if you, as a hobbyist, were offered a promotion/position  which required regular gov't security clearance/vetting, what would you do?

Take the job and cease hobbying?

Turn down the job and continue to hobby?

Take the job AND continue to hobby, discreetly.  But discretion should be part of the equation in all circumstances.

I can't imagine a job in my field that would bring me enough additional benefit ($) to warrant quitting the hobby.

But, I certainly do have my price. Don't we all?

take the job & keep hobbying..there is no substitute for discretion.

Top security screeners will really look into your background. They will talk to your neighbors, friends, co-workers and relatives. Most will give you a lie detector test asking you the normal questions about drug use, etc. They ask about stealing, even Satellite and cable TV service. They will talk to creditors, etc. They are paid to check you out and believe me they will.
I would first talk to someone else that has passed the security check to find out the questions asked before you make your decision. Security checks today are a lot tougher than when I went through it years ago. The $$ that comes with it if you pass usually makes it bearable in the long run.

Not on your life, or even on mine.

I must be one of those dinosaurs that believes that "Big Brother" does not have the right to intrude into my personal affairs. I refuse drug screening(I haven't used drugs in years), I vehemently hate seat belt laws, drug laws, and any other law that purports to protect me from myself, under the assumption that I am too stupid to take care of myself.

In short my answer is "Shove the job". In all fairness, I own my own company and I have the luxury of being to tell those that would impose their morals onto me to kindly "go fuck themselves"

There is no amount of money in the world to get me to adhere to someone else's moral standards.

So can you keeep it discrete?  If they're gonna do a background check, will they find your recent activity anyway?
skb

This is an excellent suggestion. A lot depends on the level of clearance/background check you are being considered for. Some are as simple as a credit check and criminal background check. Others involve interviews with references you provide as well as neighbors and co-workers. The highest ones may require a "lifestyle" polygraph. That's a lot of the "Have you ever..." type questions. If it's the latter you're probably going to have problems. Most of the lower level ones can be managed with proper discretion. Just don't confuse your career and hobby reference lists!

-- Modified on 5/8/2008 6:34:54 PM

but in my case, I also don't care. I don't go out of my way to hide my hobbying. Most people I know are aware of it. I exercise discretion on behalf of others not for myself. I don't really care what people think about my hobbying, but I can't make those types of decisions for others, which is the only reason I do exercise discretion.

I used to keep quiet on many issues as to not offend others. I guess I'm getting old, because now I find the people for all this time I was trying not to offend actually offend ME a great deal.

I don't go out of my way to confront people whose morals are different than mine. I mean it's not like I sit out in front of churches and ridicule the parishoners as they file into church. As long as they leave me alone, I will return the favor, but I no longer tolerate other's intolerance to my lifestyle and choices. I will not hesitate to give anyone an earful who tries to inflict their morality on me.

Sorry everybody, rant over.

I swore after a forced resignation from a “county” job twenty years ago I would never again subject myself to such a spiritual malaise as a “real job”.

When you really think about it there shouldn't be any problem with you taking the job and continuing to hobby. I used to work for the military and I know for a fact that officers I worked for hobbied and had no problem passing background checks. Hell, the best example is Spitzer. They didn't catch him until they were actively investigating him and even then they probably wouldn't have had he used independents. If he could get away with it for so long I'm sure you can too.

Since this was posted under an alias I'll respond in kind.

A security check will not detect your hobbying.  You don't get to a poly until CI or Lifestyle.  You'll pass the CI and you've already failed the Lifestyle.

If you are already hiding it, then you can be blackmailed about your hobbying.  If you are open about it then you can't be blackmailed over it nowan you...

Ronnie,
Naughtylady