> It's way too easy to sit there and shake your head at these supposed idiots for making blatantly unwise decisions. I'm doing it right now too!
Yep.
When I had an encounter with police I was a witness. Only then did I learn that apparently it's not optional to answer questions. Which is insane. (I mean, I learned that day before, when I was figuring out what to do).
It was pointless bureaucratic thing as far as I could tell; I purchased Modafinil - which in my country is not illegal, only selling/distribution (to people without prescription) is. I didn't want to make the situation of people who just sold me what I wanted worse by cooperating. Through since I didn't have anything much to contribute anyway, it was somewhat abstract concern.
So I've gone to their building, deciding that I'll just say I don't know/remember to everything. So I did that when the policeman asked me about a bank transaction (I started using crypto after this thing). Then he asked about next one, and I sorta couldn't lie, stupidly panicking for a second about it being obvious I'm lying - 'what if they would decide to do something to me if I annoy them'...
Later he asked if I still have it, and I told him that I do - since, as I said, it's not illegal. He told me that if I claim I do, he will have to take it. He told me it is, or sth to this effect. I argued a bit, eventually he admitted it's not - 'but it is evidence'...
He heavily hinted that I should just say I don't have it anymore. I was... resistant to that, because I thought he might be trying to trick me into false testimony. Eventually what went on the record was sth like 'I don't remember if I still have it or not, if I find it I'll give it up'.
> I was tempted to email the AUSA and introduce myself, and to argue that it's ridiculous that he subpoenaed my identity, and ask what the hell he wants. That, of course, would be extremely stupid, even though I've done nothing wrong — perhaps especially because I've done nothing wrong
Could you elaborate on why this would be stupid in his case? I mean, how could it possibly backfire, if all that connected him to some case was that someone tweeted at him?
Your story is a good cautionary tale on this subject.
> Could you elaborate on why this would be stupid in his case?
It adds nothing. The fact that an action has no discernable benefit is sufficient reason to avoid it when interacting with the criminal justice apparatus of the state. There's too much at stake and too much to lose.
> It's way too easy to sit there and shake your head at these supposed idiots for making blatantly unwise decisions. I'm doing it right now too!
Yep.
When I had an encounter with police I was a witness. Only then did I learn that apparently it's not optional to answer questions. Which is insane. (I mean, I learned that day before, when I was figuring out what to do).
It was pointless bureaucratic thing as far as I could tell; I purchased Modafinil - which in my country is not illegal, only selling/distribution (to people without prescription) is. I didn't want to make the situation of people who just sold me what I wanted worse by cooperating. Through since I didn't have anything much to contribute anyway, it was somewhat abstract concern.
So I've gone to their building, deciding that I'll just say I don't know/remember to everything. So I did that when the policeman asked me about a bank transaction (I started using crypto after this thing). Then he asked about next one, and I sorta couldn't lie, stupidly panicking for a second about it being obvious I'm lying - 'what if they would decide to do something to me if I annoy them'...
Later he asked if I still have it, and I told him that I do - since, as I said, it's not illegal. He told me that if I claim I do, he will have to take it. He told me it is, or sth to this effect. I argued a bit, eventually he admitted it's not - 'but it is evidence'...
He heavily hinted that I should just say I don't have it anymore. I was... resistant to that, because I thought he might be trying to trick me into false testimony. Eventually what went on the record was sth like 'I don't remember if I still have it or not, if I find it I'll give it up'.
> I was tempted to email the AUSA and introduce myself, and to argue that it's ridiculous that he subpoenaed my identity, and ask what the hell he wants. That, of course, would be extremely stupid, even though I've done nothing wrong — perhaps especially because I've done nothing wrong
Could you elaborate on why this would be stupid in his case? I mean, how could it possibly backfire, if all that connected him to some case was that someone tweeted at him?
Your story is a good cautionary tale on this subject.
> Could you elaborate on why this would be stupid in his case?
It adds nothing. The fact that an action has no discernable benefit is sufficient reason to avoid it when interacting with the criminal justice apparatus of the state. There's too much at stake and too much to lose.