So I'm going to be polygraphed tomorrow...

[Darius871]

Damn, why would that be frowned upon? If I'm making the hiring decision, I want somebody who did his homework, rather than somebody who sauntered blindly into something that unnerves the **** out of most people.

I suppose it depends on the agency; someone simply looking for suitability for employment would certainly share your sentiment, but someone like the FBI concerned solely with concealment of deception (because a suitability determination had already been made in the earlier "phase" of the application process if the applicant's gotten to the point of a polygraph) would make a much bigger deal out of polygraph research, which at least increases the odds of deception. It's all about probability. When they're scrambling to prevent the next Robert Hanssen it doesn't hurt to lose 10 good candidates to root out 1 bad apple, particularly when countless talented individuals are already banging down the door.

[Winston]

So I'm going to be polygraphed tomorrow...

It's about time!

[Solomwi]

I suppose it depends on the agency; someone simply looking for suitability for employment would certainly share your sentiment, but someone like the FBI concerned solely with concealment of deception (because a suitability determination had already been made in the earlier "phase" of the application process if the applicant's gotten to the point of a polygraph) would make a much bigger deal out of polygraph research, which at least increases the odds of deception. It's all about probability. When they're scrambling to prevent the next Robert Hanssen it doesn't hurt to lose 10 good candidates to root out 1 bad apple, particularly when countless talented individuals are already banging down the door.

Sure, but given how well polygraphs unnerve everybody, even those with nothing to hide, I'm thinking the odds increase is insignificant compared to the other things doing or not doing the research can say about a person. Then again, I'm not an FBI interviewer.

[Darius871]

Sure, but given how well polygraphs unnerve everybody, even those with nothing to hide, I'm thinking the odds increase is insignificant compared to the other things doing or not doing the research can say about a person. Then again, I'm not an FBI interviewer.

Hey, nobody said the approach had to be 100% rational. A lot of it does boil down to a phobic overreaction to political embarrassments.

[Dauphin]

The easiest way to see if someone is lying is to ask questions you already know the answer to. It's extremely effective.

[SlowwHand]

Is he in jail yet?

[Riesstiu IV]

Well sh*t. Never made it to the polygraph or Oral Review Board.

The written exam was easy and I mean insultingly easy. "If criminal X has 100 twenty dollars bills in his possession, how much money does he have?" Astoundingly, about 60% of applicants failed this test and were promptly booted out.

An hour before the physical assessment, my voice started to give way and my hand became clammy and coupled with the fact I hadn't eaten in 24 hours... this was not going to be pretty. Got halfway through then I started to see splotchy black dots and felt dizzy. I think I may have the flu... ****! I threw in the towel. Started with over 200 people and by the time I left, maybe around 60 were left... and this is for 3 positions on the force.

Now I'm sitting here and I've never felt so terrible. Achey, sore, and now I'm getting a cough.

[SlowwHand]

Might think about a trip to the doctor to make sure it's not the non-existent swine flu that they're giving out non-existent vaccinations for.

[Riesstiu IV]

Does that doctor at least exist?

[Tuberski]

It's the N1H1. I went through it a couple weeks ago.

ACK!

[Jon Miller]

Why did you go 24 hours without eating?

JM

[Riesstiu IV]

I didn't have time to eat breakfast or lunch today.

[Lonestar]

Polygraphs are simple. I actually nodded off during mine.

"Did you just fall asleep?"

"No. Yes."

[Wiglaf]

I jacked off during a few polygraphs I was given as part of a paternity suit. I'll just leave it at that but talk about efficiency. The Chinese could learn something from me

[Wezil]

It's the N1H1.

I'm holding out for N2H2.



How much does a polygraph cost? I can see a market for home versions.