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Personal Statement of a CIA Analyst

antipolygraph.org

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Re: Personal Statement of a CIA Analyst

#11

Post by cf498 »

Theodores wrote: post #7
csense wrote: post #3

If they know polygraph doesn't work, why do they still do it?

Because belief is not rational. The people that passed the polygraph tests and administer them to others may acknowledge the flaws but they still 'know' that a lie detector is the best they have got. They also know that some people will just confess at the thought of being wired up to such a machine, to give evidence that, unlike the lie detector, is admissible in court. The most interesting story is how the authorit…

He was sentenced to 2 years btw

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/23/douglas-wil...

Still absolutely mindbogglingly. The whole situation reminds me to much on the emperors new clothes.

Re: Personal Statement of a CIA Analyst

#12

Post by kungtotte »

polythrowaway wrote: post #10

I was a team leader at a USSOCOM unit and had to take a poly to be read into a couple of three-letter agency programs. In the middle of the test, the smug 23 year old fresh college grad administering the thing tells me I'm being deceptive and obviously support jihadi terrorism. This as I'm getting ready to leave on my 12th deployment. I've never wanted to so violently break someone's face as right then in that moment…

I'm picturing that scene from The Rock where Ed Harris chews out that young staffer who questions him.

Re: Personal Statement of a CIA Analyst

#13

Post by ap_org »

Theodores wrote: post #7
csense wrote: post #3

If they know polygraph doesn't work, why do they still do it?

Because belief is not rational. The people that passed the polygraph tests and administer them to others may acknowledge the flaws but they still 'know' that a lie detector is the best they have got. They also know that some people will just confess at the thought of being wired up to such a machine, to give evidence that, unlike the lie detector, is admissible in court. The most interesting story is how the authorit…

This is AntiPolygraph.org co-founder George Maschke. I didn't offer services to those needing to pass lie detector test. AntiPolygraph.org only provides information, all of it free, in the public interest. But it appears that I, too, was targeted for entrapment:

https://antipolygraph.org/blog/2013/11/03/an-attempted-entra...

Re: Personal Statement of a CIA Analyst

#14

Post by poly2throwaway »

polythrowaway wrote: post #10

I was a team leader at a USSOCOM unit and had to take a poly to be read into a couple of three-letter agency programs. In the middle of the test, the smug 23 year old fresh college grad administering the thing tells me I'm being deceptive and obviously support jihadi terrorism. This as I'm getting ready to leave on my 12th deployment. I've never wanted to so violently break someone's face as right then in that moment…

When administering the test some examiners will tell the subject they failed just to see the reaction or if they will admit to something. All though, it would be a poor choice to do this to someone who had taken multiple screening polys.

Re: Personal Statement of a CIA Analyst

#16

Post by ap_org »

viraptor wrote: post #15

> That rules out entire professions: ... and Pharmacy. Pharmacy in the is requires a polygraph? I didn't expect that. It's not required in other Commonwealth countries as far as I know.

In the United States, the Employee Polygraph Protection act includes blanket exemptions for federal, state, and local governmental agencies, as well as exemptions for security services (such as guards who transport cash) and for those who handle or transport drugs.

Re: Personal Statement of a CIA Analyst

#17

Post by crististm »

polythrowaway wrote: post #10

I was a team leader at a USSOCOM unit and had to take a poly to be read into a couple of three-letter agency programs. In the middle of the test, the smug 23 year old fresh college grad administering the thing tells me I'm being deceptive and obviously support jihadi terrorism. This as I'm getting ready to leave on my 12th deployment. I've never wanted to so violently break someone's face as right then in that moment…

I hate it when people do this. What's the better comeback/reaction to this frame? (apparently, my verbalized fuck-off, tamed or not, is not the best approach)

Re: Personal Statement of a CIA Analyst

#18

Post by everdrive »

"I was surprised. It's an important book about her field, I would have thought all polygraphers knew of it."

Unsurprisingly, these guys tend to have a lot of turn-around, and are not necessarily spending time researching their craft.

Re: Personal Statement of a CIA Analyst

#19

Post by kodablah »

Maybe it is how it's written, but this person's entire career reads like a rat navigating through a maze built by superiors. Even though they say the job is among the happiest times of their life, it helps put into perspective the follower mentality some have, especially in the public sector. I'd have given the middle finger right away knowing I can find enjoyable work sans harassment. To put it crudely, I can't even sympathize with someone so willing to grab their ankles.

Instead of telling your kids to avoid working at places with a polygraph, how about instilling some confidence and make it clear to them that if they are/become really good at what they do, they have the leverage to not put up with these things (at least in non-depressed employment markets).

Re: Personal Statement of a CIA Analyst

#20

Post by phyller »

ilaksh wrote: post #2

I had a contract doing a WebGL 3D space sim and graphing thing for a guy who was then going to recruit me to apply the technology for military applications. They wanted a browser-based simulator. But he told me that the application process in order to get clearance would involve a nasty investigation questioning everyone who knew me about all kinds of personal things. It seemed like a fun project that would pay decen…

> And I consider war to be unethical profiteering

Do you mean all war? Or something more limited, like conflicts involving the US over the past 20 years. Or, only for the initiators of conflict. I find that line of thinking hard to justify after the most basic application to actual historical events.

Like when Finland was defending itself against Russia, was Finland attempting unethical profiteering? What should they have done instead?

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