Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Polygraph E-Book at Issue in Federal Civil Suit

Posted by timothy on from the we-have-always-been-at-war-with-eurasia dept.

George Maschke writes "The question of whether a patient in the state of Iowa's Civil Commitment Unit for Sexual Offenders (CCUSO) may read AntiPolygraph.org's free e-book, The Lie Behind the Lie Detector, was at issue in a recently-decided federal civil suit (Willis v. Smith, et al.). The CCUSO relies heavily on polygraphs in its treatment program. The e-book in question provides relevant information that the directors of the CCUSO don't want patients to know. See, The Lie Behind the Lie Detector at Issue in Federal Civil Suit."

3 of 36 comments (clear)

  1. *My* Rights Online? by general_re · · Score: 2, Funny
    Well, I guess I'd better follow this, in case I'm ever incarcerated. For sex offenses. In Iowa.

    I would have thought the audience for this was probably pretty narrow, but then I guess I don't really know that much about /.'ers after all.

    --
    ABSURDITY, n.: A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one's own opinion.
  2. i can see it now... by St.+Arbirix · · Score: 4, Funny

    Polygraph administrator: Have you read "The Lie Behind the Lie Detector"?

    Subject: No.

    Polygraph administrator: Crap.

    --
    Direct away from face when opening.
  3. Easy way to mess with the "Man" by sleepingsquirrel · · Score: 4, Funny
    I always thought it would be fun to get a list of employees at the CIA, NSA, FBI, etc. and send a hardcopy of "The Lie Behind the Lie Detector" to a large number of them. Then their next annual polygraph test might be fun...
    • Examiner: So Johnson, do you have anything you'd like to tell us before we begin?
    • Employee: Well, er, I got this package in the mail...
    • Examiner: And? (starts to take notes, fiddles with knobs on polygraph)
    • Employee: ...and it contained a copy of this book you see...
    • Examiner: (eyebrows raise) Go on.
    • Employee: Well, it had the title like "The lie behind the lie detector" or something.
    • Examiner: (shit! Fourth one today!) Did you read it?
    • Employee: Uh, no.
    • Examiner: But how can we believe you now , since if you did read it you would know how to beat the machine? You could simply lie to us and tell us you didn't read the book.
    • Employee: I guess you'll just have to believe me.
    • Examiner: But if we believed you in the first place, we wouldn't have had to test you with the polygraph, now would we?
    • Employee: Er, um...
    • Examiner: So logically, we have to fire you.
    • Employee: What?!? How can you fire me for simply getting a book in the mail from some nut on the internet?
    • Examiner: I feel for you Johnson, but them's the breaks. My hands are tied. Better luck next time.