Watch a good man fall?

[LongBus]

It is with serious dismay, that I may admit my deviant behavior in my early 20's. Yes I have smoked MJ and don't do it anymore, however, will it be to my advantage to "stare at a dot on the wall" when these questions arise whist being questioned? I get the idea, from pursuing these posts that I will have to be more stronged willed when the post-exam is taking place. I have high morale character and don't want to fail this procedure. However, I feel this test is more about an interrogation, and breaking one down, rather than obtaining the real truth about one's past. Can anyone confirm the fact that my poly tester & BI will grill me to no avail once a positive reaction is registered on the machine? This is my first exam and harbor many trepidations

[retcopper]

LOngbus:

Of course he is going to question you if he thinks your'e lying.

[Sergeant1107]

I have high morale character and don't want to fail this procedure. However, I feel this test is more about an interrogation, and breaking one down, rather than obtaining the real truth about one's past. Can anyone confirm the fact that my poly tester & BI will grill me to no avail once a positive reaction is registered on the machine? This is my first exam and harbor many trepidations

Unfortunately, the presence (or absence) of high moral character has nothing to do with passing a polygraph exam.  Ironically, neither does telling the truth.  

I told the complete truth on all four polygraphs I have taken.  I failed the first three and passed the fourth, even though my answers were the same in every test.  When you are telling the truth it's easy to keep giving the same answers over and over.

Why did I fail the first three and pass the fourth?  My moral character didn't change from test to test, so that can't have anything to do with it.  My truthfulness didn't vary from test to test, so that can't be the answer.

If you can come up with any answer other than that the polygraph is absolutely worthless when it comes to the detection of deception in pre-employment screening, I'd like to know...

[polyscam]

Longbus,

I can only report on the experience I had in the "chair."  I was not grilled whatsoever by the background interviewer.  The polygraph examiner, however, did in fact pursue to great lengths (grill) my history with regard to drug experimentation.  This took place in the pre-test interview.  Then he asked the question in the in-test and received the physiological response which he influenced, induced and incited.  There was no post-test, only a hand shake and the advice to be sure to provide any outstanding materials which had been requested by the hiring unit.  I left looking forward to receiving the call for the medical or psychological portions.  To my dismay, a couple weeks later a letter arrived, thanking me for my application, however the agency was seeking more qualified applicants.

However, I think it is quite possible that I didn't get questioned further after the in-test because the polygrapher knew that he had in fact influenced his chart graffitti by his extensive misconduct in the pre-test phase.