3 ms·

and polygraph Are they still serious about doing the polygraph dance? Even after all these years with questionable results and even the Supreme Court rejecting

• briandear 14y ago
  The polygraph isn't about lie detection. If you can't beat an NSA poly, they wouldn't want you. The poly isn't about finding 'truth' inasmuch as it's about your abilities to pass it. I can't speak to the NSA specifically, but in other agencies, the poly is a screening tool. Even if you're lying but can beat the poly, then you have proven that you can maintain while under extreme pressure. Intel agency polys are seriously stressful. Often 3 days long, sometimes administered in a generic northern Virginia chain hotel room with constant badgering. The goal is to maintain physiological control under mental duress. Polys are worthless as lie detectors, but they are a good test of mental toughness (or sociopathic skills.) the easy part is just to tell the truth. Unless there's something in your immediate past that's a disqualifier, usually within the previous 12 months, then there's nothing to fear. If you're easily rattled, even if telling the truth, the poly weeds that out.
  • rdtsc 14y ago
    The polygraph to me is about the ability to lie without being detected. Psychopaths pass them with flying colors. You tout that as a "good thing" -- you've proven you can tell lies, come join our team. What kind of people do you end up with in the end then? -- yes people who are tough, but also psychopaths, people who can lie well and can then easily turn on you and sell that $150M spying project to someone else for $50k.
    • TruthElixirX 14y ago
      Polygraphs are passable by non-psychopaths. Its a broken test that is useless and not scientifically verified.
  • Symmetry 14y ago
    That's actually not true, as far as I know. If they can't get an actual emotional reaction out of you there's no way you're passing.
  • pdubs 14y ago
    I suppose someone with a bullshit threshold high enough to take a polygraph would do better in a government agency than someone who wouldn't.
    • briandear 14y ago
      It's more about your ability to withstand interrogation if you're captured.
  • nohat 14y ago
    I seriously doubt that the nsa is worried about hiring mathematicians with psychological control under mental duress. That's more like cia agent training.
• ihsw 14y ago
  As mentioned the polygraph bluntly measures lying-ability (to a lesser degree) and measures mental stress-management, which in this line of work is very mandatory.
  • lusr 14y ago
    Polygraphs measure your ability to clench your rectum (www.youtube.com/watch?v=bScv6kfxRyE).