I just failed my polygraph for a law enforcement job.  I don’t understand how because the 2 questions they said I failed on were some of the easiest to answer.
1.      Have you smoked marijuana in the last 3 years?
2.      Have you ever been terminated for dishonesty?
I have not smoked marijuana in almost 20 years and even when I did it was occasional usage. It could be that I do have some guilty feelings about ever trying it. After all it is unlawful.
The only job I was ever let go from was a part time job and it was because I had told them not to schedule me for a day and they did anyway.  When the called and asked me to come in I refused and they let me go.
There were no acts of dishonesty.   
The examiner was also upset with some of the answers I had put down on the pre polygraph questioner.
When asked if I had ever had sexual contact in public I responded with the times when I was 17 and took my girlfriend to the drive inn or drove out to make out point.  He got upset and said that was not the kind of criminal acts they were looking for.  SORRY, I just responded to what was being asked.
He was also upset that I put down about when I was in High school and was 17 and had a girlfriend who was 16 and a sophomore.  Again he said this was not the kind of thing they were looking for when asked if I had ever had any kind of sexual contact with someone under the age of 17 anytime after I was 17 or older.
He said I was “killing yourself” with these kind of answers.  I guess this shows you can be too truthful.
Anyway, I know that was answering the 2 questions truthfully but he says I had a problem with the questions.  After trying to get me to confess to using marijuana in the last 3 years with no success he told me to go.  This has been one of the worst degrading moments in my life but I am thinking that if this is the kind of abuse you have to go through to be in law enforcement who needs it.  They can just find someone else who is willing to risk their life every day for $15.00 an hour.

It's just a good example of how these exams involve deception by the examiner.  Ironic given the purpose of the exam.

Can anyone give an example of another reputable medical exam which requires that the examiner deceive the examinee in order to obtain valid results?

It also goes to show that Jesus H. Christ himself would fail a probable-lie exam.

Lier:

Please do not judge yourself from the results of this silly test.  You sound like a perfectly wonderful and honest person who just got worked over by a test that should not ever be used to determine employment,
or anything else for that matter!

Do not question yourself, and if any person places you in lower esteem because you failed a polygraph test that person is uninformed and should educate themselves as to the error rate of polygraph testing.  Stand tall and know in your heart that you told the truth and you just have been judged poorly by something you could not expect to find fault with you due to your real honesty. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.................

I wish you the very best in all that you do in life, and encourage you to continue to be honest.  And never feel bad about that!!!!!  Maybe your path should lead you to a place other than law enforcement. After reading this site frequently, too many real jerks have passed and they are here boasting about thier lies.  I know that you would have a most difficult time having someone like that as a partner.  SO maybe just maybe someone is watching out for you and greatness in your life will come from a position other than law enforcement.
Move on and do something great in your life.   

Ed,

Yes, your polygrapher's accusatory inquiry regarding a relevant question between chart collections would likely sensitize you to that question, increasing the likelihood of your wrongly failing.