Let me start by saying I am thrilled to have found this site, I just wish it happened sooner. None the less I feel I need to tell my story and see what you all think. A little while back, it doesn't matter exactly how long, as the events stay with me as fresh as ever, I went to take a polygraph after receiving a conditional job offer from one of the three letter members of the U.S. Intelligence Community. It all started in a waiting room, after watching a video about how great the poly was and how well-trained the examiners where ("equivalent of a master's degree"). I was a little nervous of course, but not to much so. After all I had nothing to fear. I was not only an honest person, but a rather boring one. I had just graduated from a top fifteen academic institution and had while I had liked to have fun while at parties and the like I had never touched drugs, other than alcohol.  I kept my nose clean because as long as I could remember I had wanted to serve my country. When I got the opportunity to interview and then be flown to D.C. for this job I couldn’t believe my luck; all my efforts had paid off. After a little wait the polygraph examiner assigned to me finally showed up. He seemed like a decent sort, and assured me that all I had to do was tell the truth. I didn’t think this would be a problem and was more than happy to get started. First he asked me a few questions trying to see if I had omitted anything on my application forms. I assured him I had not and we began the examination. I answered all the questions, I didn’t enjoy the fact that the blood pressure cuff was cutting off my circulation, but I still thought things were going well. After completing all the questions he left to evaluate my charts. I sat alone in the small white room, that really needed some new paint on walls and awaited the return of the man that would tell me I was ready to start my new career. When he finally showed back up he started at me right away, “Your having trouble with the drug question!” He nearly shouted as he entered the room. I was stunned, I had not every done drugs and really had never seen them outside of television. “What are you hiding.” He asked in a way that left little doubt I was hiding something. I told him nothing, but that wasn’t good enough. After a little while I was doubting everything I had ever done in my life, eventully I confessed that I had once borrowed some pain killers from a roommate. I’ve run at least 4 miles pretty much everyday since I was a sophomore in high school. I would do this so I would be strong in the late innings on the baseball games I pitched. Not wanting to take  a day off I once had taken the bills after jamming my knee badly so I could run the next day. I thought this story would make him happy, but instead it just seemed to upset me. He wasn’t in great shape and seemed to take offense to my serious conditioning. I wasn’t trying to be all impressive and such, I just wanted to make him stop treating me as a criminal. Let me tell you it didn’t help. Instead making things better as we ran the test again things were now worse. The examiner was convinced I had used drugs. He want on to tell me how it was okay, that all I had to do was tell him what drugs I had used and he would “help” me. He didn’t help me and he didn’t mean to either I don’t think. I’m sure by this time he had decided that as soon as we were done I was going to run outside and smoke a joint. I had never been so angry in my life, this man was humiliating me, accusing me of false hoods and almost convincing me they were true. I finally lost it, I told him what I thought and that I was not lying and that his machine must be off. He then told me he believed in his machine, “120 percent.” I just laughed. Eventually he told me that he’d send my charts to headquarters and walked me out. Before he left he told me that I would be invited back for a second test the next day. In one of the stupider moves of my life I want back. What I experienced was a rerun, I hate reruns. What I should have known as soon as the second examiner told me he spoke with the first, was that he wasn’t going to change his buddies results. The second poly was as bad as the first. 

The experience of the taking these polygraphs were the worst of my life. Even I think about it and it hurts. I had wanted to serve this nation and its people my whole life and now I can’t, because of a machine. Instead of getting the job I wanted I’m currently doing an internship in business planning, its interesting but not what I want to do. I might go back to grad school, but it all seems like a second choice. I would love to say that I’m comfortable with the fact I told the truth and just say that the Intelligence Community lost a good person and laugh at them, I can’t. I am as angry today as I was after the poly, but now I want to do something about it. I am planning to write my local elected officials, but I want to do more. The e-book on the front of this site gave me an idea. I am currently working on a book about my baseball experiences in an effort to help future players, parents, and coaches deal with the issues of playing sports at the high school level. While working on this book I’ve learned about self-publishing. I would love to put together a book of stories of people like me who have been accused of lying by the FBI, CIA, DEA, NSA, et al. My plan would be to put a group of essays in a book telling our stories, let people know what has happened. Truly make the lie perpetrated by the Government known to all. I would be more than happen to pay to self-publish this book and edit the works people submit. Maybe I’m still just really angry, but if I had known the truth about the polygraph before I took the test I wouldn’t feel like such a failure. If you think this is a good idea, want to send more your story or just talk about finding ways to expose the truth please PM me and let me know. Thank you, and thank you to those that put this site together and let me know I’m not alone. 

Angerfied,

First off realize that Retcopper is a polygrapher. And he scurriosly adds these little gems to support his cause and beliefs. As far as the pills are concerned, it is trivial.

But as far as your experience, its the typical scenario we see day in day out. The agencies get thousands of applicants a year, and in my humble opinion, use the polygraph as a filter to eliminate the unwanted. You did nothing wrong with the exception of being unprepared for the ordeal. The agencies are now telling all applicants not to research polygraphy. This is because the agencies know they can and have been beaten on numerous occasions. Read this websites free book, "The Lie behind the Lie Detector", and make yourself knowlegeable about this snake-oil process of BS and deception. And spread the word about where to come and become armed against this garbage process and machine. Most of us here feel your pain, I, to this day still have this anger that never goes away, because of a damn polygrapher. Much success to you.

Regards ...

The reality is, the polygraph sucks! 95% of the members have similar stories about the injustice that was bestowed on them. The other 5% (polygraphist) either get a good laugh at our misery or just don’t care. The only consultation is that since the polygraph is routinely given in the Federal agencies they work for, it is my hope they are on the receiving end, and fail when they tell the truth. There are very few security related jobs who want a polygraphist that lies! 

Another reality is the expectation of convincing the general public awareness of the pseudo science of polygraph by writing a book on it or starting another internet webpage  listing volumes of our stories about examinee’s plight. Antipolygraph.org does a good job for that and is good therapy for venting our stress and provides sound education on polygraph testing and processed. Unfortunately, most of the time it is too late. The information is so credible, agencies make you sigh a waiver stating you did not do any research on countermeasures prior to the test. That is sound confidence in this methodology to determine truth. 

The only way to stop the use of the polygraph is through governmental legislation. It is evident that no one with ever take Dr. Drew C. Richardson challenge, because they know what will happen. The polygraph will be found unreliable. This is nothing new since the Academy of Science has already determined that. Writing letters of protest to these Federal agencies that administer the polygraph is fairly useless. They don’t care, because there is100 more application to take your place. If you want to end the use of the polygraph for good it has to be done at the executive level. The next time you vote you make sure the political candidate has striking down the polygraph part of their campaign. The same applies for those already elected. If they want to be elected again, they make sure ending the polygraph party of their campaign. Honest people who fail the polygraph are no longer victims, they become activist. There are 3118 members on this site alone. That is a force if every one of them contact there Congressman/woman or State Representative and voice a concern because accusing American without due process to defend themselves is unconstitutional. It is only reasonable expectation that when you fail a polygraph you are given evidence or proof versus one individual’s opinion of reading on a machine. This is truly un-American. I sympathize with you like the other members on this site. Deep down I am sure there are some polygraphist out there who wonder about the validity of the polygraph. The time for feeling sorry is over. Goes out and be proactive by contacting your elected officials. All the parties (Republicans, Democrats & Independents) are gearing up now for the next Presidential election. 

George, first of all I have the utmost respect for your views and applauded your personal campaign to abolish the polygraph. The only problem with your theory is the general public really does not care. Unless you have been a victim and know what goes on during the polygraph test, I would speculate that the general public just does not care. Prior to my test I trusted the agency that administered my test. This organization has a very good reputation (most of the time).  I am sure that all of us, to include yourself, had no idea we would be falsely accused of lying without being shown any evidence to prove it. If you want to stop unfair treatment of individuals legislation must come through amendment of the 1988 Employee Polygraph Protection Act (29 USC 22) and have Congress extend the protections of the 1988 Employee Polygraph Protection Act to all Americans. To do this your vehicle of change is through our elected officials.  Changing Federal policy is not a very quick process. If everyone sent an individual letter to there Congressman/woman or State representative with sound proof of how unfair the polygraph is used to hire and maintain Federal employees maybe, just maybe, progress will be made to have all Americans treated equally. The problem as I see it, the government will side with what is best to protect the country. The old saying you may need to break a few eggs to make a good omelet may hold true. Unfortunately we, the victims of the polygraph are some of the few eggs! My strategy has become stop feeling mad about what happened to me, because there are more stories worst than mine, and write every elected official I can find who has shown an interest in stopping the polygraph. I am currently writing  a letter containing verified and credible proof identified in academic circles that shows the polygraph is unjust and presents a threat to Federal agencies preventing competent people from serving their country base on technology from the 1920s to every elected official I can find. I am confident there are at lease a few public officials who will understand and pursue this issue. There are a few listed on antipolygraph.org but I am not sure it this list is inclusive of current. It may mean using the media such as FOX News or CNN to get their attention. Unfortunately, the change may not help the ones, who have failed the polygraph unjustly, but those in the future may not have to endure what we had to go through. Kudos to antipolygraph.org for the wealth of information.  The general public awareness maybe the vehicle for change, but the driver is our elected officials. Always remember those elected, can be unelected. Get out and vote in the next election and make sure those running know this is a topic of national security and an unjust hiring practice for Federal employees. Has your petition been sent to the President yet because I did sign it?

George!!  I just noticed your new avatar, and your hair!!!  It's all gone!!!  What kind of bet did you lose? 

George, your points were well articulated and thanks for your insights on the subject. I see that you live in the Netherlands. That is a beautiful country and the people are fantastic. I use to live in Mons (Bergen), Belgium.