[jacquesm]

Not everybody subscribes to the super cynical worldview, you'd be surprised how many people live their whole lives in exactly that state of naivety. We're all brought up with platitudes like 'the police is your best friend' and 'we live in a state with fair justice'. Given that it's no wonder that people will actually try to cooperate with police expecting justice to be done. You're essentially blaming the victim here.

[sneak]

No, it's not victim blaming to accuse people of lacking common sense.

There's no excuse for not knowing that the police are not asking you questions so that they can help you.

[jacquesm]

Your definition of 'common sense' is not all that common, that's the problem here. Whole generations would essentially agree with the statement that 'the police is here to help you'.

It's the police that is in the wrong here, not those that believe in slogans such as 'protect and serve'. That's how I was brought up and the way my parents viewed 'the law'. Quite a few people of that generation are still around and are still instilling their values into others regardless of how misguided that is in light of the developments since they grew up.

[halviti]

Surely you realize that this is cultural.

In my country there is very little crime, and the police very much only exist to serve the population and they are always trying to help.

Common sense here is that it would be foolish to think that the police are not trying to help, and I am very glad that the US's relation with the police is not an entirely global problem.

[donatj]

The cultural aspect is the view of the police, and not the terrible things they are up to. You and your countrymen are simply as naive as Arron Schwartz's girlfriend.

[marincounty]

yea, I learned too late in life, and I still am caught off guard. Times have changed, and I don't trust government, nor law enforcement. But, then again I can honestly state as I got older there's only a few people I trust.