According to the "Good Morning America" show this morning, the FBI's new recruiting drive is not showing much diversity.  They stated that only 17% were woman and 5% were non-white.

Of the 900 applicants processed since 9/11/01, over 100 have already left the FBI.

I hope the attitude and bias that I was exposed to during my second polygraph is not an undercurrent of a more serious problem of "good-ole-boy" syndrome.   

I sometimes wonder if the polygraph pre-screening program is being used to remove candidates who pose a risk of not "toeing the agency line."

I am sure that all agencies would want to be 100% truthful in front of Congress (unfortunately, historic examples do not agree with me as many agents had to testify behind curtains during 9/11 investigations held by Congress because of possible retaliation from the truth).

Something to think about.

Seeker, your shock with the different treatment that people get shows me that you are good hearted and not exposed to the life of an ethnic minority.

I am an 'ethnic minority' and your story did not shock me one bit.  I do appreciate you telling that story.  I will never know the thoughts that goes inside a white male and the same could be said that they will never know the other.  The simple fact is life experience for both is different in almost every way that is important in buidling character, such as religion and culture.

I dont want to play the race card and I dont believe I am when I say that I feel more comfortable if I am examined by ethnic minority polygrapgher than a white male polygragher.  Why? Because I dont believe they will understand the life experiences I have lived.  My polygrapgher 'went fishing' about my childhood.  To make a long story short, I hated my childhood, not only was I an ethnic minority in my neighborhood (I was reminded constantly) we were poor on top of that.  Anyway, since the polygrapher went fishing and apparently they wanted 'something' I told a story about my childhood that I wasnt particulary proud of ( it was about instigating a fight, I felt bad that I won, why? because there are other way to deal with problems and I have learned from that).  The polygragher wasnt satisfied with the story.  I told them a story that has built my character. and is today still important to me and they blew it off like some bad joke.  By the next poly exam, the polgragher completely twisted my story around which was very upsetting.  Did they even listen to a word I said? Did they understand my frustations in my childhood that built the man I am today?  A man that is very tolerant of differences and considerate to others feelings?  Apparently the government doesnt need a person like me.

"The first few words and looks exchanged can mean the difference between confrontation and cooperation."

That is so true!

"The perception that it is a "white" organization is only added to if an interrogator cannot change his outlook to expand beyond his own.   I could not make much out of the questions that I was asked either sometimes"

That is why the polygragh is so useless, you are only playing the game within their boundaries of their life experiences.  I would love to know the failure rate of a minority as oppose to the other.

"I do not know what it is like to be in your shoes nor will I even pretend to.   "

Same here   

New Person
Since you asked, I looked up the polygraph log for FY93.  Not that I support your assertion, but you made me curious...How were we doing?
Believe it or not I counted the number of DI tests, and it was exactly 50/50.  Thats right, an equel number of whites failed as minorities so far this year.  Now this example is hardly scientific, and the sample is limited, but that is what it is.
If it makes a difference, I live and work in an area with a high minority (hispanic and Native american) population.
That population reflects the applicant mix, so it is not a disproportunate number.  Hope this small example from the real world helps.
Ps. Your a victim if you expect to be, in my opinion.

"Ps. Your a victim if you expect to be, in my opinion. "

I completely did not understand what you just said.

I never expected to fail the polygrapgh, in fact, I thought it was a cake walk because I had nothing to hide.  I may have been a victim of junk science, but that does not mean I wont fight back.  I dont need your pity.

Thank you for your scientific study, I am sure the govermment will be willing to pay you the same amount of money they paid to the NAS that prove the polygrapgh is a hoax.  Congratulations your a rich man.

You live in a population of a high minority population, dont tell me, I can guess this one,... Your best friend is a minority.

The real world? What world do you think I live in?


PS.  Life is what you make it... Thats why I am a very successful professional today.  Can you believe I was willing to cut my pay in half so I can serve this country?

All I know is that the polygraph does not work, and a simple bias (which we all have) from an examiner shows a weakness in the polygraph system.

My story I shared regarding my polygraph experience is only a tibit of the 10 total grueling hours I spent in this flawed system.  I did not say that it was the sole purpose of failing the polygraph.  In fact I dont know why I failed.  The exmainer mentioned that it may just be that I am pron to be 'excited' when it came to questions regarding serious crime.  In the end the examiner was very freindly.  Of course I had to sit through the good cop/ bad cop routine from the same person which looked silly and not believable.  Anyway you cant argue with the best polygraph examiner this country has to offer as they stated.

I was just curious as you are as to whatever the answer is regarding how prejudice and or ignorance may effect the the polygraph system.

Yes I took offense to your comment "Your a victim if you expect to be" beacuse I still dont understand it.  Before that statement I didnt think much of your post at all.

Here is what I thought it meant "I brought the situation to myself because I expected to fail"  My answer is of course, I did not bring this situation to myself and I expected to pass.

And your comment about the real world.  If you live in the real world, where does everyone else live? And who are you referring to?  Are you saying only polygraph examiners live in the real world?

Breeze,

I re-read your post and figured out what may have touched off the response (Race is a touchy subject as it is).  You called me 'New Person' which isnt my name.  That is usually a sign of disrespect (Guess names is a touchy subject also).  I dont know you from Adam and thats the first contact you have with me.  Hence I had my guard up and my radar on.    Lets go back to the comment "The first few words and looks exchanged can mean the difference between confrontation and cooperation."  You got confrontation

Your right, its a victims mentality to blame others.  I blame noone.  However, I hope the polygraph goes away.  In the meantime, life does go on.

Its too bad you didnt your job because of a race quote, I think its wrong and just as evil as racism.  I hope that goes away as well.

Ahem, on a side note, hope you dont take offence.  Your comment "Good, your doing better" sounds a little condesending.  Its something you say to a child or your student which I am neither.  But, since I kinda know where your comming from I will think nothing of it.  I just want you to be aware what you say can cause a reaction you did not intend.  I hope "you do better" in that area as well.

Now that we understand each other, I am doing fine.  Hopefully, I will get to know you from Adam.

George
thanks for waiting, and for the correction of year.  I did not completely understand your comment about realitive numbers.
The number represents 100% of our total, and is as I said a non scientific observation.  Just a snapshot.  Should I become really bored, I will ask the administrator of pseudo scientific fraud to pull all charts results of the past 5 years, and see if this equality in failure that I see now, has a historical/ racial slant one way or another.