Originally Posted by copwriter
You seem to assume that cops regularly arrest people who don't deserve to be arrested. I don't think this happens very often. There are many, many instances when a cop observes something that appears to be evidence of criminal behavior, but turns out to be perfectly innocent. By refusing to answer any questions, you're denying the officer the information that is the most useful in making this determination. It's your choice, and it's certainly your right, but I don't think it's in your best interest, despite what others here might tell you.
I understand what you're saying and it is reasonable. I think you and I are just picturing a somewhat different scenario. You're saying that you question people because they're suspected of doing something wrong and you're giving them a chance to clarify. I'm assuming I've done nothing that rises to the level of "appears to be evidence of criminal behavior" and therefore that as Bruce said earlier, there is a very high likelihood I'll be released if I keep asking if I'm free to go. Bruce's example was perfect - he was questioned by an officer for doing nothing more suspicious than walking to his car in a parking lot. Bruce was right to assume he wouldn't be arrested for such a thing.
The thing is, I don't foresee ever interacting with you, if you're a non-airport police officer. I don't run into trouble with police in my daily existence. The major exception is at airports. In my experience, flying is very likely to cause me unpleasant conflicts with the TSA, with FAMs, and with the whole gamut of intrusive private-parts-touching, improper-questioning, warrantless-searching, publicly-humiliating-the-innocent, papers-please authoritarians. It's my experiences at the airport that have made me defiant and resistant to help these agencies beyond what I'm compelled by force to do.