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It wasn't anything even remotely requiring a lawyer's presence. I want to agree with you, but how do you know that (I'm making the assumption here that you're

It wasn't anything even remotely requiring a lawyer's presence. I want to agree with you, but how do you know that (I'm making the assumption here that you're not a lawyer, which may be incorrect)? This seems like the main issue - we (as in the common, non lawyery-types) don't necessarily know what things may or may not be incriminating. I'm not trying to instill a sense of fear, and I would always cooperate with law enforcement to the best of my abilities, but not at the risk of doing or saying something which could subsequently implicate me in something which is technically illegal and could get me arrested, convicted or deported.

eksith 13y ago
That's true, I'm definitely not a lawyer. But this wasn't an interrogation by a long stretch. We also have to keep in mind, this is during the meeting itself which was rather sudden. People have to learn the difference between knee-jerk self-censorship and turning informant at the first opportunity. There's a happy middle ground that's quite wide and don't involve paranoia induced silence or jingoism or fear inspired "collaboration" -- if that's the operative term -- with The Man. The alternatives are to say nothing or be evasive or "lawyer up" as the lingo says. None of which ensures their suspicion in you or something associated with you will die down or inspire confidence in your innocence. That doesn't mean you shouldn't explore your legal options. By all means, if you do receive a visit, the very next call should be to your lawyer with every bit of detail you have about the encounter. Hence the recording. But to shut up and say nothing is IMO unwise. If you are going to meet law enforcement, it may as well be on your own ground.
- mattmanser 13y ago
  Bollocks. I've been arrested by the police before and spent 4 hours in a jail cell simply because I was driving in an old red car with another passenger. We were even driving in the wrong direction and had food in the car that we'd just bought. They were all sweetness and light until they turned up at my mate's house 30 minutes after 'chatting' to us and tossed it. Turned out nothing had even been stolen in the attempted burglary. You just don't know when it's suddenly going to go from a friendly chat to something incredibly distressing and you losing your freedom. They are not your friends and they will be fishing for anything they can use. Don't give them anything and you can't accidentally incriminate yourself.
  - notahacker 13y ago
    Do you seriously think they wouldn't have arrested you and thrown you in jail for at least 4 hours if you'd refused to speak to them? They are not your friends, but if you deny them the fishing trip they're even more likely to snag you with the trawl net.
    - mattmanser 13y ago
      No I don't, my point was more how a jovial and friendly chat can quite suddenly morph into them attempting to convict you of a crime and anything you said without a lawyer is fair game.

eksith 13y ago

That's true, I'm definitely not a lawyer. But this wasn't an interrogation by a long stretch. We also have to keep in mind, this is during the meeting itself which was rather sudden. People have to learn the difference between knee-jerk self-censorship and turning informant at the first opportunity. There's a happy middle ground that's quite wide and don't involve paranoia induced silence or jingoism or fear inspired "collaboration" -- if that's the operative term -- with The Man. The alternatives are to say nothing or be evasive or "lawyer up" as the lingo says. None of which ensures their suspicion in you or something associated with you will die down or inspire confidence in your innocence. That doesn't mean you shouldn't explore your legal options. By all means, if you do receive a visit, the very next call should be to your lawyer with every bit of detail you have about the encounter. Hence the recording. But to shut up and say nothing is IMO unwise. If you are going to meet law enforcement, it may as well be on your own ground.

mattmanser 13y ago
Bollocks. I've been arrested by the police before and spent 4 hours in a jail cell simply because I was driving in an old red car with another passenger. We were even driving in the wrong direction and had food in the car that we'd just bought. They were all sweetness and light until they turned up at my mate's house 30 minutes after 'chatting' to us and tossed it. Turned out nothing had even been stolen in the attempted burglary. You just don't know when it's suddenly going to go from a friendly chat to something incredibly distressing and you losing your freedom. They are not your friends and they will be fishing for anything they can use. Don't give them anything and you can't accidentally incriminate yourself.
- notahacker 13y ago
  Do you seriously think they wouldn't have arrested you and thrown you in jail for at least 4 hours if you'd refused to speak to them? They are not your friends, but if you deny them the fishing trip they're even more likely to snag you with the trawl net.
  - mattmanser 13y ago
    No I don't, my point was more how a jovial and friendly chat can quite suddenly morph into them attempting to convict you of a crime and anything you said without a lawyer is fair game.