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    SYSK Selects: Is there such a thing as a truth serum?

    enOctober 14, 2017

    Podcast Summary

    • Truth Serums and Card BenefitsTruth serums don't guarantee truth; they potentially relax interviewees to speak more freely, while the Capital One Venture X Card offers 2X miles on every purchase and premium travel benefits.

      The Capital One Venture X Card offers cardholders unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and premium travel benefits, while Kroger brand products promise customers proven quality at affordable prices. However, the topic of truth serums was also discussed, revealing that the term is misleading as these substances do not actually guarantee the truth. Instead, they are often used in interrogations as a means to potentially relax interviewees and encourage them to speak more freely. The James Holmes case, where Holmes is being tested under Narco analysis, recently brought this topic to the forefront. It's important to note that these substances are not serums and LSD is not a truth serum. The history of truth serums is long and complex, and their effectiveness in revealing the truth is still debated.

    • The history of truth serumsTruth serums like scopolamine and sodium pentothal have been used since the 1920s to extract information, revealing unconscious thoughts and neuroses, but their effectiveness and ethical concerns remain debated.

      Truth serums, such as those used in narco analysis and interrogation, have been used throughout history to extract information from individuals. The drugs, which include scopolamine and sodium pentothal, can lead to a person revealing unconscious thoughts and neuroses, making them most effective in uncovering psychological truths. The first recorded use of truth serums was by Dr. Bobby House in the 1920s when he noticed that women under the influence of chloroform, morphine, and scopolamine were candid during childbirth. Despite initial resistance, Dr. House later embraced the use of truth serums for criminal investigations. However, it's important to note that the effectiveness and accuracy of truth serums have been a subject of debate, and their use is not without ethical concerns.

    • The complexities of using truth serums in criminal investigationsDespite potential benefits, the use of truth serums in criminal investigations is limited due to unpleasant side effects and ethical concerns.

      The use of truth serums like scopalamine in criminal investigations is not as straightforward as it may seem. The inventor of the polygraph, William Moulton Marston, discovered the effectiveness of scopalamine not through confessions from guilty individuals, but from innocent men who maintained their innocence even under its influence. However, the use of scopalamine in police interrogations has been limited due to its unpleasant psychological and physiological effects, such as amnesia, delusions, hallucinations, dry socket, headaches, and a rapid heartbeat. Despite these challenges, some believe that Colombian drug gangs still use scopalamine to incapacitate their victims and steal their money. Ultimately, the use of truth serums in criminal investigations remains a complex issue with significant limitations and potential risks.

    • Historical use of drugs like Scopolamine and Barbiturates as truth serumsDrugs such as Scopolamine and Barbiturates have been used historically as truth serums due to their ability to loosen up individuals and potentially extract information, but their use is controversial due to concerns about consent and reliability.

      Certain drugs, such as Scopolamine and Barbiturates, have been historically used as truth serums due to their ability to loosen up individuals and potentially extract information. Scopolamine, also known as "Devil's Breath," was discovered accidentally when a catatonic patient spoke after being injected with it. Barbiturates, like Amobarbital, Thiopental, and Cecobarbital, were found to potentially detach the cerebrum, leading to unfiltered speech. However, the use of these drugs in investigations is not without controversy. Courts are hesitant to admit confessions obtained through drug-induced states due to concerns about consent and reliability. Despite this, some experts believe these drugs can be effective in getting people to talk. The first studies on the use of truth serums were conducted on suspected malingers in the military. However, the validity and ethics of using these drugs for truth-seeking purposes remain debated.

    • Truth serums in court: Limited use due to ethical concernsTruth serums, like sodium amytal, have limited use in court due to ethical concerns and potential manipulation, despite their ability to extract information. Interviews under the influence of these drugs could be used as supplementary evidence for professionals, but their validity is uncertain due to ethical dilemmas.

      While truth serums like sodium amytal have been used in interviews to extract information, their use in court as evidence of confessions is limited due to ethical concerns and potential manipulation. A study conducted by George Bimmerell at Fort Bragg found that interviewees, even those who were coerced into taking the drug, still confessed to being malingerers despite a hostile interviewer attitude. However, these interviews could be used as supplementary evidence for psychologists and psychiatrists to form their opinions. The use of truth serums in manipulative ways, such as lying to interviewees about their confessions, raises ethical concerns and adds uncertainty to the validity of the information obtained. Only one known case exists where a confession under the influence of a drug was admitted in court, but the judge did not allow the use of the term "truth serum" in the trial.

    • Exploring Kid-Friendly Digital Platforms and Efficient Hiring SolutionsZigazoo offers a kid-safe social media platform, while LinkedIn Jobs helps small businesses find qualified candidates quickly and for free.

      There are safe and fun options for kids in the digital world, such as the social media platform Zigazoo. Zigazoo offers a kid-friendly environment with moderated content, dance challenges, and no comments or messaging. It's also KidSafe Kappa certified, ensuring privacy protections for children's online data. For small business owners, LinkedIn Jobs offers a solution to finding the right professionals for their team quickly and for free. With a vast network of over one billion professionals, LinkedIn is the best place to hire, and 86% of small businesses get a qualified candidate within 24 hours. In the medical field, it's crucial to understand the different stages of being under the influence of barbiturates and to have a skilled physician present during interrogations to ensure safety and effectiveness. Zigazoo and LinkedIn Jobs are examples of how technology can cater to different needs effectively and efficiently.

    • Twilight Sleep Interviews: Drugged ConfessionsPrisoners underwent heavy drug-induced interviews, leaving them confused and susceptible to false confessions and misinformation. Interrogators exploited this state to extract inaccurate information, which could be used against prisoners, and prisoners sometimes experienced lasting hallucinations and false memories.

      During twilight sleep interviews, prisoners were subjected to repeated doses of heavy drugs, such as barbiturates, which left them in a state of unconsciousness and confusion. During these interviews, interrogators would ask questions and take down answers, sometimes exploiting the prisoners' delirious and confused state to extract false confessions. Prisoners reported experiencing delusions, fantasies, and memory loss during these interviews, making it difficult for them to distinguish truth from falsehood. Interrogators could use the information obtained during these interviews against the prisoners, even if it was inaccurate or fabricated. Additionally, some prisoners reported experiencing hallucinations and false memories even after the interviews were over, with their loved ones keeping recordings of their bizarre statements as souvenirs. Despite the intrusive nature of these recordings, prisoners had no control over their dissemination or deletion. Persistent and careful questioning was a key tactic used during these interviews to extract information, often leading to false confessions and misinformation.

    • Drugs in Interrogations: A Shortcut to Unreliable InformationDrugs in interrogations can lead to ambiguous and potentially unreliable information, and should be avoided as they don't guarantee accurate results.

      While the use of drugs like barbiturates and methamphetamines in interrogations may seem like a shortcut to extracting information, it can actually make it more difficult for even experienced interrogators to discern the truth. These drugs can lead to ambiguous and potentially unreliable information, and can cloud the truth rather than clarify it. The use of drugs in interrogations is not a reliable method for obtaining accurate information and should be avoided. Additionally, while stimulants like methamphetamines were once thought to be effective due to the limited time for formulating lies, it is still possible for individuals to lie even while under the influence of these substances. Ultimately, relying on traditional interrogation techniques and the skills of a trained interrogator is the most effective way to obtain reliable and accurate information.

    • A Safe Social Media Experience for Kids and Smart Money ManagementZigazoo offers a kid-friendly social media platform with no commenting or texting, while Betterment is an app that helps manage money with high yield cash accounts and diversified portfolios.

      Zigazoo is a safe and fun social media platform designed specifically for kids. Unlike other social media networks, Zigazoo offers a positive online experience with no commenting, text messaging, or AI. It's a place where kids can upload their content, enter contests, and engage with their friends in a human-moderated community. During spring break, consider downloading the Zigazoo app and letting your kids share their vacation experiences with their friends safely. Meanwhile, when it comes to managing your money, Betterment is an automated investing and savings app that makes your money work for you. It offers high yield cash accounts, diversified portfolios, and tax-efficient strategies, allowing your money to earn while you relax. Regarding confessions and self-possessed individuals, a psychiatrist named Jay McDonald believes that those with strong minds and wills might not confess even under the influence of drugs. The likelihood of confessing depends on the individual's personality and the situation. In summary, Zigazoo provides a safe and enjoyable social media experience for kids, Betterment helps your money hustle, and the likelihood of confession depends on the individual's personality.

    • Effective use of truth serums in interrogationsThe CIA suggests using truth serums for extracting info from foreign subjects, but ethical concerns limit their use in the West. Training is recommended for agents involved in such interrogations.

      The use of truth serums in interrogations, as discussed in a 1993 CIA white paper, can be an effective method for extracting information from individuals, particularly when dealing with foreign subjects. The paper suggests that using a trusted figure like a doctor to conduct the interrogation can increase rapport and yield more accurate results. However, the use of truth serums is not common practice in the West due to ethical concerns. The paper also recommends that CIA agents be trained on how to handle such interrogations, either by undergoing the experience themselves or observing others. Despite the potential benefits, the use of truth serums remains a controversial topic and raises ethical questions.

    • Agents given LSD as a countermeasure to truth serumsDuring a discussion about truth serums, it was suggested that agents could be given LSD as a countermeasure to make their responses bizarre and unreliable.

      During an intriguing discussion about truth serums and their unreliability, it was mentioned that agents could potentially be given LSD as a countermeasure when they're about to be dosed with truth serums. This would result in their responses becoming bizarre and unreliable. The speakers also touched upon the upcoming James Holmes trial and recommended checking out resources like Howstuffworks.com and a CIA white paper for more information on truth serums. Additionally, they shared a shout-out to a horror writer named Melissa Menini and her short story "The Hanger," which is included in an anthology called "Mistresses of the Macabre." The speakers also received a listener mail from Aaron, who shared a heartwarming story about his grandpa Ron Brown, who worked for Disney in the late 60s to the late 70s and had fascinating experiences with animals and celebrities. Ron Brown was known for his ability to train bears and had a unique menagerie of pets at home, including a squirrel skunk and multiple pigs. He was the lead in two Disney movies, "Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar," and "Lefty, the Dingling Lynx," and had interesting stories about working with John Wayne and meeting Walt Disney. The speakers expressed their appreciation for the listener's story and wished to share it with their audience.

    • Sharing personal stories and experiences can bring people togetherPodcasts like 'Stuff You Should Know' encourage listeners to share stories, creating a sense of community. Kids can safely use social media platforms like Zigazoo to share content, and Discover credit cards offer features for peace of mind and value

      Sharing stories about fascinating relatives or cool experiences, no matter how seemingly unrelated, can bring people together. The podcast "Stuff You Should Know" encourages listeners to share their own stories, whether they relate to the topic at hand or not. For instance, a listener shared a photo of their grandpa with John Wayne, which was later confirmed to be true. This not only adds a personal touch to the podcast but also creates a sense of community. Moreover, the discussion touched upon the topic of social media platforms for kids, specifically Zigazoo. Zigazoo is a social media platform designed for kids where they can make fun videos and participate in dance challenges. The platform ensures that all content is moderated by real people before being posted to the feed, and it comes with built-in privacy protections for online data. Lastly, the podcast highlighted Discover's credit card offerings, which aim to make everyone feel special. With a Discover card, cardholders have access to 24-7 live customer service and $0 fraud liability. These features provide peace of mind and a sense of value, regardless of one's background or financial situation.

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