That is _exactly_ what the police want to exploit when they're questioning you - social norms and politeness. When you're having a conversation, we're conditio

That is _exactly_ what the police want to exploit when they're questioning you - social norms and politeness. When you're having a conversation, we're conditioned to find long pauses awkward and uncomfortable. That's why when you start not saying anything during a conversation, the other person will jump in and start filling the dead air. It's useful during negotiations, because the person will start jumping in with concessions, trying to make things less awkward, when you let silences stretch out when it's "your turn to talk". Just remember, the police are not your friends. They want something out of you. Don't give them a single inch. "I want a lawyer" or "I want my lawyer" and then shutting up has nothing difficult, impolite, awkward, or unrealistic about it. If you're worried about politeness when the cops are trying to pin a crime on you, I really don't know what to say except think about how impolite it would be for them to arrest you.