Edmund Cooper says:This is a comment posted to a GRE column from the other day.
"...pulled over...tried to intervene..."
Better that one cooperates with the police when one is the object of their undivided attention. Like it or not, they are in charge on the street.
Police are highly emotional and have predictable responses. Not smart to make them feel threatened. [More]
I think Mr. Cooper's observations raise some debatable points.
On the one hand, I can't argue with him. We've seen those "predictable responses" happen time and again.
On the other hand, with outrages that seem to be increasing to a breaking point, I question that this will always be the "smart" option...
Feel free to continue the in-progress discussion.
2 comments:
Depends on the individual situation.
Respect gains respect. If he's not coming off like an "Only One", and actually being kind and courteous, I see no reason not to cooperate (to an extent!!), as long as what you're cooperating with is within reason and within rights.
If, on the other hand, the opposite is happening, than there are several alternatives to the above, but the best path is total silence.
Remember, do not talk to cops. ESPECIALLY if you're being accused of something.
Or, you could make his head explode with gratuitous verbal shenanigans that are totally nonsensical in nature, and do not at all have the ability to harm you or him in any way (other than the aforementioned head explosion).
Then again, he might just toss you in the tank for being an ass, or being crazy; so I stand by my first approach: Never Talk to Cops.
It's getting to the point where not just criminals think that cops are the enemy, but ALL the people will.
Post a Comment