Ever been Polygraphed?

[Timbo23]

I worked for the federal government for 33 years and took maybe five such tests throughout my career. All were counter-intel type questions.
My office mates that had the most trouble 'passing' the test were Mormons and church ladies. Such people have had a sense of guilt drummed into their psyches. I must have been a sociopath since I had no 'guilty' thoughts.
Just remember, the fellow that devised the poly graph also was the creator of 'Wonder Women' comics. Wonder Woman had a golden lasso that compelled who ever was insnared in it to tell the truth. Just sayin'.

 

[redhawker]

Yeah, I think I've done three of them during the hiring process for various jobs, but the last one was about 45 years ago, so the details have faded with time.

 

[Phalanx429]

Entirely to many to remember. In a previous life, I worked in the INTELL business for Big Brother. I retired after 40+ years...and haven't taken a polygraph test since!

 

[RugerForMe]

Twice back in collage in the mid 1980s. I took part in a study.

I was told to lie about everything but my name and a few other base questions.

My instructions were to think the truth in my head and lie out of my mouth.

First time the test came up inconclusive, second test I passed as telling the truth.

It was interesting to say the least.

 

[Paul B]

Once, for a job with 7/11 stores.I don't remember much about the polygraph but I'll never forget the first night on the job. I was working the swing shift and the boss said to be careful when selling beer and to make sure the buyer was old enough. Sure enough this guy come in, picks up a couple of six packs from the cooler and sets them on the counter. His aage was borderline so I ask for ID. He argues back and refuses so I won't sell him the beer. The store manager comes out and says he's looks old enough to me and he proceeds to sell him the beer.
The guy walks out the door and the cops came rushing it. Manager goes to jail and I'm stuck running the store by my lonesome. I think I lasted on that job maybe three months. Having some dude come in, sticking a gun in my face saying gimme the money or else made me decide being a glorified clerk in a stop and rob was not my idea of a job to grow with.
Paul B.

 

[ProfessorWes]

I served as an electronic warfare specialist in the Army, which required a security clearance, so I had a polygraph on entry courtesy of Army CID. No big deal in retrospect, but teenage me was a little nervous at the time.

 

[Yaworski]

I did have a TS/SCI clearance but I was never polygraphed.

At one point my boss wanted to put me on a contract that would have required a polygraph and I respectfully passed.

The irony is that the people who have been investigated most are always the ones who are telling secrets.

 

[Hankus]

Yes, bi-annually while in the Army due to access to certain “compartments”. It was performed by Army CI interrogators. In another part of my career I was trained by Army CI how to “beat” a polygraph… LOL

 

[Ronbwolf]

Polygraphs are as reliable as the operator. Defense attorneys got them banned in court by lying, and getting judges to agree to the lies. A VSA, Voice Stress Analyzer, is 100% effective, but is also banned by liars/lawyers. As for drug dogs, I have relied on their findings, and have NEVER had a false alert! We used them at shipping facilities, in vehicles, houses, and businesses. If the dog alerted, we found it, but it is up to the searchers to be thorough.

 

[Yaworski]

A VSA, Voice Stress Analyzer, is 100% effective, but is also banned by liars/lawyers.

LOL. The NIJ says that VSAs are no better than flipping a coin.

As for drug dogs, I have relied on their findings, and have NEVER had a false alert!

And you can also tell your dog to do a false alert to give you "probable cause" for a warrantless search.

 

[Fox Mike]

Had a TS/BI clearence while in the Nike Hercules system. No polygraph but did have FB I agents speak to neighbors and people in places i frequented, numerous times.

 

[Mike J]

I remember taking one but I am unsure which job I was applying for. It was either for when I worked at Richway's warehouse or when I worked for Ivan Allen Company's printing plant. Richway was a Southeastern discount store chain. It has been gone for a long time. Ivan Allen sold business form, office furniture & office supplies. I was told they sold out to Staples in the 90's. We printed cheques among other things.

 

[ProfessorWes]

Had a TS/BI clearence while in the Nike Hercules system. No polygraph but did have FB I agents speak to neighbors and people in places i frequented, numerous times.

FBI scared the hell out of our next-door neighbor when they showed up in my neighborhood, doing the backgrounder on my security clearance. Basil was a nice guy, who enjoyed the occasional joint from time to time.

And he'd just finished a doobie when the agents knocked on his door, wanting to talk to him about me.

Right after I got out of the Army, the summer before I started college, Basil was talking to my dad and I one day and ended up telling the story about how the interview went. To hear Basil tell it, the agents practically had to pry him off the ceiling he was so panicked . . .

 

[warren5421]

I was in the Navy working in the D1G nuclear power plant training center and later the engine room/reactor on an SSBN sub and had a Top Secret clearance and was never asked to take one. I would not take a polygraph test no matter what was said or done.

 

[Jeepnik]

Had a TS/BI clearence while in the Nike Hercules system. No polygraph but did have FB I agents speak to neighbors and people in places i frequented, numerous times.

When I was getting my TS clearance the FBI (a very young and obviously rookie agent) stopped by my folks house. When I answered the door he did a double take and said, "You're not supposed to be here". Folks weren't home so he came back later.

 

[cpt-t]

Polygraphs are as reliable as the operator. Defense attorneys got them banned in court by lying, and getting judges to agree to the lies. A VSA, Voice Stress Analyzer, is 100% effective, but is also banned by liars/lawyers. As for drug dogs, I have relied on their findings, and have NEVER had a false alert! We used them at shipping facilities, in vehicles, houses, and businesses. If the dog alerted, we found it, but it is up to the searchers to be thorough.

Ronbwolf: I can`t agree with You more. Polygraphs, VSA`s & Dogs always worked for me. Lawyers, Judges, & Politicians were always the problems for us.
ken

 

[vito]

Never was asked to take a polygraph. The unreliability of the test reminds me of seeing, in a police TV show, where they placed the hand of the suspect on a copying machine screen and told the perp that the machine would tell them if he was tellling the truth or lying. The polygraph is likely no more reliable than the Xerox machine.

Thinking about this, I had a Secret clearance for all of my years in the Army, and for a short period had a Top Secret clearance, but never was asked to take a polygraph.

 

[RockyD83]

I did when hired as a Deputy.

 

[JeffInMi]

Yes, for a guard job.

 

[Hankus]

I served as an electronic warfare specialist in the Army, which required a security clearance, so I had a polygraph on entry courtesy of Army CID. No big deal in retrospect, but teenage me was a little nervous at the time.

Linguist? If so which language and when were you at DLI? I’m a reformed Korling.

 

[ProfessorWes]

Linguist? If so which language and when were you at DLI? I’m a reformed Korling.

Yes, MOS 98G, Russian. Haven't kept up the language skills, unfortunately, although I remember a fair bit of it and it occasionally comes in handy in my current job. I was at DLI from 1986-87.

Loved the Monterey/Carmel area, but I wouldn't live in California on a bet. And that was back when Cali was still a reddish state.

 

[Ronbwolf]

And you can also tell your dog to do a false alert to give you "probable cause" for a warrantless search.

It could be done, but why, druggies are stupid, and there are a thousand other ways that don't have any risk!

 

[Yaworski]

It could be done, but why

Because cops are control freaks.

 

[mexicanjoe911]

I worked a burglary in the 90's and had a prime suspect. I was told a " superbe" polygrapher" was willing to do the procedure. We went twice to the polygraph and both times it indicated the suspect was telling the truth. I managed to lift a latent print from a surface, sent it to a nearby agency who had just purchase a argon laser. lo, and behold! My investigator showed me the suspect was indeed the person who commited the crime. When he was shown the proof, my suspect confessed. I was later told that drug addicts can fool a " box" due to their drug abuse. I never used a "box" again.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Once had a neighbor who was a polygraph tech. He claimed he could make any test come out any way he wanted it to. He said if the subject "appeared guilty" he could rig the results, and when these were revealed to the subject they would usually get flustered and "fess up". Not always, but quite often.

 

[v35]

Yes, as part of a pre-employment requirement. It was utterly fascinating.

I fervently believe the value of a polygraph is 100% the person administering the exam, and that the probes and whatnot are completely superfluous. They indicate nothing and an experienced polygrapher does not need them.

The interviewer in my case was trained by the FBI specifically for his job. It was a 20 week course during which there are no breaks for home visits or other vacations, so I got the impression training was intensive.

Prior to the exam he explained everything in great detail, that there would be no tricks, nothing of the sort, and that he would ask simple questions. No "gotchas", not a test, just a simple exercise intended to reveal any deception or reasons I shouldn't be hired. During the exam I was completely at ease but I felt... "hypnotized" for lack of a better word. Relaxed, at ease, but highly focused and aware. The questions he asked were repetitive and kind of circular. Took maybe a half hour, after which the test was concluded and he reported no deception or reason to believe I couldn't be trusted in the capacity for which I was being evaluated.

As a result of the exam any background check was determined to be unnecessary. Whatever it was they wanted to find out, I told them during the polygraph.

Now... at the conclusion of the interview, he related a humorous story. During one session he asked an applicant if he ever committed any crimes. He said yes; 20 years ago he killed someone and hid the body down a well. When asked about the details he freely related them. The interviewer had no choice but to take the applicant down the hall, where he was arrested for murder. No statute of limitation on murder.

 

[crstrode]

Polygraphs and random drug tests were a regular part of the job for 35 years making plutonium.

 

[KIR]

Yes, I was polygraphed, but it really does not tell whether or not you lied. The examiner also has to ask the right questions because using the correct words which pertain to the case are very important. I worked at Harolds Club in Reno and they would pay for the parking, either $1 or $2. I was asked about the "tickets" which caused the needle to jump and the examiner pushed questions about them after the test. Whereas I thought he was talking about the "free drink coupons" which I used to give out to certain "high rollers" for free as they would play large ticket KENO. So, tickets/coupons caused the confusion and that is why polygraphs do not really tell if you are lying or not. We were given the tests because several "counter checks" were forged, each in the amounts of $2500. The cashier who wrote them out never came in to take the test. One other elderly lady could not even take the test as it introduced too much stress on her. Sadly, she was let go, but soon got another job down the street at another casino.
When I went to work at the Fitzgeralds Casino, my manager said I might have to take a polygraph as the vault where rolled coin was kept had been hit. After about a month I asked my manager when the polygraph was going to take place. She said it was not necessary as it was found out who and how the monies went missing. My supervisor told me that the guys who worked the "eye in the sky" had broken into the vault from the ceiling and taken rolled coin that way. It was not discovered until one very busy weekend when most of the rolled coin had to be used and much was missing from the cans in the rear of the storage.
Just can't trust anyone...