Language Around Cops

[Magón]

So today I was out with a friend, just walking around and talking about stuff, when I unknowing they were there, said near a pair of cops, "That's fucking stupid," or something along that line, and the friend I was with, kind of got quiet and uncomfortable when the cops looked at us after I said it.

Now I'm not the type of person, to get quiet or uncomfortable about saying things around Cops, I mean I'm obviously not going to say something like go kill some cops or something around them when I'm having a nice day, or beat them up, but saying things like swear words that aren't even used in a conversation about cops, my friend thinks is risky to say them around cops.

So it got me wondering, what type of language do you use, when you're just passing a cop? Do you get quite, say whatever it is you were going to say, or call them a bunch of pigs and ask which one wants to get roasted first?

[Apoi_Viitor]

Usually when I'm out in public I refrain from swearing or making vulgar comments in the first place...

[Tablo]

Only thing I refrain from saying around cops are negative comments directed at cops.


Usually when I'm out in public I refrain from swearing or making vulgar comments in the first place...
Why?

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I usually just keep talking or I stop and stare them down. If it's a cop I don't like on the other hand I might get obnoxiously loud and start yelling "bwoop bwoop that's the sound of the beast". Lol

[tbasherizer]

If I'm eating something, I pretend that it's made of ham and comment on how tasty it is. Or if we're near a restaurant, I'll comment that I didn't know they did breakfast this late and explain it away with the smell of bacon. I sometimes start playing Rage's rendition of "Fuck tha police" on my iPhone too. The neighborhoods I frequent are usually full of the PR cops who aren't so impulsively violent as those I've heard about, so I don't think I'm in danger of being assaulted by them. In general though, I only swear in private, so it's not generally a problem for me to restrain myself in front of them.

[Tablo]

I usually just keep talking or I stop and stare them down. If it's a cop I don't like on the other hand I might get obnoxiously loud and start yelling "bwoop bwoop that's the sound of the beast". Lol

I've stared cops down before, but only when I'm not in fear of possession charges.

[Apoi_Viitor]

Why?

Because I'm sure no parent wants their child hearing a bunch of obscenities.

[Sir Comradical]

A friend of mine got pulled over by the cops for a random breath test. The officer told him to turn down his music. He told the officer to "shut the fuck and do your job, I'll listen to my music". The police took him back to the station. He explained to the head officer in charge that the police officer had told him "turn off your fucking wog music" and had made other racist insults. He told them he didn't care and was going to report the incident and get the officer suspended. In the end they didn't even breath test him. Lol, good times.

[F9]

lol yeah try that, you wont manage it to the station:lol::sneaky:

[mykittyhasaboner]

dont talk to the cops.

say whatever the fuck you want even if a few of them are around. cops prey on fear. so you shouldn't act like your afraid or nervous around them.

[Red And Black Sabot]

"Get a real job, blue" is an old favorite of mine. I generally cuss like a sailor. It's my default weather I'm visiting my parents, at work, meetings, activist functions... It doesn't matter... I'll admit, I do sometimes intentionally make it louder and more crude if there are cops, yuppies, corporate looking white dudes, and etc. within ear's shot and in political situations (protests, pickets, marches etc) I've certainly lost it a few times and spewed all the vitriol my mind and body could muster up at the pigs. Your friend might be extra cautious with good reason, (cops fuck with people even if they aren't doing anything illegal) but as far as I know, the courts in the US have made it protected free speech to flip a cop the bird but still... I think mykittyhasaboner is ultimately right. People should generally never talk to the police for any reason.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I've stared cops down before, but only when I'm not in fear of possession charges.
Well obviously I'm not going to give them a reason to search me if I have something illegal on me.

[socialistjustin]

I cuss like a mutha and it normally doesnt stop when I am talking to or near the police. I usually get a warning from cops if they stop me and I start using my usual vocabulary and at that point I try to watch the language.

[¿Que?]

I was eating dinner at a restaurant with me mum, and there were some pigs pigging out, and my mom commented on it, and then I thought of this thread, and I told my mom to cool it, because you never really know, and my mom, who's pretty wise having come from a country where the military used to disappear people, said yeah, you never know.

So both me and me mum are in agreement with the sentiment of this thread.

[Manic Impressive]

Stopping a conversation while passing cops would make you look like you've got something to hide.

[Fawkes]

Not to sound like a tough guy, but I don't censor my language in public at all. I don't say anything in private I wouldn't say in public unless I am explicitly referencing an illegal activity. I don't waste energy giving cops in passing any form of recognition, whether that's aggressive threats or timid quietness.

[PC LOAD LETTER]

I don't change my vocabulary or anything. I mean, I'll avoid saying things like "Cop" or "Police" or anything like that, but, you know, I don't act any differently.

I usually won't swear AT a cop, but I don't care about swearing while talking TO a cop as long as I'm not being incriminated for something, just, you know, regular conversation. If I'm being suspected of something I just don't talk. I've been detained several times for mundane crap and accused of doing all sorts of things (usually drug posession), but I'm always innocent (usually) and remain silent. Then they let me go. After I'm thoroughly harrassed and searched.

[Jimmie Higgins]

It's not a good idea to say anything around cops that might antagonize them. If you're white and don't look "threatening" to a cop they might let it pass 9 times out of 10, but you'll feel awfully pissed and embarrassed if you get harassed or worse that one time. It's a question of picking your battles and having a little street-smarts IMO.

However, sometimes you just gotta say something. The BART station I use is the one that Oscar Grant was killed by police at and after the murder there was zero police presence at that station for months (usually there are 2 to 3 cop cars parked right in front of the ticket machines and cops harassing neighborhood high school kids that hang out in the shopping area around the station). They re-appeared the day that the Mehserle trial started, I got off the train on my way home, saw two of them standing sheepishly off to the side of the ticket-office and groaned to myself. One of them made eye contact with me and I cheerfully said, "Oh you're back". The cop let his guard down a little and gave a half nod and smile and I added, "We don't want you here, we've been better off for months".

Yeah, it was impulsive and I was pushing my luck, but in retrospect I think it was an appropriate thing to do because the cops were in a weak position where they probably didn't want to start anything the day they came back - not at that station and definitely not over a reference to the murder. Also it was a clear expression of anger over the shooting rather than just your everyday, "fuck the pigs" sentiment:lol:.