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A comment on I Was Arrested for Learning a Foreign Language. Today, I Have Some Closure. Parent comment

Re:I Was Arrested for Learning a Foreign Language. Today, I ... by officemonkey on Sunday January 25, 2015 @01:11PM (#8943639)
I start with the assumption that "All Cops Are Bastards." It may be prejudicial, but it makes me think before I do anything that anyone could mistake for criminal activity.

If this makes the "cops who care" uncomfortable, they should put the blame squarely on the "cops who don't care" not on me.

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Re:I Was Arrested for Learning a Foreign Language. Today, I ... by sarciszewski on Sunday January 25, 2015 @01:38PM (#8943738)
This sort of assumption is prejudicial, but it's the sort of cynicism that leads to erring on the side of caution and making sure your rights are respected. You can't trust most people, cops are no exception. In that regard, it might be viewed as pragmatic.
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Re:I Was Arrested for Learning a Foreign Language. Today, I ... by thanksgiving on Sunday January 25, 2015 @02:34PM (#8943965)
I am sorry you're getting downvoted but this is absolutely right. Remember to never talk to the police. This sounds a little sarcastic but I promise you that it is not. Never, ever "help" the police, even if you are not a suspect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

The police do not have a duty to protect you [nytimes]. Why do you have a duty to help them?

[nytimes] http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/politics/28scotus.html

(If you intend to downvote, please kindly leave a note as to why I am wrong.)

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Re:I Was Arrested for Learning a Foreign Language. Today, I ... by npizzolato on Sunday January 25, 2015 @06:24PM (#8944692)
Thank you for posting those links. While the video is long, any US citizen would do well to make the time to watch it.
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Re:I Was Arrested for Learning a Foreign Language. Today, I ... by sarciszewski on Sunday January 25, 2015 @05:14PM (#8944467)
I don't even know why that one got downvoted to oblivion.
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Re:I Was Arrested for Learning a Foreign Language. Today, I ... by iwouldwager on Sunday January 25, 2015 @05:59PM (#8944605)
I would wager that it was this bit:

"it's the sort of cynicism that leads to [...] making sure your rights are respected"

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Re:I Was Arrested for Learning a Foreign Language. Today, I ... by sarciszewski on Sunday January 25, 2015 @06:09PM (#8944640)
Er, okay, what's wrong with that statement?
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Re:I Was Arrested for Learning a Foreign Language. Today, I ... by iwouldwager on Sunday January 25, 2015 @08:39PM (#8945137)
What you describe is doing everything you can in order to try to avoid a situation in which you might be required to flex your rights. How can you describe it as a strategy for "making sure your rights are respected"? It is on its face an attempt to make the question of whether you have rights or not a no-impact detail.
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Re:I Was Arrested for Learning a Foreign Language. Today, I ... by sarciszewski on Sunday January 25, 2015 @11:37PM (#8945538)
> What you describe is doing everything you can in order to try to avoid a situation in which you might be required to flex your rights.

I like to think of it as maintaining a preemptive strategy. I don't like this, but the world we live in is unfair and full of assholes who don't play by their own rules.

> How can you describe it as a strategy for "making sure your rights are respected"?

A man who faces no wars carries no battle scars.

> It is on its face an attempt to make the question of whether you have rights or not a no-impact detail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWiBt-pqp0E#t=256

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Re:I Was Arrested for Learning a Foreign Language. Today, I ... by npizzolato on Sunday January 25, 2015 @06:19PM (#8944672)
It's a sad day when advice to be pragmatic is downvoted. Sure, I shouldn't have to be extra careful when talking to police officers because they should have a duty to protect innocent citizens. But I only get one life, so I'm going to to, just as I'm going to watch for people running red lights when crossing the street and staying in safe, lit areas when walking home alone at night.
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