Question Going for Poly Soon

[NeedHelpNow]

The question is, I wasn't completely truthful on one of the questions on my application pertaining to drug use.   If I'm asked in pre-interview before the poly if I was completly honest in my application, do I come clean or stick to what I put on the application and hope for the best on the poly?  I'm unsure as to what direction would look better for me??  Would it be worse to admit I wasn't completely truthful and pray for leniency? or possibly appear deceptive in the poly if thats how it plays out? Thanks for any help in advance!

[pailryder]

If your admission is minor, try to clean it up.  If your admission is major, stand by your application.

[Sergeant1107]

The question is, I wasn't completely truthful on one of the questions on my application pertaining to drug use.   If I'm asked in pre-interview before the poly if I was completly honest in my application, do I come clean or stick to what I put on the application and hope for the best on the poly?  I'm unsure as to what direction would look better for me??  Would it be worse to admit I wasn't completely truthful and pray for leniency? or possibly appear deceptive in the poly if thats how it plays out? Thanks for any help in advance!

You should tell the truth.

If you realized after filling out your application that you included incorrect or incomplete information you should change it as soon as possible.

Anything else would be unethical.

[policeHopeful]

hi sarge could you view my post and possibly answer my question for me? thanks

[Sergeant1107]

hi sarge could you view my post and possibly answer my question for me? thanks

I did answer your question.

If you supplied incorrect or incomplete information to your background investigator you should get in touch with them ASAP and tell them of your error.

[43rdbravo]

I am also considering law enforcment after 10yrs in EMS and I am afraid of the questions. What can I do to prepair myself for them?

[tbld]

Believing that polys work is like believing that David Copperfield really is magical.. Copperfield wants you to believe in his magic and so do the polygraphers.  It is used to  frighten confessions out of people. The users of the machine don't really believe it can detect lies, (ok well maybe some do)   They know that the people  given the test  think the machine can catch them in a lie. The result is the same as if the test really does work.

[pailryder]

David Copperfield does not want anyone to think he has magical powers.  His show works indepentant of whether you believe it is the result of magic or careful planning.  Copperfield provides a service, i.e. entertainment which people pay to enjoy.  Because some polyexs choose to use PL comparison questions. you cannot assume from that fact alone that PL questions are necessary to all techniques.  

Explain to me, please, why you think someone would pay for me to frighten them into a confession?

[tbld]

Reply #7 - Today at 8:38am    David Copperfield does not want anyone to think he has magical powers.  His show works indepentant of whether you believe it is the result of magic or careful planning.  Copperfield provides a service, i.e. entertainment which people pay to enjoy.  Because some polyexs choose to use PL comparison questions. you cannot assume from that fact alone that PL questions are necessary to all techniques.  

Explain to me, please, why you think someone would pay for me to frighten them into a confession?  
HUH ?!?!?!!?
I never said anything about Copperfield wanting people to belive he had magical powers. I said believing in polys is like believing that copperfield has magical powers. Where did you get that skew from? Oh wait your a PG hmm...  polys are indeed used to  frighten confessions out of people. They believe it can detect lies and are therefore voodooed into believing it works Kind of like a placebo (placebo is a preparation which is pharmacologically inert but which may have a therapeutical effect based solely on the power of suggestion)Hence the pg test they  think the machine can catch them in a lie, and the result is the same as if the test really does work.  
p.s. I think your just mad beacuse you got compared to David Copperfield maybe Ill use David Blaine next time......

 Re: Question Going for Poly Soon
Reply #7 - Today at 8:38am    David Copperfield does not want anyone to think he has magical powers.  His show works indepentant of whether you believe it is the result of magic or careful planning.  Copperfield provides a service, i.e. entertainment which people pay to enjoy.  Because some polyexs choose to use PL comparison questions. you cannot assume from that fact alone that PL questions are necessary to all techniques.  

Explain to me, please, why you think someone would pay for me to frighten them into a confession?  
Don't drink the kool-aid!

[tbld]

sorry quote radio button didnt work

[pailryder]

tbld

I'm not mad.  And you did not answer my question.  I am a private examiner, why would someone pay me to frighten them into a confession?

[Wonder_Woman]

Believing that polys work is like believing that David Copperfield really is magical.. Copperfield wants you to believe in his magic and so do the polygraphers.  It is used to  frighten confessions out of people. The users of the machine don't really believe it can detect lies, (ok well maybe some do)   They know that the people  given the test  think the machine can catch them in a lie. The result is the same as if the test really does work.

I don't want any examinee to believe what I do is magical or voodoo.  I too do not fighten confessions out of people.  You know that damn thing actually works!

[Wonder_Woman]

43rdbravo - what questions are you afraid of?  Most of the time you just psych yourself out by reading this site.  Contact the agency you are looking at and see if your concern would disqualify you.  Then stop stressing, get a good nights sleep and have something to eat before the exam.  Go into the exam and be truthful!

[George W. Maschke]

Believing that polys work is like believing that David Copperfield really is magical.. Copperfield wants you to believe in his magic and so do the polygraphers.  It is used to  frighten confessions out of people. The users of the machine don't really believe it can detect lies, (ok well maybe some do)   They know that the people  given the test  think the machine can catch them in a lie. The result is the same as if the test really does work.

I don't want any examinee to believe what I do is magical or voodoo.  I too do not fighten confessions out of people.  You know that damn thing actually works!

Of course, you don't want examinees to believe the polygraph is magic or voodoo. You want them to think it's "scientific." But it isn't. The lie detector cannot detect lies, and it is only effective at inducing admissions/confessions to the extent that an examinee naively believes it can.

[George W. Maschke]

43rdbravo - what questions are you afraid of?  Most of the time you just psych yourself out by reading this site.  Contact the agency you are looking at and see if your concern would disqualify you.  Then stop stressing, get a good nights sleep and have something to eat before the exam.  Go into the exam and be truthful!

"Wonder Woman,"

How on earth would you know that "most of the time" 43rdbravo "psychs him- or herself out" by reading this site? If there is anything on this site (particularly in The Lie Behind the Lie Detector) you believe to be false or misleading, please explain.

I would agree with you that applicants for positions of public trust have an ethical obligation to answer relevant questions truthfully, and it is perhaps not a bad idea for applicants to inquire about whether something of concern would be disqualifying.

But unfortunately, simply getting a good night's sleep, having something to eat before the polygraph exam, and telling the truth is no guarantee that one will pass the polygraph. I did precisely that on my FBI and LAPD polygraphs and was falsely accused of deception and using countermeasures (at a time when I didn't even know what countermeasures are). And many have had similar experiences.