xman,

  you seem to think that 2.5 years ago was a very long time.   me thinks that you will have a very difficult time finding a job at a local McDonalds.   You seem to think that you can live a life of no consequences and then all of a sudden find yourself working in high security situations with the government?  the drugs and partying really fried your brain into a delusional state of coma.   try back again in another life.

Xman11,


   a comment turned into a diatribe?  not everyone out here agrees with you in your educational goals or endeavors.   just remember that your past can and will come to haunt you.  especially when it comes to personal situations.  2 DUIS?  how can you be trusted with high security, when your personal integrity is at issue?   Integrity is being good when no one is watching.

retcopper

Sure. Like FBI SA's Aimes and Hansen.

The Shadow

My mistake. Prime example of posting without thinking. However, to me, it's academic. They both worked for our government, who employ polygraphs, in a TS capacity and were supposed to be loyal and upright citizens.

My point is: How many are working in LE that has the same or worse record as xman. A lot of criminals have turned over the new leaf and became upstanding citizens. I have read that many prison preachers were once incarcerated as felons themselves and are now visiting prisons trying to turn lives around.

xman just might make one hell of an agent. Then again he could be a rogue. To condem his ambititions now for stupid actions of the past, I think is wrong. He is capable of turning his life to crime fighting. Lord knows we need some hard knocking crime fighters.

I totally agree with you.  I take full responsibility for my previous actions and I am prepared to be denied opportunities.  But what makes America great, is that people are afforded another chance at life.  For example, I wasn't a very good student in high school.  After military service, the GI Bill empowered to go to community college, and undergraduate and graduate degrees.  Unlike school systems in Europe or elsewhere, we are afforded a second chance at a college education.   

Frankly, I haven't always wanted to join the CIA.  Perhaps if that was my goal, I wouldn't have chosen to smoke marijuana or experiment with hard drugs.   Although I would give anything to change my past behavior, it has defined who I am today -  I believe for the better.  Since I've learned many things the hard way, I am very critical of irresponsible behavior of others.  Although I'm obviously a bit of risk-taker, my experiences have made more pragmatic and cautious.   

I'm also quite cynical of those who come across as "good."  Although I am responsible for my actions, there is also strong element of luck.  It would be hard to believe that none of the adults posting messages on the board have been behind the wheel of car after a few drinks - especially from California.  Perhaps the "good" people should examine there own behavior before placing judgements.  I made rational choices, no matter how misplaced or augmented my alcohol, to get behind the wheel of my car.  I had no other choice but to drastically change my lifestyle.  If it means being deemed a security risk, then I am prepared for it.  .            

Xman:

You sound like you have your act together now.  Good luck.

Sergeant:
I see SARGE.  This board is just for you because you are the polygraph and morality police.  You disagree with people and then make personal attacks against them. I'm glad you were not a REAL Sgt in my P.D. By the way if you are really a police officer how do your fellow officers treat you?

retcopper wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2005 at 4:37pm:

I was in no way implying that this board is just for me.  What gave you that impression?  Was it when I wrote that you shouldn’t denigrate people you don’t know just because they are upset?  Or was it when I posted the definition of a troll so you would know that posting personal attacks and inflammatory opinions which contribute nothing to the ongoing discussion but are merely designed to provoke a reaction is such a common problem on message boards that it has its own name?

I was really not disagreeing with you, because you didn’t offer your opinion about the polygraph except in the vaguest of ways, by implying that anyone who doesn't know a polygraph is good and useful must not be a good cop.

Perhaps you could do some research so that next time someone posts an antipolygraph opinion you can post one refuting it with facts.  Or you could add some personal experiences you had in your law enforcement career to back up your opinion on the polygraph.  On this board there are many people who think the polygraph is good and useful, and they post intelligent opinions and supply facts to back up their arguments.  Those people are welcome.  

There are also many people who believe the polygraph is useful but can offer nothing to this discussion except to make fun of people who are upset about the way they were treated in a polygraph exam and accuse people who point out their troll-like behavior of not being police officers.

If you would like to join the discussion then do so.  If you would prefer to stand at the back of the room and make sarcastic comments without adding anything useful of your own, perhaps you’d be happier somewhere else.