If you apply for work with the Halifax Regional Municipality, you are required to take a polygraph as part of the application process. Questions include have you ever engaged in bestiality and how much do you drink! Waaaay too much information.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2008/11/10/halifax-polygraph....
Shouldn't people who register on Rabble be asked those same questions?
Seriously, asking someone if they have had sex with an animal is sick and perverted
I take it you have to answer yes to get the job in Halifax... ;) jk
This questionnaire sounds like it came from the mind of some religious wing nut on the loose within the HRM bureaucracy, who is bent on preventing the unwashed heathens from entering the public service.
Is that really a yes or no kinda question? I would have said "Well, a dog humped my leg once, does that count?" or "I'm not sure.... the noises my cat makes when I brush her make me suspect she may be having an orgasm, does it still count if no penetration happens?"
This is obviously an HR department out of control. Someone should drag them before a labour tribunal or the like...
.... the noises my cat makes when I brush her make me suspect she may be having an orgasm, does it still count if no penetration happens?"...
It might, they might see it as feline molestation.
It might, they might see it as feline molestation.
Is that anything like kitty porn?
The only sex with animal was having sex with a bunnie from escorts London. Call me a pervert but I won't answer your calls.
Well, there have been a few boyfriends in the past who were kinda vigorous in bed. Does this count?
Of course I've had sex with animals. All humans are animals. Have you been having sex with vegetables or minerals?
Vegetables - you mean like long thin slick cucumbers?
You really do not want to go there, do you?
"Of course I've had sex with animals. All humans are animals." Cute. But the actual question was about bestiality, which is more specific.
Is it inappropriate for a public employer hiring, among others, police officers, to ask about candidate's former criminal activities and history of depression-related extreme acts? I don't think so.
Quote from the CBC story:
The 144 questions include:
Is it inappropriate for a public employer hiring, among others, police officers, to ask about candidate's former criminal activities and history of depression-related extreme acts? I don't think so.
So I'm guessing you have no sympathy for the woman who told the Chronicle Herald she was "humiliated by questions during a recent polygraph test, including one asking whether she had sex with animals.
"The woman, who has asked not to be identified, was applying for a position with the municipality's information technology division.
"She said she did not get the job."
I do have sympathy for her, but I also understand the necessity for security checks when hiring public servants in sensitive positions.
ETA: I don't know if this is a factor, but polygraph tests use "benchmark" extreme questions to gauge responses to other more relevant questions. Indeed, maybe it's the use of any polygraph test that people should be questioning in this instance.
So, would milking a cow count as reaching second base?
I do have sympathy for her, but I also understand the necessity for security checks when hiring public servants in sensitive positions.
Sensitive positions like information technologists who might have to work with animals?
How about if they ask whether you have ever had gay sex? Is that a legitimate "security check" issue?
If you're so concerned about "security checks" for public servants, why wouldn't you demand a real security check instead of the phony pseudoscience of the polygraph?
Actually M. Spector,
Information Technology professionals tend to have the most unrestricted access to systems and information in a workplace. I worked for a company in a Systems Admin / Information Technology role, and I had access to the building, as well as access to all the servers and databases, quite a bit of data. It also meant that I had tighter checks my access and privileges, however there was nothing stopping me from grabbing information and running. Except well my own value system and so on so forth.
The reason for a polygraph, I can see actually. Same with any sort of credit, criminal history check. Personally, I could care less if people had sex with animals on the weekend, or with other men/women (like we were scared of back in the 60s) The problem is, that any sort of behavior that isn't totally above board or acceptable opens up a person to blackmail, just like how it is assumed people with poor credit histories are more likely to be bribed. For example, lets play the game here for a moment and follow the train of thought and processes.
Person X has financial trouble.
Person X has access to sensitive or restricted information.
Person X is approached by Person Y.
Person Y works for a rival company / foreign government / diabolical crime organization / etc
Person Y bribes Person X. Or Alternatively Blackmails Person X. Person X is more likely to accept as he has somthing to hide or he needs money.
There more than likely was a real security check, especially if it was a government system. For protected A/B/C information a standard Enhanced Reliability Check is performed (Criminal History, Background Check, Residence Check) and for higher levels it goes deeper and deeper.
That being said, somthing tells me the polygraph and any of those checks should be done after an offer of enployment in order to be fair and equitable.
I'll be putting more into this when I get home from work / Later on tonight, sorry for the half ramble.
I'm sure IT professionals have to be highly trustworthy.
But the point of this thread is that asking about their sex habits or criminal activity as part of a job interviewing process is improper. So is using a polygraph, which is pseudoscience. Maybe the employer should hire a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrenology][u]phrenologist[/u][/url] to check out the applicants while they're at it?
As for blackmail, there is no way of preventing that. Even people who have led the lives of saints can be extorted to do illegal things just by threats to the safety of their families or loved ones.
- Have you ever has sex with someone against their will or without their consent?
- Have you ever engaged in bestiality?
- Have you done or said anything to discriminate?
- Have you ever tried to take your life?
These seem like fairly important things to ask a potential employee. The sex with Animals one is a little weird but depending on the job (school teacher, coach, councler) it may be a pretty good indicator of unhealthy sexual practice's.
Being gay isn't a seucrity issuse, probably most in part due to it not being illegal.
Here's some statistics about the [porn spam link removed] in 1 month, this August. You won't be amazed I'm sure, but still, the numbers are outrageous! Are men really addicted? Can't they get enough? Speak guys :) I really wanna hear you opinion, and how many times do you watch porn per ..hmm lemme say week.
Begone, spammer.
I think this says something about the folks at Halifax. Any mind that could think to ask a potential interviwee that sort of question must be seriously warped. Although saying that, on a visit to [spam link removed] recently there was a story in the paper about a guy who wanted to marry his Camel! Aparently he could not afford a wife and he would get more use out of the Camel.
Another freakin' spammer. And a racist one too!
Actually, it might be a good strategy to humour these types. Keeps them from investing time and energy at a place where they'd stand a chance at improving their custom.
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