #23

I agree damnedifIknow Jul 2015 #32

Good video. cwydro Jul 2015 #44

My cousin actually got off without a ticket with his response. Hoppy Jul 2015 #17

LOL kydo Jul 2015 #20

i've dealt with this a bit before. beevul Jul 2015 #24

When I was in aerospace MurrayDelph Jul 2015 #34

Don't talk to the police. truebluegreen Jul 2015 #25

Being officious and defensive isn't a great thing. Igel Jul 2015 #29

Cops are no different than doctors, the receptionist at your local spa, the bartender polly7 Jul 2015 #36

cops don't get to have a "bad day" Spacemom Jul 2015 #39

So true. polly7 Jul 2015 #41

What a pant load. BillZBubb Jul 2015 #37

The last time I was stopped, I refused a search. X_Digger Jul 2015 #33

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Jul 2015 #38

Unfortunately, none of that applies... pinboy3niner Jul 2015 #40

Quite some time ago, a highway patroll officer tried to extort me HeiressofBickworth Jul 2015 #43

Depends if I want to go on with my day Facility Inspector Jul 2015 #45