Originally Posted by GUWonder
It appears that you are saying that refusal to respond/engage "authorities" generally results in something other than smooth sailing when the result is not what the "authorities" desire/expect. So bothering innocent parties by engaging them (or trying to engage them) when they don't wish to be engaged is the result.
As I said before stop and harass is the end result more than once -- especially in not so nice parts (including where "profiling" is the crutch for the feeble).
I won't make general assumptions, actions and reactions are based on individual circumstances and are based on the foundation of laws and findings by the Supreme Court.
Although, you could say that your smooth travel through everyday life is dictated by the engaging or not engaging with some type of authority figure. This figure could be represented by the grocery store clerk, police officer or moderator on this forum. You can refuse a response to "cash or credit?", and I would imagine that your level of "smooth sailing" has just started to diminish.
If your definition of harrassment is a police officer following the rules and engaging you in conversation then, yes, you are being harrassed. The law and my definition are a little different.
As a police officer it may be a little difficult to determine who don't wished to be bothered (unless you are wearing the "Don't bother me T-Shirt). And as I stated before, the law doesn't allow witnesses not to be bothered, and since they don't know until they ask, you just maybe a witness.