I don’t want to bore you with the details, but I may be call upon to take a Polygraph test soon. Anybody have any experience and/or tips on defeating one of these? I figure if I run a 10K and drink a bunch of redbull before walking in maybe the numbers will be off the charts. Seriously, I need help.

Harry

Harry, a polygraph is very easy to beat. You just need to understand how they work. Learn to control your breathing and blood pressure. And learn about control questions that the examiner will ask, and how to react to them.

Try this site for some free info. http://antipolygraph.org/pubs.shtml

But I highly reccomend this guide, costs about $30. www.polygraph.com

I've taken 2 polygraphs and passed no problem. And I was lieing my ass off.

There are a variety of poly tests that may be given if you need a Fed clearance. The basic is no big deal and doesn't get too in depth. The lifestyle poly can be a pain in the ass, takes a while and some of the questions are fucked up. However, just remember, the big things they are looking for is financial insecurity, drug use and mental problems. At this point in time, no one gives two shits if you're gay, if you like to fuck sheep, whatever. As long as you've never declared bankruptcy or are in debt up to your eyeballs, freebase heroin or are a nutball, you should be fine and just answer the questions truthfully. If they ask about drug use, feel free to describe your daily pot smoking during college, just make sure it's in the past. If they ask about women, say you bang prostitutes on a regular basis but always outside the country. Feel free to add in suggestions that you wish it were legal here so you wouldn't have to travel and deal with the lines at the border or at the airports, and if you get the job is there any chance of a posting in a nice warm mongering spot. My point is, the main thing they look at is, can you be blackmailed and/or bribed easily? Whoreing isn't a big deal to them, I used to go mongering with investigators from DIS all the time in Europe.

Who was the guy who said "I'm not sure if marijuana should be legalized, but I with it would cost less?"

Good to know.

Thanks,
Harry

Hmmm -

So you cannot be blackmailed if you monger? Seems to me that most of use a "handle" to keep our identities away from those who can screw with our personal lives and reputations.

If you need a clearance to work for the govt, or a govt employed contractor...they want to make sure that you do not lead the type of lifestyle where you are at risk of being put into a position where you may "sell-out" and cause unspecified damage to your company or govt.

If you are traveling overseas to fuck prostitutes and you hold a position of any authority within a company or the government...you probably don't want people to know what you are up to...atleast, I would think you wouldn't want that.

Yes, they will probably ask questions about your financial solvency...like are you broke and will you sell priviledged government information to get out from under debt?

How much do you drink, or do you take illegal drugs? Why?...because drunks may make bad decisions and drug users may also make bad decisions, but, drug users could be blackmailed if someone somehow got proof, then gave you a choice of possibly going to jail...or pay a bunch of money...which, if you do not have...then you might be tempted to sell govt information.

My recommendation is study the info on the links that Pilotboy gave you and try to paint a picture of yourself as a straight, tea-totaling, bible thumping, all American conformist who wakes up at 6 or 7am and goes to bed by 9 or 10pm everyday. Don't even hint that you do anything controversial. Make yourself seem very boring and ordinary.

Just my opinion.

AlecJamer

There is more intelligent banter on this thread than daytime CNN and Fox News combined. LOL. Good stuff...

Years and years ago, I seem to remember somebody saying something somewhere about putting a thumbtack between your toes and stepping on it while answering truthful questions, and not stepping on it while lying??? PLEASE DO NOT WRITE THIS IN STONE.

I don't know how that obscure bit of trivia is still bouncing around my brain. All I know is, a liar better have a great memory...

Yeah, visited the links provided by Pliotboy. Very helpful. Number one rule; admit to NOTHING. Much more damaging to make a confession than be suspected of lieing on a polygraph.

Harry

Polygraphs are 90% bullshit. It is a tool to help the interviewer tell if he thinks you are telling the truth or not.

Often the interviewer will make a judgement based on everything involved - not just the lines on paper.

However, he may be VERY skilled at making that kind of a judgement call. Along a similar line, we have sample collectors who will tell me "that person uses XXXX drug." They are almost ALWAYS right!! (Of course, they collect samples from 100's of people a week.)