Admiral Bill Adama

[Sidamo]

It may be inappropriate to mention a work of fiction in this forum, but did anyone else watching the series finale of "Battlestar Galactica" last night notice the scene in which Admiral Adama angrily halted a polygraph exam?

In a previous scene, a friend had persuaded Adama to retire and undergo a pre-employment polygraph to transition from being an officer of the Colonial fleet into a civilian job.  Later, we see him in the "hot seat" with the electrodes and breathing monitors attached, being interrogated by a polygrapher.  But upon being asked "are you a Cylon," he becomes disgusted with having his integrity questioned after his decades of loyal military service, and so he pulls off the probes and ends the exam.  Way to go Admiral!

It was an unexpected scene, and was surprising because of the decidedly negative portrayal that polygraphy received in a "mainstream" television show.  Makes me wonder if any of the writers of that show had themselves experienced similar feelings toward the polygraph exam.

[G Scalabr]

Sidamo,

Welcome to the forum.

Any topic is appropriate in the off-topic area.

As your post is related to polygraphy, it would also have been welcome in the Polygraph Policy forum as well.*

Hollywood has a strong role in shaping polygraph policy through segments that reinforce the myth of the "lie detector."

You are absolutely correct in that it is a rarity for polygraphy to be portrayed truthfully in film and television.

Even non-fiction news segments tend to reinforce the deception behind the "control" questions (improperly identifying irrelevant questions).

Although it did not get things straight with regard to question identification, the Fox crime drama Lie to me deviated from the norm in an episode that pointed out the primary shortcoming of polygraphy.

*— This message thread has, in fact, been moved to the Polygraph Policy forum.

[T.M. Cullen]

In a previous scene, a friend had persuaded Adama to retire and undergo a pre-employment polygraph to transition from being an officer of the Colonial fleet into a civilian job.  Later, we see him in the "hot seat" with the electrodes and breathing monitors attached, being interrogated by a polygrapher.  But upon being asked "are you a Cylon," he becomes disgusted with having his integrity questioned after his decades of loyal military service, and so he pulls off the probes and ends the exam.  Way to go Admiral!

Sound like what happened to me (including ripping off the straps).  Except I wasn't anywhere near an admiral!

TC

[George W. Maschke]

The polygraph scene from the Battlestar Galactica series finale, along with commentary, may be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yimXw1QH2o