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by roenxi 2129 days ago
I'm not sure how stupid a spy would have to be for "are you a spy? Be honest!" questions to work. But if I were running an organisation I suppose I'd have people ask anyway because it'll catch some idiot sooner or later.

Polygraphs as a power play - well, I'm sure it happens but that probably isn't the reason it is in the room. Maybe the polygraph is a ruse to make people think FBI questioners are stupider than they really are? I can see value in having a distraction from the actual questions.

1 comments

> I'm not sure how stupid a spy would have to be for "are you a spy? Be honest!" questions to work. But if I were running an organisation I suppose I'd have people ask anyway because it'll catch some idiot sooner or later.

Those are questions on the SF-86. Ditto for a lot of customs & immigration paperwork. "Idiot detector" questions.

But if you don't have them on there then they can claim "but you never asked".

Yep, it's also another line item when charges are brought. Kind of similar to how states like Tennessee that don't have legalized marijuana still have a tax stamp process. I doubt anyone ever applied for one, but if you get caught with some pot, boom pot and failure to present tax stamp. Two for one.