#give the cops LOTS of information about I Am Not Afraid Of This Person They're Just Having A Very Loud Mental Health Episode

[redshiftsinger]

Be polite, be willing to accept responsibility for fuckups that are actually your fault, but don't volunteer information that makes you look bad unless you KNOW that not acknowledging it will make you look worse. Particularly in employment situations!

Corporations will screw you over six ways from sunday if they get half the chance, concealing by mere omission that you forgot to set an alarm and overslept is hardly a huge deception by comparison to the bullshit that literally every corporation pulls.

Yes, even the "good" ones, at the very least, will actively choose to omit information that makes them look bad if they think there's even the slightest chance they can get away with it. Maybe the receptionist mucks it up sometimes and admits they've been having computer problems, but... I have a job right on the periphery of Corporate Nonsense, where I get to see into the deeper levels of that, and I have literally been trained in the art of Not Volunteering Unnecessary Information To Avoid Giving Cause To Question Things. For my job. On purpose. About things that are way more significant fuckups than missing an interview because you overslept. They are doing this, matching their energy is only fair.

BTW this ABSOLUTELY also applies if you must talk to cops. Moreso, even. Always give cops minimal information.

For all my fellow oversharers out there.

[palettes-and-prompts]

Could I get a prompt for Parov Stelar's Brass Devil? <3 (there's no lyrics, I hope that's not a problem though)

Sure thing!

1) "That's a pretty pistol, Person A. What are you gonna do with it?" "I really did like you, Person B, I wish you hadn't gotten in the way."

2) "Would you spare my life if I said I wouldn't tell the authorities?" "Only if you give me enough time to run away."

3) "You're a criminal now, where will you go from here?" "Oh, come now, darling, you wouldn't want me to spoil all the fun now would you?"

4) "Wanna dance?" "You couldn't keep up with me." "Try me."

5) "Told you I was good at hand to hand combat." "You killed Person A!" "Yeah, but did I spill a drop of this wine in my hand while I did it? No. And you know what? That's called skill."

6) "I've killed seven people but I've got to kill two more. Only then will I be able to complete my revenge." "You've lost your mind!" "No, I lost that long ago, I just so happened to find it recently. So, tell me, how would you like to die?"

7) "I'll catch you one day." "You wont, but I do love to watch you try."

8) "You think you'll find me, detective?" "I already have." "Oh, really? Where am I?" "Right in front of me."

9) "So you're the famous FBI agent trying to catch me." "Yes." "Well, should I be expecting to be arrested when I leave this room?" "I'm afraid so." "Then how about letting me have a drink first. It'll be a while before I'm able to have a drink like this again." "I suppose I'll allow it."

10) "I know everything about you, Person A. I know everywhere you'll try to run to." "Then come find me, darling."

1) Person A's a criminal who's been chased by FBI agent Person B for a few years. When B finally gets A in a room alone A requests a last drink before they're taken away. B agrees and the two share a drink. A begins confessing their crimes, telling B stories that they promise to write down once they're brought in. But after a long story B begins dozing off. A escapes, apologizing in a note for drugging them. They begin leaving notes for B everywhere and numbers for them to call whenever they find each note. The two play cat and mouse while flirting with one another. Eventually B falls head over heels and has to decide if they want to continue doing their job or join A's life of crime.

2) When a horrible person, Person A, is murdered, Person B and Person C are the ones who take the case. They figure out A had a lot of enemies and realize the case will be long and complicated. As they piece the timeline together and go on stakeouts they realize they've got a lot in common with each other. They begin spending more time with each other and even share a few nights together. But when C leaves to go get dinner for them they happen to look over a file tucked under their passenger seat. The information leads C to realize B's the one who killed A. When they go to confront B, Person B's already pointing a gun at them, teary-eyed and apologizing.

3) Person A is a notorious criminal while Person B is a less known criminal. While A thinks they're better than B, B explains that a well known criminal doesn't sound like something any criminal wants to be while B thinks the fact that no one knows about them makes them better. The two begin a rivalry stealing items the other wants and occasionally stealing the other's property. But when Person C shows up, a dangerous criminal who wants A and B dead, the two team up to destroy C.

4) Person A is a criminal framed by a crooked cop, Person B. When they meet Person C, a guard in their prison the two of them end up bonding over common interests. The two realize how many people B has framed and come up with a way to free the prisoners. They manage to free everyone and escape together. Unwilling to just leave B up to their ways A and C decide to put together evidence of B's doings. Person A gets their friends involved and after a while of them being unsure about C, they accept them and work together. The two compile evidence against them and come up with a plan to take down B.

5) Person A is a bored socialite who's been arranged to marry Person B, the owner of a club that's just a cover for their criminal activities. Person C is the exciting new singer who takes A's breath away. The two of them stare at each other from afar often and when B is away they dance together. They talk more over drinks and even though they're different from each other they think alike. The two of them flirt with each other openly and without care of anyone who could be watching. Person B hears about A's interest in C but doesn't pay any mind to it until A sings with C. When B notices the look in their eye that they've always wanted on them self, they fire C immediately. C comes back as a guest and A's happily dancing with them again. To get rid of them permanently, B decides to hire someone to 'take care' of C for them. It's then up to A and C to figure out a way to keep C from being killed.

[scriptautistic]

How likely would it be that a cop would think of an autistic character as a threat when they're in a meltdown, and therefore arrest them or something? What would happen if a cop started acting violent towards that person?

Content warning for discussions of police brutality and death, including links to real life news stories. Please also treat links with caution.

Unfortunately, this would not be unlikely to happen to an autistic character, particularly if they are a young man/male teenager and if they are black. There are lots of different possibilities for what might happen if the police officer began acting violently. It depends on what you want to happen in your story.

A good result for your character is more likely to occur if the police officer has had training about dealing with people with autism and/or mental health issues and if the character lives somewhere where law enforcement do not carry firearms.

Some autistic people carry alert cards which can be handed to strangers when communication is difficult, which can also help. Several police forces in the United Kingdom have developed versions of these cards. For example, the Pegasus scheme is designed to help individuals who might struggle with oral communication in a crisis. These people are given a Pegasus card and assigned a PIN number which can be used by law enforcement to access important information which the person cannot give themselves.

However, if the police officer does not know about autism, or if they do not realise that the character is autistic, they might very well perceive the character as threatening and arrest them. For example, this teenager was charged with being drunk and disorderly after being the victim of a crime.

There are also many examples of autistic people being subject to police brutality. When I read your question, two news stories from last year jumped to mind:

Charles Kinsey, a therapist, was shot by police while supporting (and protecting) an autistic patient

Kayden Clarke, an autistic 24-year-old, was shot and killed by police who had been called because he was suicidal and seen to be a risk to himself

Police brutality is, understandably, an area of concern for both autistic people and their families, especially if they are people of colour:

“I am afraid that any communication issues my son will have as he gets older will make him a target for police brutality. That if he doesn’t understand and follow police instructions, a cop could shoot him… I’m afraid that any reaction that doesn’t adhere to societal norms of typically developed children or young adults may put my son in the cross-hairs of an eager or misunderstanding officer.” David Denner, My son is black and has autism, and I’m terrified

Details of what could happen to your character would be influenced by your story’s setting. If you want to know more about what would happen from an American criminal justice perspective, check out our newest addition to the script family, @scriptcriminaljustice. If your story takes place in the UK, I may be able to get access to relevant information.

To find out more about autistic people’s experiences dealing with law enforcement, I would suggest reading about the experiences of people with relevant life experience. Here are some links to get you started:

Charles Kinsey’s Story Is About Race. It’s Also About Ableism. By Finn Gardiner, Manuel Díaz, and Lydia X. Z. Brown (links to many other examples of police brutality against disabled people of colour)

Why are the police failing too many victims of disability hate crime? By Mary O’Hara

My son is black and has autism, and I’m terrified. By David Dennis

The grace you show to white kids? Try showing it to all kids. By Mikki Kendall

-Mod Snail