Yes this only works in the US. No matter what they say, the only words that should be coming out of your mouth is “I would like to speak with a lawyer”. And then close your mouth. Police in the US are allowed to lie to you to get the information they* need, but asking for a lawyer right at the start shuts the entire conversation down before they even get a chance to do so. In the US.

Don’t worry, you’ll eventually get over your feelings of obligations towards others before you reach 40. Life becomes a lot less stressful once you stop giving a fuck about being a people-pleaser.

Whatever happened to just talking to each other? I’m glued to my devices all day every day, yet even I ignore the phone during holiday family gatherings.

Nobody’s forcing you to go; if you prefer be on the internet rather than interacting with your family, please just stay home.

Edit: Downvotes be damned, I stand by what I said. If this asocial shut-in who hasn’t had a friend since 2014 (because people annoy me) can come out of my shell a few times a year, and spend some time with the people I grew up, so can you. No excuses.

One day they will all be dead or estranged, and you will regret not looking up from your phone for two hours to spend quality time with them when they were alive and in your life, as you die alone in your nursing home (assuming you’re rich enough to afford assisted living, that is). Don’t say you aren’t warned.