nopolycop wrote on Apr 23
rd, 2008 at 6:36pm:
George W. Maschke wrote on Apr 23
rd, 2008 at 6:14pm:
In addition to Oregon, lie detector "testing" is prohibited from the workplace in Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, and New Jersey.
I wonder if those states have a higher percentage of "bad cops" or corruption, or police misconduct. It would be a facinating study, to see if the polygraph screening actually results in a better cop. I postulate that just the opposite would be found, and here is why.
By using polygraph screening as opposed to a thorough background check, the agency simply gets people who have no life experience, (like have never done anything wrong) or people who can manipulate the results of the polygraph to fool the examiner. With either group, one would likely think they would be more susceptable to tempation than a good ol Joe who has proven him self trustworthy through his acts and deeds.
Agencies that rely heavily on the polygraph will also have a lower than expected portion of employees who are critical thinkers since those sorts of people are the most likely to doubt the validity of the polygraph and the most likely to learn about how it really works.
Because knowledge of how the polygraph really works correlates negatively with the chances of a truthful person to pass the polygraph polygraphers do everything they can to keep people from finding out the truth. This includes attempts to keep people from questioning authority, a task more fit for an SS agent than a police officer.
It also includes attempts to discredit scientific research by people outside the polygraph-industrial complex and attempts to manipulate and spin the results of research conducted by friendly supporters, something which should give all Americans concern in an age where science is so vitally important to our society. Creationists must love polygraphers, they're on the same page when it comes to promoting real science and critical thought.
Polygraphers probably keep their children stupid so that they can more easily detect their lies. Yeah, when they're so dumb they think you're going to believe they didn't eat the missing cookies while having crumbs all over their shirt you'll probably be able to tell pretty easily when they're lying. A polygrapher stops thinking at that point and considers that a good deal, never taking the next step to consider whether the cost of infantilizing their child is in anyone's long-term interest.
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States banning polygraph testing (Read 25764 times)
