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Polygraph and CVSA Forums >> Share Your Polygraph or CVSA Experience >> Polygraph and prescription medications.
https://antipolygraph.org/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1418930427 Message started by Victim on Dec 18th, 2014 at 7:20pm |
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Title: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Victim on Dec 18th, 2014 at 7:20pm
I am a law-enforcement officer and recently had two false complaints filed against me. To clear myself I took a polygraph. According to the examiners report I failed all questions showing deception and indications of counter measures. This resulted in suspension and more than likely will lead to termination. I know I was totally truthful on the polygraph. I am wondering if my ADHD and depression medications cause this result in my polygraph?
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by George W. Maschke on Dec 18th, 2014 at 7:35pm
There is precious little research on the effects of any medications on polygraph outcomes. However, it should be borne in mind that polygraphy has no scientific basis to begin with. You should not be put in the position of having to explain why an invalid test produced erroneous results.
Will you have the opportunity of a hearing regarding the polygraph results? If so, a personalized copy of retired FBI scientist Dr. Drew Richardson's "Evaluation and Opinion of CQT Polygraphy" might be helpful: https://antipolygraph.org/articles/article-028.shtml If you e-mail me at maschke@antipolygraph.org, or send me a personal message through this board, I'll be happy to put you (or better yet, your lawyer) in touch with Dr. Richardson. In addition, if you can obtain a copy of the polygrapher's charts, notes, and importantly, any audio or video recording of your polygraph examination, I would be happy to review them and provide a written critique that you could use in any hearing. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Dan Mangan on Dec 18th, 2014 at 7:53pm
Victim, speaking as a polygraph professional, I suggest you consider having your exam reviewed by an independent consultant who is a member of the American Polygraph Association.
Understand that the written report of your exam means next to nothing. A full review requires all of the raw polygraph data, plus the entire video. Many times, an independent review results in nullification of the "test." If you cannot get your complete polygraph file (with video), assistance from legal counsel or a union official may be in order. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Arkhangelsk on Dec 19th, 2014 at 3:41am Victim wrote on Dec 18th, 2014 at 7:20pm:
This seems to be an interesting phenomenon. I wonder if this is just something that is tossed out to see how the examinee reacts. I don't believe "quality" countermeasures can be detected, but then also I would guess that there are not that many walking around out there who have taken the time to learn the concepts, practice and refine countermeasures. In other words, I think much of what examiners suspect as countermeasures are just paranoia induced figments; they are seeing countermeasures under their beds. A fellow approached me once and said that his examiner gave him an inconclusive because of suspected countermeasures. When asked to elaborate, the examiner said "your breathing wasn't right." But, he pocketed the $500 none-the-less. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Dan Mangan on Dec 19th, 2014 at 4:13am
Ark, you're exactly right.
Let's put the alleged science aside... one (or more) of a dozen or so potentially fatal flaws could be at play with Victim's "test." I have yet to review a polygraph "test" -- and I've done many a QA analysis -- that could not be nullified for one reason or another. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Victim on Dec 24th, 2014 at 12:08am
I forgot to mention that one of the polygraph questions was in reference to the use of illegal drugs (Have you used any illegal drugs in the last six months?). According to the polygraph examiners report I also failed this question showing deception and indications of counter measures. Therefore on December 19, 2014 I took it upon myself to take a drug test (HAIRSTAT 9, hair follicle test for drug use that shows results back six months or longer) at Ark-La-Tex Testing n Marshall, TX. Today (December 23, 2014) I received the drug test results which showed negative for drug use. I plan on giving these results to my Chief but i'm not sure this will help because he previously indicated that I will probably be terminated at the next City Counsel meeting which will be sometime after Christmas.
I thank all of you for the information. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Dan Mangan on Dec 24th, 2014 at 12:50am
Victim, challenge the polygraph exam. Get an independent review.
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by WifeOfAGoodGuy on Jan 8th, 2015 at 7:02pm Dan Mangan wrote on Dec 18th, 2014 at 7:53pm:
Is it possible to ask for this kind of an independent review on a NSA polygraph? My husband also has ADHD, and likely has mild Asperger's syndrome. *I* know that he doesn't have the same kind of affect as normal, neuro-typical people, but a 20-something polygrapher, w/ no more training than a barber, probably doesn't. Also, my husband and I are both religious, and he *told them that*. Thanks to this site, I know that probably flags him for deception. You can't freaking win with these people!!!!! Because of his convictions, he won't get on this site, or read anything I've downloaded, or let me try to coach him in any way. I even tried to slip in some suggestions, and he gave me the "look" and changed the subject. He would love this job. He would be so good at it. Our family would love the move to the DC area, as well as the chance for him to be the sole provider, and me to stay home with the kids/work on my art. It ticks me off, and hacks at my sense of justice/fairness, that his job opportunity could be torpedoed thanks to the skewed sense of some under-trained polygrapher, and his super-strong conscience. Rant over. :( |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by quickfix on Jan 8th, 2015 at 8:11pm
WifeofAGoodGuy: a rant is exactly what your post is. Let's review your post:
wrote on Jan 8th, 2015 at 7:02pm:
Ok, and you know the examiner was a 20-something how? Were you there? Did the examiner inform you he was a 20-something? Of course not. wrote on Jan 8th, 2015 at 7:02pm:
Being religious "flags one for deception"? Really??? Which religion? Jew? Gentile? Muslim? Your statement is utterly ridiculous. Why? Because DOD regulations specifically prohibit issues of race, religion, and political beliefs from being addressed during any DOD polygraph exam. Furthermore, federal agencies prohibit any discussion of religious topics, either during pretest or posttest. wrote on Jan 8th, 2015 at 7:02pm:
This statement is more comical than ridiculous. If you're both religious, then why are you researching this but your husband is not??? Perhaps you're both of different religions, and his condemns him to eternal hell if he researches polygraph!! ;D And to answer your initial question, an independent review was already conducted by senior NSA polygraph supervisors. If they did not concur, your husband would have been invited back for a retest. Oh, and BTW, any idiot with a PhD can call himself "Doctor"; unless he is a medically-trained physician, he is not a doctor, just someone with a doctorate, like "Dr" Richardson. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Arkhangelsk on Jan 8th, 2015 at 8:22pm wrote on Jan 8th, 2015 at 7:02pm:
I really don't think age has much to do with it. But, your "barber" analogy is fitting. Both trades require a couple months of training. But, does a barber get better over the years? Does his skill improve with a thousand or more haircuts? The answer is probably not much as after a hundred or so, he's reached the threshold of the asymptote. I see often on polygraphers' websites how they boast of having done 10,000 or more polygraphs, but most likely their skills were already honed after the first hundred or so. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by WifeOfAGoodGuy on Jan 8th, 2015 at 8:54pm quickfix wrote on Jan 8th, 2015 at 8:11pm:
1) He said his polygrapher was likely in his 20's. 2) This site compared the amount of training polygraphers received to that of barbers. 3) In one of the downloads, there was an excerpt from a polygraphy training manual that said something along the lines of, "If your subject claims that he won't lie due to religious beliefs, he's more likely to be hiding something." The manual said to flag that for likely deception. I couldn't make that one up; it really surprised me. 4) Finally, I said, "his convictions," not "his religion" prevents him from looking on this site. He honestly wants to adhere to the guidelines they gave him as closely as possible---and they said, "Don't look at antipolygraphy sites." They certainly didn't say, "Make sure your wife doesn't either." I have a strong conviction that these tests aren't accurate, but he doesn't care--he wants to stick to the rules. That's not religious, but it is a conviction. Make more sense? |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by quickfix on Jan 8th, 2015 at 9:54pm
No, it doesn't make more sense. It just shows how gullible you are to believe everything you read on this site. Keep in mind the vast majority or posters here are those who failed their poly for any number of reasons, INCLUDING being deceptive or attempting to pass by dishonest means (countermeasures).
Comparing polygraph training to barber training is a George Maschke-ism, someone who failed not one, but two polygraph exams with two different agencies, and attempted to use countermeasures (a fact he still continues to deny after 15+ years). Again, keep in mind those who make this ridiculous analogy-people who failed their polygraph. Finally, I don't know what download you refer to regarding so-called red flags for saying one is religious, but I can assure you that the Department of Defense does not tolerate the probing of religious beliefs as part of any polygraph test. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Arkhangelsk on Jan 8th, 2015 at 11:32pm
WifeOfAGoodGuy,
I suggest you wait for others to chime in. You will get nothing meaningful from the Eddy Haskell of polygraph operators. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by WifeOfAGoodGuy on Jan 8th, 2015 at 11:45pm quickfix wrote on Jan 8th, 2015 at 9:54pm:
Now this is getting interesting, but for an entirely different reason than you might suspect. You just called me "gullible" and assumed I believed everything I read on here without qualification. Allow me to give you some more information: I had no reservations at all about him taking the polygraph exam to begin with. I googled "NSA polygraph" to see what he needed to do to prepare. (For example, should he drink coffee? Take his meds? How would sleep affect the results? Should I pack him a Unisom? Those types of things.) One of the first links that came up was this one: https://antipolygraph.org/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1231592632 I read this, then read the links and downloads that accompanied it, and told my husband, "I know you can't read antipolygraph materials, but from what I've read, there's no way to know if these guys are telling the truth, or if they're upset because they failed, and seeking retaliation. Just go be honest, and I'm sure you'll do fine." Then, when he failed his first polygraph, I was shocked that it seemed to follow the *exact* script that these links described. He only gave me about 50% of his experience, compared to the information in the posts, and when I probed deeper, he told me he couldn't tell me more. He's an excellent secret-keeper. Since my husband is a Christian, he came home and actually spent time in prayer over whatever the "issue" was that they focused on, to see if he had hidden sin in his life, or sins that he'd forgotten about, and hadn't made restitution over. THAT'S when I started researching more. Then, after his second polygraph, they didn't tell him if he passed or not. He's saddened by this, to say the least, and wondering if he really did do something wrong that he hasn't remembered. Now, you read completely inaccurate information into my first post. When I clarified, you didn't apologize for *your* inaccurate assumptions, but instead, called me gullible. I am neither. However, you're wrong in 2 out of 2 assumptions. You could have been respectful, and asked for more information, or at least been cordial in your corrections. Instead, you weren't just wrong, you were *wildly* wrong. Since you're apparently a polygrapher, my confidence in polygraph testing is sinking quickly. My confidence in my husband remains unshaken. If the NSA polygraphers truly don't see that he's doing the best he can to be forthright, then I'm sorry to say, it will be their loss. :( He will find meaningful work elsewhere. You, however, have shown me that a certified polygrapher's ability to accurately read people is subjective, and may be completely inaccurate. That saddens me. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by WifeOfAGoodGuy on Jan 9th, 2015 at 12:39am
However, thank you for letting me know that the NSA has supervisors who review the polygraph tests. I do appreciate that.
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Dan Mangan on Jan 9th, 2015 at 3:07am
WifeOfAGoodGuy,
Speaking as a lowly polygraph operator with a mere ten years of experience -- and speaking as a former (and future) candidate for president-elect of the American Polygraph Association -- I strongly suggest that you DISREGARD any and all comments from the phantom poster known as "quickfix." If you really want to know the truth about the "test," please contact me privately. Phone calls are preferred. I'm generally available between 9AM and 9PM EST. I look forward to answering your questions. Daniel Mangan, M.A. www.polygraphman.com |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by George W. Maschke on Jan 9th, 2015 at 4:00am wrote on Jan 8th, 2015 at 7:02pm:
It is true, as quickfix mentioned, that NSA polygraph examinations are subjected to internal reviews. However, there is no procedure for an applicant to obtain an independent review of an NSA polygraph examination. Quickfix's statement that I failed two polygraph exams with two different agencies is also true; however, his claim that I attempted to use countermeasures is false. If interested, you can read about my polygraph experience in my public statement, Too Hot of a Potato: A Citizen-Soldier's Encounter with the Polygraph. Quickfix is correct in stating that DoD (NSA's parent agency), as a policy matter, does not probe religious beliefs during polygraph examinations. This does not preclude, however, the potential for examiner bias. And the federal polygraph school's Interview and Interrogation Handbook specifically states that an examinee's statement that he is very religious is an indication of deception. At p. 52 (p. 64 of the PDF) we find "Deceptive suspects may support their answers with religion or oaths." At p. 55 (p. 67 of the PDF) "I'm very religious" is listed as a "statement of verbal deception." At p. 108 (p. 120 of the PDF) "I don't steal because I am a religious person" is cited as a form of denial or "escapism." |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by quickfix on Jan 9th, 2015 at 7:48pm
George, you must be kidding!! That pub is dated 1991!!! You're hanging your hat on that??? We didn't even have computerized polygraphs back then! The schoolhouse no longer subscribes to that information, and that pub has long been put out to pasture. If you're going to fight the polygraph profession, at least use "fresh ammo".
WifeofAGoodGuy: I strongly suggest that you DISREGARD anything Mr Mangan has to offer in the way of information on polygraph. He has no expertise in the counterintelligence field, is not a federal employee, and is totally unfamiliar with DOD polygraph policies and procedures. He is a private examiner whose professional polygraph credentials are mediocre at best. Just ask any APA member who voted in the last APA election. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Arkhangelsk on Jan 9th, 2015 at 8:46pm quickfix wrote on Jan 9th, 2015 at 7:48pm:
Digitization of polygraph instruments has not increased your ability to detect deception one iota. They are great for data management. They also allow chart scoring via a few algorithms, but you are already supposed to have learned to do that in barber school. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Dan Mangan on Jan 9th, 2015 at 11:16pm quickfix wrote on Jan 9th, 2015 at 7:48pm:
Perhaps my polygraph credentials are indeed mediocre at best. After all, my private polygraph "barber school" was only 8 weeks long, whereas quickfix's federal barber school was all of 14. When I ran for president-elect of the American Polygraph Association last year, my platform consisted of three main points: 1. A "bill of rights" -- similar to what has long existed in the medical field -- for all polygraph test subjects. The main thrust of such an initiative is to better inform individuals as to the risks, realities and limitations of the polygraph "test," thereby reducing the wholesale victimization that plagues the polygraph industry. 2. An ongoing countermeasure challenge series, made integral to APA national and regional seminars, which would pit randomly chosen polygraph operators against a crew of countermeasure-prepped volunteer subjects. (I predict that roughly half of the countermeasure ringers would prevail in such a scenario.) 3. Equal treatment for all APA members, primarily as it regards access to educational materials. (Federal and LE examiners are privileged; private examiners are clearly disadvantaged. Such limited-access "trade secrets" has created a caste society within the organization -- and put potential victims of sexual offenders undergoing PCSOT exams at a higher risk.) My platform was highly criticized by many APA members, most of whom, by the way, are law enforcement or government connected. (Private examiners are a minority within the APA.) When the votes were counted, I lost by a six-to-one margin. But that's OK, because now we have a schism within the Church of Polygraph, so to speak. I'll be running again this year, and that crack will most assuredly widen. Meanwhile, what does the APA electorate's rejection of such an open platform say about their faith in the scientific robustness of the "test"? |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by pailryder on Jan 10th, 2015 at 2:54pm
Ark
I did several thousand polys before digitization and several thousand since and, speaking only for myself, I assure you that use of scoring algorithms, has, without any doubt, increased the likelihood that I correctly inferred deception in many cases. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by quickfix on Jan 10th, 2015 at 6:03pm Dan Mangan wrote on Jan 9th, 2015 at 11:16pm:
Mr Mangan: It says your "open platform" ideas are either idiotic (your #2 point), or unrealistic (#1). As for point #3, the APA is a private organization. The "limited access trade secrets" to which you refer contain materials which are actually classified and require a US security clearance. Private and LE examiners do not possess such a clearance, and are therefore not authorized to receive such information. Your mediocre credentials have nothing to do with your schooling. The Backster School is highly regarded, producing many fine examiners in the private and LE sector. You sir, are not one of them. Someone who essentially states that they don't believe in the very profession that they have been trained in and earn a living at, shows a profound lack of confidence in their own abilities. It also shows that they don't believe in what they're doing, but they will do it as long as it pays the mortgage. In essence, you are not a polygraph examiner; you are someone who operates a computer, asks a few questions, and hands the customer a bill. Someone with such a lack of confidence in the validity of their profession is the weak link in the polygraph community chain. And you don't understand why you were outvoted by a 6-1 margin? |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Arkhangelsk on Jan 10th, 2015 at 6:07pm
Thanks for your comments pailryder, it's a good discussion. I have no doubt that it makes things much easier and having the scoring algorithms to back up your chart scoring is valuable and of great utility. My point however, can extrapolated to other systems where there exists an analog versus digital argument. Digital is not better than analog in respect to the intrinsic ability. Digital and analog polygraph systems produce the same charts and in this regard, the ability to detect deception is not increased. This is why vinyl LP's are making a comeback as staunch audiophiles prefer the "warm" audio that analog produces. I also personally believe that the appearance and sounds produced by an analog polygraph instrument better stimulate the subject....it would be an interesting experiment to see if what I postulate is true.
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Aunty Agony on Jan 10th, 2015 at 6:46pm pailryder wrote on Jan 10th, 2015 at 2:54pm:
How did you measure that? |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Dan Mangan on Jan 10th, 2015 at 7:35pm
quickfix, your comments remind us that polygraph is BS (Belief System) driven.
Still, I most certainly believe in what I am doing as it regards polygraph. I'm merely being a realist about the risks, realities and limitations of the "test." Sure, polygraph kinda/sorta "works" on some of the people most of the time, but, all things considered, the real-world error rate is huge. Prospective test subjects should be made aware of that before they submit themselves to the process. What's wrong with informing the consumer? Do you have something against efforts to reduce victimization by polygraph? Finally, regarding the APA elections, I think it is noteworthy that of the nearly 3,000 APA members, only 500 or so bothered to vote. That means less than 20% of eligible voters determined the outcome of the elections. We simply don't know for certain what the opinions of the remaining 80+% of the APA membership are regarding my platform positions. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by pailryder on Jan 11th, 2015 at 4:53pm
Aunty
By comparing my known errors before and after. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Dan Mangan on Jan 11th, 2015 at 6:44pm
Computerized scoring algorithms are a convenience in many respects, but they can become a crutch for some examiners.
Still, the algorithms really shine as a launching pad for a post-test interrogation. That is one of their chief attributes. Another attribute (or drawback) is that many polygraph consumers are inclined to believe the computer readout, and put it above the examiner's opinion should it differ. Once in a while, the two most popular algorithms -- Polyscore and OSS3 -- will disagree with each other. It is most unlikely, in my view, that such disagreement would be revealed to the test subject -- especially if the polygraph was conducted by a law enforcement or government operator. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Dan Mangan on Jan 12th, 2015 at 1:11am quickfix wrote on Jan 10th, 2015 at 6:03pm:
quickfix, let's straighten this out. Fly into MHT and make your own arrangements to stay for a couple of days. My office is less than 30 minutes away. You can review a pile of my exams -- including video, of course -- and then report your findings here. On top of that, I can waltz you around to a few nationally known APA figures, who know of my work product, that happen to be located right in my geographical backyard. C'mon, quickfix, it'll be fun. At least for me. Interested? |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Aunty Agony on Jan 12th, 2015 at 3:30am pailryder wrote on Jan 11th, 2015 at 4:53pm:
How do you know when you've made an error? |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by quickfix on Jan 12th, 2015 at 8:22pm Dan Mangan wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 1:11am:
You appear to have lots of time on your hands to make such an offer. I guess that's what happens when you spend the majority of your time talking clients out of your services instead of providing it to them. You already state that polygraph has a "hugh" error rate. So why would I want to look at your cases? To guess which calls are accurate and which aren't? Is that how you do it? Which part of the Backster course was that taught in? I respectfully decline your invitation. File it with your other idea of a "challenge series", |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by pailryder on Jan 12th, 2015 at 10:58pm
Aunty
I don't always know, but sometimes subsequent events confirm both false positive and false negatives. |
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Title: Re: Polygraph and prescription medications. Post by Dan Mangan on Jan 13th, 2015 at 2:37am quickfix wrote on Jan 12th, 2015 at 8:22pm:
quickfix, I am not only a polygraph examiner, but I am a polygraph consultant. Is there anything sinister about that? By the way, you dodged my earlier questions. Here's your second chance... >What's wrong with informing the consumer? [About the risks, realities and limitations of the "test".] >Do you have something against efforts to reduce victimization by polygraph? Daniel Mangan, M.A. Full Member, American Polygraph Association Certified PCSOT Examiner www.polygraphman.com |
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