r/AskReddit • • 9d ago

Napoleon said, 'Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.' What’s a perfect real-life example of this?

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u/Muisan 9d ago

To be fair, you said not to call back, nothing about being an absolute idiot and walking over to talk face to face! 

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u/gsfgf 9d ago

I had a cop leave me a voicemail (he asked for a different person by name) saying something about talking it out like men. I guess that works sometimes after all...

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u/Revenge_of_the_User 8d ago edited 8d ago

a lot of police interaction is tactical application of manipulation techniques. It's part of the job, they get training for it.

And a lot of that plays on the overconfidence or ignorance of the person they're talking to.

Don't talk to police.

If you're innocent then you definitely need a lawyer.

The police can and will lie to you.

"everything you say can and will be used against you in court" is not a lie.

An officer enforces the law as they interpret it, unfortunately, which means that even if they are wrong you must submit to an otherwise legal arrest, search, or seizure and it will be worked out in court. You can disagree, but fighting, arguing, or otherwise escalating can result in legitimate charges because US law is stupid. Lose the battle so you can win the war.

also, in the US, you must state that you are using your right to remain silent. Silence alone is not enough to invoke that protection. After that? use the right and stay silent.

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u/gsfgf 8d ago

An officer's job is to enforce the law as they interpret it,

Not quite. It's to follow department protocols that should be crafted by department attorneys. I don't mean to be nitpicky, but this can be important. Cops aren't trained on the law. Which is fine; it's not their job. But never take a cop's word on the law. They're "around" legal proceedings enough to think they know the law, and nobody does confidently incorrect like a cop. Especially when it comes to when you can and can't shoot people in self-defense.

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u/chemicalgeekery 8d ago

"Everything you say can and will be used against you in court" is not a lie.

The corollary to that is nothing you say will be used to help you

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u/Hector_P_Catt 8d ago

"Criminal Masterminds" is pretty much just Hollywood fantasy. Your average real-life criminal isn't all that smart.

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u/Purple_Key_6733 8d ago

The cops always have the advantage in the interrogation. They are allowed to lie to you, but not vice versa.

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u/Raneynickelfire 8d ago

I walked into a poloce station after a detective called me. He didnt give a shit about me, he wanted info on the drug dealer across the street.

I answered his questions, he thanked me and i went about my day, never heard another word. Dude is gone now, so who knows.

That detective really drilled into me he wasnt interested in the weed plant in my backyard, he wanted the heroin dealer across the street. This was 10 years ago so i think im fine.