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Posted by bubba
 - Jan 05, 2004, 07:44 PM
Harley,

Good luck, I was a case of false positive.  I told the polygrapher everyting in my past, although I only smoke weed 3 times they felt that I was a dealer. As you can read on this site we (the false positives) are screwed for further employment that may take a clearance in any other Gov. Dept. because of the failed poly. I like you wanted to work for the FBI for a long time and felt crushed when I recieved the letter stating "Your results didn't meet acceptable limits" and to please respect their decision.

Good luck
Bubba
Posted by Kona
 - Jan 05, 2004, 05:28 PM
Quote from: harleyriderxl on Jan 05, 2004, 12:38 PMI feel guilty and ashamed for allowing him to sell around me because of my strong beliefs against drug use and thus fear a false positive.

You've got a real problem here.  Your guilty feelings on relevant drug questions could very well lead to a deceptive chart and DQ if you don't use any kind of countermeasure on the control questions.  

Quote from: harleyriderxl on Jan 05, 2004, 12:38 PMI also feel that lying/countermeasures on a poly is wrong even on the control questions which leads me to another possible failure.

Ok, I'll agree with you that lying on a polygraph is wrong, but what does that have to do with countermeasures?  The examiner WANTS YOU TO LIE on the control questions, so that he can compare those reactions to your reactions on the relevant questions.  What is wrong with using a little extra physiological reaction on the control questions to make sure that your reaction is strong enough to differentiate between the two?    If your reaction to the relevant questions are stronger than to the control questions, you WILL be found to be deceptive, and you can kiss your job offer adios.

Quote from: harleyriderxl on Jan 05, 2004, 12:38 PMWhat can I do in order to pass the exam?

Simple.  Tell the truth on the relevant questions, and use countermeasures on the controls as per TLBTLD.  

Quote from: harleyriderxl on Jan 05, 2004, 12:38 PMWorking for the FBI has been a lifelong goal of mine that I dont want destroyed due to childhood mistakes that I didnt even participate in.

Did you read what you wrote?  How can these things be YOUR childhood mistakes if YOU didn't participate in them?  

Harley, you sound like a decent and honest guy.  However, you're one of those job applicants that I classify as "too honest."  What I mean by this is.....you feel guilt about things you had no control over, and are willing to make admissions/confessions about these things to get them off your chest.  Sounds like you are a victim of Catholic school, just like me.  

I guess you could take George's advise and withdraw your application, but if it has been a lifelong goal of your to work for the FBI, then it's time for a reality check.  You need to decide if you want to pass this stupid test or not.  If you do, you need to use countermeasures, pass the test, and get the job.  If not, don't use any countermeasures and roll the dice.  Good luck.

Kona  
Posted by George W. Maschke
 - Jan 05, 2004, 04:32 PM
harleyriderxl,

The best advice I could offer you for avoiding a false positive outcome is not to submit to the polygraph, that is, to withdraw your application with the FBI and instead seek out an employer that does not rely on such pseudoscientific nonsense to evaluate the honesty and integrity of applicants. See my article, "Just Say 'No' to FBI Polygraphs" for more on why I think this is the best course for anyone considering FBI employment to take.