If you're going to run an exit node, find an attorney beforehand. You don't necessarily need to put them on retainer, but figure out who you're going to call instead of walking into an FBI field office like, frankly, an idiot.
Don't talk to the cops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik
Talking too much & giving them enough materials for false testimony or pseudo-confession is way more dangerous.
The correct conclusion to come away with from the advice is to be vigilant when interacting with those who have the power to prosecute you, and often that means invoking your right to remain silent -- but not always. You should also know when you need a lawyer -- again, not always. If the cops knock on your door because they're looking for a lost kid, calm down and get over yourself, they're not looking for you.
Sadly, you and me get that, but others take the advice to the extreme and I've seen both of my examples firsthand.
And yeah, if you're riding a warrant, you probably shouldn't give your name to a law enforcement officer. That's called being stupid, and if you think it's shady to have your name run when a peace officer interacts with you and knows your name, you have some case law to read. That's their job. Witness details go in the same exact system.
I get the gist of the advice but I'm tired of seeing knobs on YouTube with their phone out recording an officer while shouting "I invoke my rights!" over and over again, and I think part of it is the way this advice is interpreted.
Holy shit! What exactly are you doing in your spare time? ;)
There's no excuse for not knowing that the police are not asking you questions so that they can 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.
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.
Here's the part of "don't talk to the police" that scares me. A LEO that would spin you into a felony would probably completely lie about what you say to pin a felony on you too. Moreso if you irritate by being silent.