eisenmann372002
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th , 2002
Re: ive read and now HOW DO I GET AWAY WITH LYING?
Reply #26 - May 19th , 2002 at 12:24am
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Okay, I'm up for something like this, and I will do my best to keep my personal experiences out and my mind open. Understand, however, that I have told the truth on a polygraph and failed, and have also lied on a polygraph and passed. I would certainly hope it is understandable that THESE particular experiences do nothing to increase my confidence in polygraphy as a whole. Yes; I agree that the human body can show recordable signs of stress when lying. And, of course, I have no doubt that the polygraph is able to detect and record changes in the physiology of the human body. Just because stress registers, though, is in no way indicative that the person is lying. Would you agree that a person comfortable with lying may *not* show any signs of stress or changes in their physiology while being questioned? Frankly, it is my humble opinion that a person comfortable with lying is the kind of person the polygrapher (and society as a whole) would like to catch in a lie. My assumption would be that the polygraph came into existence BECAUSE of people like this. It seems ironic that it will pass people comfortable with lying (and again, it's these people that the polygraph is SUPPOSED to catch), but register stress by law-abiding citizens and may end up with them accused of lying. Polygraphs have no place in pre-employment screening, period. That's what drug tests, background checks, and personal references are for. In most areas throughout the country, from what I'm told and from research on my own, there is fierce competition for jobs with a fire department (I can only assume the same is true for law enforcement jobs). In my area, an average sized fire department can expect to have over 500 applicants for only five positions. For the (very conservative estimate) 350 who make it through the written tests, physical agility, medical scenarios, interviews, and background investigations, the polygraph and medical examination by a physician are the only two things standing between them and a job. The polygraph becomes little more than a lottery machine. When you've had two years of paramedic schooling and six months of basic firefighting while holding down a full-time job, and most fire departments MAY hire once a year, it's a pretty f*&(ed up situation when you tell the entire truth and get failed for lying. Then, most departments take you off their eligibility list for up to two years. Not a pleasant experience, I can assure you. I've said over and over that I believe the polygraph can be effective as an interrogation tool for the guilty, but it simply doesn't belong as a pre-employment requirement because it is flawed. There is just too much reliance on it as a screening tool.