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One thing to consider: whether you "pass" a polygraph seems to have little to do with whether you're telling the truth in the first place.  In fact, in many cases things appear to be a crapshoot.  This is especially true for the Relevant/Irrelevant-type "exam".

With that in mind, I seem to recall a former CIA boss claiming he could pass any polygraph using a combination of physical countermeasures and valium.   

I'm not sure I'd recommend using drugs to pass a polygraph (I'm not a doctor nor a pharmacist, etc.), but there seems to be a bit of an urban legend industry regarding it.

By contrast, physical countermeasures do seem to have a noticable effect, and despite numerous boasts, no voodoo witch doctor polygrapher has ever dared step up to the plate to prove they can reliably detect such countermeasures.   

James Randi ought to put up some cash on the matter.  I have a feeling his money would be as safe as it is when he challenges psychics to prove their claims...

Skeptic

Saidme wrote on Sep 4^th, 2003 at 3:10pm:


Yet another on-topic, instructive and relevant response from the polygraph crowd.

There's something deeply satisfying about debating with a bunch of people whose arguments amount to self-parody...

Skeptic

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Though it isn't always the case, right now the number of people in a "bunch" seems to exactly equal the number of polygraphers who frequent the Antipolygraph.org message board.

I'm always open to new data, though.

Skeptic