When stopped by the police it serves you well to just be nice
Watching Larry Wilmore’s Nightly Show the other night, I heard a comedian – an ex-NYPD comedian – suggest that no matter how well the cop handled or didn’t handle the situation, it might have served her well to simply be nice.
As an ex-6o’s long hair who looked guilty of everything It served me well. I used to get stopped for everything and nothing and it served me well enough. Although I can hardly remember the last time I’ve been stopped for anything, it’s my policy to save it for the judge who is in the business of hearing explanations and excuses and complaints.
This whole thing struck me strongly because once upon a time I was pulled over for the very same thing. I changed lanes when an ambulance, lights ablaze, pulled up behind me. I have no doubt I was stopped for being a hippie, and the judge seemed to agree. Case closed. Being snarky and cynical and insulting may be good for the ego but it’s not ever worth it.
Ever notice how the US Cable media is 99% about spreading anger, fear and outrage? Ever notice how much we love it? I have a feeling we’re so hungry for police brutality stories – or rather we’re being told to be by the outrage industry, our perceptions are being slanted a bit. Its come to the point where the public demands indictment when the prosecutors know there is insufficient or no evidence because they’ve trained us to see public outrage as more important than reasonable doubt or presumption of innocence.
It’s not that we don’t see improper police actions, but that we’ve forgotten the difference between the mob and the justice system. If the system is imperfect or flawed or even sometimes corrupt, we aren’t serving justice by abandoning justice in the name of justice.
When going out at night as a female, better cover up because you deserve rape if you aren’t. If drinking as female it will be your own fault if something happens to you. See, I can do that too.
Most British police are fine. It’s a tough job and most of us appreciate them big time and, will always be ‘nice’ and respectful to them.
Mind you, if I find the odd ass hole in uniform I can’t help but treat them as such.
After all, if you are a police officer expecting respect then you have to behave accordingly yourself.
99% in Britain do and for that we should be grateful – whilst not being afraid to tell the 1% they are, indeed, ass holes.
It’s never fun getting pulled over but getting arrested is less fun. It costs nothing to be nice and might even get you out of a ticket 🙂