Timofei,

You wrote, among other things:

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This is a key point that you've raised, and one that the polygraph community (and the governmental agencies they serve) have long avoided confronting. For example, the president of the American Polygraph Association has declined to state how APA members should should proceed if a subject were to reveal that he/she has read The Lie Behind the Lie Detector and understands the psychological manipulations involved in both the "stim test" and the "control" questions.

With information about polygraphy now readily available to anyone who can read English and has Internet access, it's high time that the polygraph community mustered the courage to candidly address the question of how to deal with informed subjects.

Duc748 wrote on Mar 9^th, 2002 at 11:35pm:


Earlier today, you wrote, "So George, knowing that you're helping rapists pass the polygraph, how do you feel about it?" and you implied that beech trees condones "condone rape, murder, incest, drug use." Seems to me you're passing moral judgment on both persons and methods.

You also asked earlier, "If your goal is simply to rid the world of polygraphs, isn't there another way to do it?" What other way do you have in mind?

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George, you ARE helping rapists pass the polygraph. That's not a moral judgement, it's a fact. 

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Tell you the truth George, I don't know off the top of my head. But, there must be another way. Lobbying congress, getting your message of polygraphs not being valid through other media outlets. Getting your governor to hear what you have to say and showing the evidence to support your case. Anything other than telling convicts this is how you beat the polygraph, so that they may continue on their merry way of destroying other people's lives.
You say the polygraph ruins innocent people's lives. I'll argue that by helping these low-lifes, you're helping them to ruin innocent people's lives. So who sits on the high moral ground here?

Duc, in all due respect, I don't think Mr Maschke's purpose of this website was to promote convicted sex offenders' passing these polygraphs.  Yes Duc, it does outrage me myself that certain types of people who have done horrible crimes are using these methods.  One thing is though, you can't blame Mr Maschke.  His goal was to prove the deception of the polygraph itself, and that he has done.  Believe me I know where you're coming from internally, with certain criminals employing these methods, but in all due respect these people were going to find this method whether in this website, or somewhere else.  This website is not the only place to learn about the polygraph, and it's failures.  One other thing, is that some people do use countermeasures while telling the truth.  It's just their insurance policy of not coming out a false positive, which you can see many people who have worked long, and hard towards achieving certain positions, and/or rank are labeled as crooks, spies, drug addicts, and so on.  Duc I do know you're a person of high integrity and I can see that you will make a very good Federal Agent, and not to mention you have served our country as well for a long period of time.  You have bigger and better things ahead of you.  One thing though, you must be a bit more open-minded towards certain issues, I mean being an Law Enforcement Agent means you must have a high level of tolerance, and even though you may disagree with certain viewpoints, you will have to offer the same and equal level of public service to the inhabitants of this country.  I just thought I had to post, because in all due respect, I know you're a man of honor, and I do have the outmost respect for people like you, but also I don't think Mr Maschke should be held liable for certain criminals looking for ways to beat the system.  From a personal standpoint George is anything but a promoter of deviance, personally he's helped me out greatly in my personal endeavors which you probably know of.  I'm not the best judge of character, but I do know when I see people encompassing honorable characters such as yourself and Mr Maschke and many other members of this site, while there will be those dirty deviant individuals on this site, I am a firm believer in the justice system, and I truly believe somehow, somewhere, these people who are commiting such shameful acts will get theirs in the end.  Take care, and I truly hope I didn't upset many of the honorable and respected members of this site.

100% innocent my ass! Everyone says they are being set up by the cops!

Duc 748,

The information we provide is also likely being used by sexual assault victims in the numerous jurisdictions where the alleged victim of a sex offense must "pass" a polygraph "test" before the police deem the allegation credible and begin a serious investigation.

There is a great deal of legitimate information in our society that is also exploited by criminals. The fact that something can be used by criminals is hardly a reason for suppressing it.

Take, for example, rights and protections present in our justice system. These are frequently taken advantage of by guilty individuals. Under your logic, perhaps we should eliminate the right to remain silent. After all, criminals who confess are much easier to convict. While were at it, let's toss the Miranda decision. Many criminals may be ignorant of their rights--let's keep them that way, right? I could go on ad nauseam. 

The information we provide on this website has an indisputable legitimate purpose--to help those forced to submit to polygraph "tests" protect themselves against false allegations.  

Instead of blaming those who provide support for victims of polygraph "tests," you should be directing your energy toward those in the polygraph profession who routinely mislead the press and elected officials about the infallibility of polygraph "tests." The fact is that these "tests" are easily beaten by the guilty.  They also tend to falsely accuse many innocent people. If criminals are going unpunished because they are beating polygraph "tests," the blame rests with anyone foolish to rely on these "tests."

Lastly, your comparison of polygraphy to modern medicine is ludicrous. The medical diagnostic process is supported (and shaped by) the best universities in our nation. The faculty at these institutions represents the best and brightest in our society. Polygraphy, on the other hand, receives nearly no respect from top tier academics. I’ll leave it up to you to flesh out the argument that the level of intelligence among the faculty at polygraph schools compares favorably to the level of intelligence of those who teach medical doctors their diagnostic skills. 

Propoly wrote on Mar 28^th, 2002 at 8:48pm:


But not, apparently, his use of countermeasures.