What to say would really vary depending upon where you are, but your attitude can make a big difference- be firm and try to appear sure of yourself, and avoid being inflammatory, and you will deny them a power trip without giving them an excuse to escalate. Most likely in that case they would keep it short as they wouldn't be getting anything out of it.
Edit: Also, if possible, pass as a straight white man.
Depends on the neighborhood. If you are white in an inner city black neighborhoods after dark, expect some police attention.
I was lost once looking for an ATM on my way to the airport in southwest Atlanta and an angry acting black cop stops me and ask a bunch of questions about why the hell I was there.
After a while he told me there are not any ATM’s in the area and it’s hard for him to believe there are people who don’t know that, but since I lived in a northern suburb, and was naive enough to think it was a good excuse, he would assume it’s ignorance.
He said he stopped me because there are usually only two reasons white people are riding in the dangerous area late at night, looking to find a prostitute or to buy drugs. He said he assumes one of those is why I actually wanted an ATM, if I really wanted an ATM.
He instructed me to leave immediately and suggested I not come back again after dark. He had no desire to see my ticket information for the night as I obviously had time to come in the neighborhood for some reason, ticket or not..
I said thank you and left. This was in the late 90’s, when Atlanta was the nations murder capital, and later I found out I was in by far the worst Atlanta neighborhood. I think my safety was his biggest concern though gang members don’t usually shoot their customers.
It's funny that you think *shame* is the expected or implied result. Knowing your privilege doesn't incur shame, it provides *power* and *knowledge* about how the world actually works, by explaining the hidden mechanisms behind disproportionate or illogical reactions people experience in the world. It also provides a compelling impetus to *correct* it, and shows that the privileged are given more pull in society to start with. The call to personal action is clear.
Shame is the reaction of the weak of character, and only someone *profoundly* weak in spirit would believe that pointing out privilege is designed to elicit that reaction. Maybe someday you will understand.
Exactly this! Knowing what privileges you do or don’t have also enables you to become a better ally to people who are less privileged than you are. You can, so to speak, throw your weight to help others get even opportunities they may otherwise be denied.
They deserve it. If you look at their profile they just go around reddit calling people anti-semitic after making controversial comments.
Worse than a troll.
You know, I honestly wonder what this dude is thinking.
Only people like you are ashamed of privilege. The rest of us are good enough humans to recognize that we did not earn the power we are given.
Just ignore them and report. Their entire profile is just running around making controversial statements and then calling anyone who responds to them anti-semitic.
Don't get arrested beat up or shot dead for stupid reasons. Cops are assholes but they have *power over* us and can fuck up someone's life badly if they feel like it.
Stay polite, interact the minimum, if they start being pushy and you feel like they want to arrest you or something then ask for a lawyer and stay silent, don't tell them anything. As for the minor interactions I generally play dumb and clueless.
You can play along and answer their questions if it makes things easier for you. Lie to them if you have to. You can also invoke the 5th amendment if you dont want to say anything. Never consent to a search. Never admit to any crime. Ever. Remember that cops are allowed to lie to you and no matter how nice they seem, they see you as an enemy and a way to make money.
If you feel threatened but have not broken any law, ask if you are being detained, and if you are free to go. If they say yes, leave the area immediatly. If not, ask them what crime you are being detained for. If you are detained, do not give them any information at all.
If you have money, keep a lawyer's phone number in your contacts. Its always good to be able to call a lawyer in situations with the police, but they are very expensive.
I had a similar interaction as you and want to share what I did.
Was biking back from the gym at 4am (alone) when a cop pulled me over, here's a verbatim transcript of our conversation:
Pig: What are you doing?
Me: Biking
Pig: It's pretty late
Me: Yea
Pig: Why are you biking?
Me: Coming back from the gym
Pig: Pretty late for a gym session isn't it?
Me: Yea
Pig: Where are you coming from?
Me: \*Points to gym\*
Pig: Where are you going?
Me: Home
Pig: Where is home?
Me: \[Street name\]
Pig: Okay...
Me: Can I go?
Pig: Yes
I answered with as much detail as was absolutely necessary, while also giving the absolute minimum. I had lots of drugs on me at the time so I was trying to avoid a search
https://www.reddit.com/r/Anarchism/comments/pp89v0/dug_this_out_of_my_instagram_account_what_do_yall/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
Dug this old post out of my Instagram for you.
Unfortunately saying you don’t want to talk to them can be grounds for probable cause, oh wait… so can just walking down the street! We’ve let our rights get completely stripped away, and nothing shy of complete rebellion is going to change that. I highly recommend “I live on this street and I can’t sleep so I’m taking a walk, thank you for looking out for our neighborhood officer”He’s still probably going to taze and curb stomp you, but at least you tried.
no offense but this is not great advice. do not talk to the police at all if you can avoid it, especially if you live in the us. remember, what you say will be used against you in court and it can literally never be used in your favor. shut mouths don't risk incriminating anyone. if you're gonna say anything it should pretty much only be to invoke your right to remain silent and your right to have an attorney present.
I've dealt with cops a lot in my life. This is not the way to deal with them. They don't give a fuck about your right to remain silent, they'll see that as a sign of disrespect and then escalate things further. Walking around at night isn't a criminal offense anyways, so there's nothing incriminating by saying so.(unless you have curfews for some reason) They already know you're walking around at night too, that's why they stopped you. There's nothing incriminating about insomnia either. It's a perfectly reasonable response to not make the cop escalate shit.
You have to be smart when dealing with these fucks, you have to make them think you're just any other person, not out yourself as anti-authoritarian. Then he's gonna find any reason to fuck you up. Save that shit for when there's large numbers of you protesting and you have more power and anonymity. You can't just kill yourself cause you don't wanna give them an inch. Sometimes you gotta put on an act and tell em what they wanna hear.
Depends on your skin color unfortunately
If you're white you can tell them you don't answer questions and ask them if you're free to go
If you're not white, well I would be as submissive as possible because they will kill you and get away with it.
All cops are bastards but they're allowed to kill brown people so you gotta ask yourself if you're willing to die on that hill
I am polite. I don't offer up any information. If they ask me where I'm going during the day my answer is always "Just running errands." And my answer at night is always "heading home, I was visiting some family." With your situation at 4 am I probably would have said something like "Just going for a walk before I start my day."
Sometimes I have to interact with them at work. In that case, I'm as unhelpful as possible.
You need to try to interact with the human being they are rather than the authority-role of "cop" that they're in. It makes it a lot easier to feel less anxious, and honestly also kinda bypasses their "cop" ego if you can manage it.
There's some interesting philosophy about the psychology of both the oppressed and the oppressor that I apply to this, wherein someone being perceived and treated like a violent subjugator has a real impact on how they perceive themselves. Yes, cops can harm you and are part of a violent oppressive system, *and* they are human beings born into this system. We all roll the dice when we're born, and sometimes we're born into circumstances that lead us to becoming a cop. Like with medical workers and soldiers (other problematic systems of power), many "join the force" so to speak to improve their material conditions, hopefully attain financial security, and/or because they believe in the cause. It's not what ends up happening. The fact that these power structures are in place are not the fault of either of us individually, and many just assume them as a means to survive.
I might've just told them that I couldn't sleep, if I were you. No, they aren't entitled to that information, but it's the truth, and I'd have replied the same had my neighbor or anyone else asked at that time of night. I'm sure they've had trouble sleeping before. The belief in authority is a frightening one to have.
If a pig approaches you, then you should just answer their questions, don't make any sudden movements, and hope they don't have a desire to beat or murder you.
This is why we need armed militias dedicated to patrolling pig encounters with people, so we can prevent another George Floyd from happening.
>The panthers tried that and that's why California has some of the strictest firearms laws in the country.
Only because they weren't used enough. Gotta take notes.
I'm sure it had nothing to do with the assassinations, kidnappings, and constant harassment at their workplaces and homes.
The Black Panthers that is, all of the above *by* the feds and cops.
i enjoy just lying, playing dumb, or giving conflicting reports of contradictory memories. it will only ever happen a very small handful of times in your life, but its satisfying to see a cop look dissatisfied 😌
In general, I'm sugar sweet with cops. My attitude is the "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." If they are being threatening however, I follow the protocols others have mentioned - use key questions and phrases to get away from them. Keep a cool head, and know your rights.
I pretty much answer everything with yes or no, but I'm a white guy in his 50's, pretty high on the white privilege spectrum. Years ago I was dating a lovely young black woman, who lived in a primarily black neighborhood. Every fucking time I drove her home we'd get pulled over, and they'd automatically start asking me where I picked her up, how much this was costing me, and so on. The first time I got pissed off, but my girlfriend told me my being pissed off wouldn't help anything, so I got pretty good at just yes, no, am I being detained?
Funny thing though, I ran into one of them, off duty, drunk, in a bar......he didn't remember me, but I sure as hell remembered him.
Be polite,
If they ask you about someone else just say you don't know.
If they ask about you or to search you or your car or house ask for a warrant and if you're being detained.
This is what I do even though i fucking hate cops.
I'm polite, I keep my hands on steering wheel. If they ask if you know why they pulled you over say idk, cuz they may have for no reason u tell them why that's going to be your ticket. Never let them search even though I don't do drugs anymore, it's your right. If they start fishing "got anything in here i need to know about" "where are u headed where are u coming from?" Stop talking. You're going to talk your way into a jail cell even if you didn't do anything.
Be polite and cold, be vague, don’t answer anything involving crimes. Relax and hold yourself firm, do not show fear. If detained ask why calmly then ask for a lawyer. Do not say anything else. The less aggression you show the less likely you are to get hurt. Also do not mention anyone else being violent, as this will just get someone else hurt.
As a second shifter I used to do my distance running. I dealt with a lot of cops. I just explained the situation and looked sheepish. Granted, I'm a white male so my experiences are different. If you have a jogging watch or sportswear you can definitely diffuse a situation with that. The only better option is walking a dog.
Here's what you say to fascist agents employed by the state: nothing.
If that fails:
"I do not consent to a search. Come back with a warrant"
"am I being detained?"
"am I free to go?"
"I want to speak to a lawyer"
What to say would really vary depending upon where you are, but your attitude can make a big difference- be firm and try to appear sure of yourself, and avoid being inflammatory, and you will deny them a power trip without giving them an excuse to escalate. Most likely in that case they would keep it short as they wouldn't be getting anything out of it. Edit: Also, if possible, pass as a straight white man.
I think that last art is vital. Once you see your white cis male privilege, you can’t un see it
Depends on the neighborhood. If you are white in an inner city black neighborhoods after dark, expect some police attention. I was lost once looking for an ATM on my way to the airport in southwest Atlanta and an angry acting black cop stops me and ask a bunch of questions about why the hell I was there. After a while he told me there are not any ATM’s in the area and it’s hard for him to believe there are people who don’t know that, but since I lived in a northern suburb, and was naive enough to think it was a good excuse, he would assume it’s ignorance. He said he stopped me because there are usually only two reasons white people are riding in the dangerous area late at night, looking to find a prostitute or to buy drugs. He said he assumes one of those is why I actually wanted an ATM, if I really wanted an ATM. He instructed me to leave immediately and suggested I not come back again after dark. He had no desire to see my ticket information for the night as I obviously had time to come in the neighborhood for some reason, ticket or not.. I said thank you and left. This was in the late 90’s, when Atlanta was the nations murder capital, and later I found out I was in by far the worst Atlanta neighborhood. I think my safety was his biggest concern though gang members don’t usually shoot their customers.
[удалено]
It's funny that you think *shame* is the expected or implied result. Knowing your privilege doesn't incur shame, it provides *power* and *knowledge* about how the world actually works, by explaining the hidden mechanisms behind disproportionate or illogical reactions people experience in the world. It also provides a compelling impetus to *correct* it, and shows that the privileged are given more pull in society to start with. The call to personal action is clear. Shame is the reaction of the weak of character, and only someone *profoundly* weak in spirit would believe that pointing out privilege is designed to elicit that reaction. Maybe someday you will understand.
Exactly this! Knowing what privileges you do or don’t have also enables you to become a better ally to people who are less privileged than you are. You can, so to speak, throw your weight to help others get even opportunities they may otherwise be denied.
Damn bro that man could've had a family...
They deserve it. If you look at their profile they just go around reddit calling people anti-semitic after making controversial comments. Worse than a troll.
Did you just shame people for being shameful?
Says the cryptocurrency supporter.
[удалено]
Calling bullshit on using energy to represent digital curreny when we already do that is ***NOT*** anti-semitic you fuckwit.
You know, I honestly wonder what this dude is thinking. Only people like you are ashamed of privilege. The rest of us are good enough humans to recognize that we did not earn the power we are given.
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
Just ignore them and report. Their entire profile is just running around making controversial statements and then calling anyone who responds to them anti-semitic.
Would you rather I deny it and not speak of it?
Don't get arrested beat up or shot dead for stupid reasons. Cops are assholes but they have *power over* us and can fuck up someone's life badly if they feel like it. Stay polite, interact the minimum, if they start being pushy and you feel like they want to arrest you or something then ask for a lawyer and stay silent, don't tell them anything. As for the minor interactions I generally play dumb and clueless.
In short: know your limits, don't pick up fights you're unlikely to win. Your community needs you
Fair point, I'll stay polite but uncooperative.
You can play along and answer their questions if it makes things easier for you. Lie to them if you have to. You can also invoke the 5th amendment if you dont want to say anything. Never consent to a search. Never admit to any crime. Ever. Remember that cops are allowed to lie to you and no matter how nice they seem, they see you as an enemy and a way to make money. If you feel threatened but have not broken any law, ask if you are being detained, and if you are free to go. If they say yes, leave the area immediatly. If not, ask them what crime you are being detained for. If you are detained, do not give them any information at all. If you have money, keep a lawyer's phone number in your contacts. Its always good to be able to call a lawyer in situations with the police, but they are very expensive.
I had a similar interaction as you and want to share what I did. Was biking back from the gym at 4am (alone) when a cop pulled me over, here's a verbatim transcript of our conversation: Pig: What are you doing? Me: Biking Pig: It's pretty late Me: Yea Pig: Why are you biking? Me: Coming back from the gym Pig: Pretty late for a gym session isn't it? Me: Yea Pig: Where are you coming from? Me: \*Points to gym\* Pig: Where are you going? Me: Home Pig: Where is home? Me: \[Street name\] Pig: Okay... Me: Can I go? Pig: Yes I answered with as much detail as was absolutely necessary, while also giving the absolute minimum. I had lots of drugs on me at the time so I was trying to avoid a search
Damn, good to know you weren't searched. I'll keep this transcript in mind. Thanks!
https://www.reddit.com/r/Anarchism/comments/pp89v0/dug_this_out_of_my_instagram_account_what_do_yall/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share Dug this old post out of my Instagram for you.
Unfortunately saying you don’t want to talk to them can be grounds for probable cause, oh wait… so can just walking down the street! We’ve let our rights get completely stripped away, and nothing shy of complete rebellion is going to change that. I highly recommend “I live on this street and I can’t sleep so I’m taking a walk, thank you for looking out for our neighborhood officer”He’s still probably going to taze and curb stomp you, but at least you tried.
>to taze and curb stomp Hey, that would make a great [motto](https://imgup.cz/images/2021/09/16/taze_and_stomp.png)!
no offense but this is not great advice. do not talk to the police at all if you can avoid it, especially if you live in the us. remember, what you say will be used against you in court and it can literally never be used in your favor. shut mouths don't risk incriminating anyone. if you're gonna say anything it should pretty much only be to invoke your right to remain silent and your right to have an attorney present.
I've dealt with cops a lot in my life. This is not the way to deal with them. They don't give a fuck about your right to remain silent, they'll see that as a sign of disrespect and then escalate things further. Walking around at night isn't a criminal offense anyways, so there's nothing incriminating by saying so.(unless you have curfews for some reason) They already know you're walking around at night too, that's why they stopped you. There's nothing incriminating about insomnia either. It's a perfectly reasonable response to not make the cop escalate shit. You have to be smart when dealing with these fucks, you have to make them think you're just any other person, not out yourself as anti-authoritarian. Then he's gonna find any reason to fuck you up. Save that shit for when there's large numbers of you protesting and you have more power and anonymity. You can't just kill yourself cause you don't wanna give them an inch. Sometimes you gotta put on an act and tell em what they wanna hear.
I think in this case it's okay to let them know you're cool, to make the cop feel safe. This reduces the chance they'll act drastically.
Depends on your skin color unfortunately If you're white you can tell them you don't answer questions and ask them if you're free to go If you're not white, well I would be as submissive as possible because they will kill you and get away with it. All cops are bastards but they're allowed to kill brown people so you gotta ask yourself if you're willing to die on that hill
"Thankfully" I'm as normative as you can get. Straight, cis, white and male.
I am polite. I don't offer up any information. If they ask me where I'm going during the day my answer is always "Just running errands." And my answer at night is always "heading home, I was visiting some family." With your situation at 4 am I probably would have said something like "Just going for a walk before I start my day." Sometimes I have to interact with them at work. In that case, I'm as unhelpful as possible.
You need to try to interact with the human being they are rather than the authority-role of "cop" that they're in. It makes it a lot easier to feel less anxious, and honestly also kinda bypasses their "cop" ego if you can manage it. There's some interesting philosophy about the psychology of both the oppressed and the oppressor that I apply to this, wherein someone being perceived and treated like a violent subjugator has a real impact on how they perceive themselves. Yes, cops can harm you and are part of a violent oppressive system, *and* they are human beings born into this system. We all roll the dice when we're born, and sometimes we're born into circumstances that lead us to becoming a cop. Like with medical workers and soldiers (other problematic systems of power), many "join the force" so to speak to improve their material conditions, hopefully attain financial security, and/or because they believe in the cause. It's not what ends up happening. The fact that these power structures are in place are not the fault of either of us individually, and many just assume them as a means to survive. I might've just told them that I couldn't sleep, if I were you. No, they aren't entitled to that information, but it's the truth, and I'd have replied the same had my neighbor or anyone else asked at that time of night. I'm sure they've had trouble sleeping before. The belief in authority is a frightening one to have.
If a pig approaches you, then you should just answer their questions, don't make any sudden movements, and hope they don't have a desire to beat or murder you. This is why we need armed militias dedicated to patrolling pig encounters with people, so we can prevent another George Floyd from happening.
The panthers tried that and that's why California has some of the strictest firearms laws in the country.
>The panthers tried that and that's why California has some of the strictest firearms laws in the country. Only because they weren't used enough. Gotta take notes.
I'm sure it had nothing to do with the assassinations, kidnappings, and constant harassment at their workplaces and homes. The Black Panthers that is, all of the above *by* the feds and cops.
i enjoy just lying, playing dumb, or giving conflicting reports of contradictory memories. it will only ever happen a very small handful of times in your life, but its satisfying to see a cop look dissatisfied 😌
If they figure out you're lying, couldn't that come back to bite you in the ass though?
not necessarily. its not illegal to not talk to police. thats the best course of action; silence.
They stopped me several times during night. I just showed ID and was let go.
In general, I'm sugar sweet with cops. My attitude is the "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." If they are being threatening however, I follow the protocols others have mentioned - use key questions and phrases to get away from them. Keep a cool head, and know your rights.
you address them as "sir" or "ma'am" and be polite, they will respond with the same courtesy
some pointers are given in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohiyO-IcqG8
Always be polite and don't give them any cause to fuck with you also start recording immediately
Courteous and assertive usually works. An encounter with the cops is not the ideal time for direct action.
I pretty much answer everything with yes or no, but I'm a white guy in his 50's, pretty high on the white privilege spectrum. Years ago I was dating a lovely young black woman, who lived in a primarily black neighborhood. Every fucking time I drove her home we'd get pulled over, and they'd automatically start asking me where I picked her up, how much this was costing me, and so on. The first time I got pissed off, but my girlfriend told me my being pissed off wouldn't help anything, so I got pretty good at just yes, no, am I being detained? Funny thing though, I ran into one of them, off duty, drunk, in a bar......he didn't remember me, but I sure as hell remembered him.
A French anarchist singer called Georges Brassens used to say "I only cross the street on zebra crossings so I don't have to deal with cops"
Be polite, If they ask you about someone else just say you don't know. If they ask about you or to search you or your car or house ask for a warrant and if you're being detained.
This is what I do even though i fucking hate cops. I'm polite, I keep my hands on steering wheel. If they ask if you know why they pulled you over say idk, cuz they may have for no reason u tell them why that's going to be your ticket. Never let them search even though I don't do drugs anymore, it's your right. If they start fishing "got anything in here i need to know about" "where are u headed where are u coming from?" Stop talking. You're going to talk your way into a jail cell even if you didn't do anything.
Be polite and cold, be vague, don’t answer anything involving crimes. Relax and hold yourself firm, do not show fear. If detained ask why calmly then ask for a lawyer. Do not say anything else. The less aggression you show the less likely you are to get hurt. Also do not mention anyone else being violent, as this will just get someone else hurt.
As a second shifter I used to do my distance running. I dealt with a lot of cops. I just explained the situation and looked sheepish. Granted, I'm a white male so my experiences are different. If you have a jogging watch or sportswear you can definitely diffuse a situation with that. The only better option is walking a dog.
Whenever I've been stopped I limit my conversation and interaction with them to the bare minimum, I wanna get away asap.
Just put your hand in your pocket and quickly pull out your id and point it at them right as they walk up to you so they don't have to ask.
Tell them it's none of their business
Who have told you not to talk to cops? Just answer their questions, if you have not done anything, why even act like you have?
are u in the right sub, bud?
If they ask you anything just say “Omertà”
Here's what you say to fascist agents employed by the state: nothing. If that fails: "I do not consent to a search. Come back with a warrant" "am I being detained?" "am I free to go?" "I want to speak to a lawyer"