I'll just level with you guys and admit I'm a convicted sex offender, convicted of a misdemeanor count of "contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor". Basically, I got romantically involved with our 16 year-old babysitter. Anyway, part of the treatment program is what is called a Full Sexual History Disclosure polygraph, followed by periodic Maintenance polygraphs every six months. Now, rest assured I have never done such a thing in the past as romantically or sexually pursue another minor. However, the entire polygraph process (it's freakin' 5 hours long) is structured in such a way as to dredge admissions out of EVERYBODY. I went round and round with my polygrapher before the test, trying desperately to get this guy to believe I have not previously "sexually touched" another minor or committed some other infraction he claimed that "is very common" and that "many people do". The mantra was, "Are you sure that's everything? That isn't enough. Many other people have this thing to admit, or that thing too." After over 4 hours of interrogation, the "test" finally began. Fortunately, and only because of this website, I was able to immediately recognize the control questions within the eight questions I was to be asked. I answered truthfully to each and every question, but used the mental practices described on antipolygraph.org to ensure a more "con-spec-nificant" response to the control questions. At the test's conclusion, and after he had already scored the "test", I was then asked "So talk to me more about this frottage thing (Frottage is where you touch somebody else for the sake of arousal, even though the other person is unaware). I was absolutely matter-of-fact in my response, repeating several times that I have not conducted myself in such a way. Finally, in a rather chagrined voice, he said, "well, I'm going to go ahead and pass you." After all this, it wasn't until later in the interrogation that I finally realized just how important and correct the information on antipolygraph.org is. My polygrapher made the statement that he "always gets concerned when he hears about a young man (I'm 30) having access to students (I used to work for a public school district, though in the facilities management department - I never even had access to kids, but he seemed to infer that I did)". It totally hit me that this guy was ready to fail me ASAP unless I made some sort of confession right there on the spot. Since I had no admissions to make, he got visibly flustered and tried very hard to get something out of me after the "test". Anyway, the point of this little story is that I believe by being personable at the right times, and absolutely declaring my innocence at others, I finally convinced him (EVEN THOUGH THE TEST WAS COMPLETE AND HAD BEEN SCORED!!) that I was being truthful. It really kind of makes me angry. But, I guess these guys deal with a lot of repeat offenders so I guess I can sort of understand. Still, it's like give me the benefit of the doubt and consder that perhaps somebody screwed up once and is on track to bring order back to his life. So, thanks to antipolygraph.org I walked in to the interrogation with an excellent understanding of each stage of the polygraph process and I was able to apply the knowledge at critical junctures. Oh yeah. And he even went in-depth with me to ask if I had "read anything on the Internet" about polygraphs, which I gave up as a simple "well, I've read a couple of articles I guess on my local news station's website but nothing besides that." He also tried to instill some fear by saying, "Most people breathe between 13 and 19 breaths per minute. If you're breathing more or less than that, I'll know you're trying to manipulate the chart. Just sit back, breathe normally, and let the equipment do its job."
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