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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: aldo_14 on May 27, 2004, 11:41:06 am

Title: Thicky
Post by: aldo_14 on May 27, 2004, 11:41:06 am
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3753065.stm
Title: Thicky
Post by: pyro-manic on May 27, 2004, 12:12:49 pm
:lol::lol:

What a tool. He's got a point, though - he should have been warned that his work was unacceptable...
Title: Thicky
Post by: aldo_14 on May 27, 2004, 12:13:56 pm
No he doesn't.  If the doss **** can't do his own work, he shouldn't be there.  Personally, I support the idea of letting him pay for 3 years, then yanking the carpet otu from udner his feet.

oh, and - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1899731.stm
Title: Thicky
Post by: an0n on May 27, 2004, 12:16:34 pm
Bah. He was cheating and now he's crying because they caught him when he thought he was in the clear.
Title: Thicky
Post by: Rictor on May 27, 2004, 12:19:05 pm
but University costs alot of money. There is no reason at all why it should go down the drain. Unless his parents are rich, this is going to set him back for a number of years. Sure, make him re-do the essay, or deduct some marks, or make him re-do the year, but 3 years is insane. You're going to tell me you've never used work that wasn't your own?
Title: Thicky
Post by: an0n on May 27, 2004, 12:19:44 pm
Quote
Originally posted by aldo_14
oh, and - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1899731.stm
They're engineers. The entire point of engineering is getting a task, designing a framework, then taking parts other people have made and turning them into a finished product.

I'd say their ethics are just fine.
Title: Thicky
Post by: an0n on May 27, 2004, 12:21:44 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
You're going to tell me you've never used work that wasn't your own?
I have never used work that wasn't my own.

And he knew the risks when he started cheating, yet he continued to do it. So the three years are forfeit.
Title: Thicky
Post by: JarC on May 27, 2004, 12:27:57 pm
those lazy, doublecrossing, lyin sob's don't even deserve a 2nd chance...and then having the bloody nerve to turn around and sue the uni? not even out of school and already corrupted to the bone...
Title: Thicky
Post by: an0n on May 27, 2004, 12:29:50 pm
They should make him write a 100,000 word essay on the morality of cheating.....then still drop him.
Title: Thicky
Post by: JarC on May 27, 2004, 12:35:01 pm
better yet, they should fine any cheater with the same amount as they've wasted in those 3yrs, occupying a place that otherwise could have been taken by someone with a sense of ethics
Title: Thicky
Post by: Rictor on May 27, 2004, 12:35:38 pm
guys, its not murder. its cheating on a school essay/exam. I've done it a few times, and lo and behold, God hasn't smotten (or is that smitten?) me yet.

I'de wager a guess that the majority of students plagarise at some point in their school career. No big deal. But this is going to end up costing him tens of thousands of pounds, which needless to say is a ton of money.
Title: Thicky
Post by: JarC on May 27, 2004, 12:38:42 pm
no big deal? and folks wonder why society goes down the drain...sheesh...
Title: Thicky
Post by: aldo_14 on May 27, 2004, 12:40:11 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
but University costs alot of money. There is no reason at all why it should go down the drain. Unless his parents are rich, this is going to set him back for a number of years. Sure, make him re-do the essay, or deduct some marks, or make him re-do the year, but 3 years is insane. You're going to tell me you've never used work that wasn't your own?


Yes - absolutely.  I have never copied work which is not my own.  I have used some theory stuff (with appropriate notation in a bibliography), and have occasioanlly been given coursework that involves fixing a sample program - but i have never taken someone elses thinking and submitted it as my own.

It's simple - you got to university to learn.  If you can't be bothered putting in the work, then you shouldn't be there.  I've worked 14+ hour days to get my degree, I don't have any sympathy for someone who 'steals' there way towards it.    

The only mistake the uni made was not finding the palguarism and chucking him out at the start.  But anyone with half a brain knows that you can't just copy work for any sort of qualificational course - he knew he was risking expulsion, and he got caught.  If he was too thick to realise that he can't just cheat his way along, then he's too thick for the qualification.

Simple as that.  Chuck him out the course, and bar him from re-applying.
Title: Thicky
Post by: Rictor on May 27, 2004, 12:40:19 pm
no no, please explain this to me? why is this the worst thing that has ever happened to mankind, a catastrophe of epic proportions, the end of society as we know it etc etc? Why is this so terribly, inconcievably wrong?

Tell me you've never plagarised. Tell me.
Title: Thicky
Post by: an0n on May 27, 2004, 12:40:21 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
But this is going to end up costing him tens of thousands of pounds, which needless to say is a ton of money.
And so it should.
Title: Thicky
Post by: an0n on May 27, 2004, 12:43:45 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
Tell me you've never plagarised. Tell me.
I have never plagarised.
Title: Thicky
Post by: Rictor on May 27, 2004, 12:46:02 pm
the way I see it, school is a stupid, petty and ineffective system. This, of course, varies from school to school, course to course and at what level you are (elementary, highschool, university/college).

Lets take highschool as an example, since I am yet to attend college. The point, in most cases is not to learn. Nothing worth learning in any case. The point is to get through the system with as high marks as possible. The reason you are there (in most cases) is so you can get good grades, to get into a good university, to get a good job. So, the final objective is getting a good job. I could care less about Algebra and Physics, I am never going to need it. Why should I spend my time, my effort, my hard work, to learn something which will be useless to me in the future? Why, because the system says I should?
Title: Thicky
Post by: karajorma on May 27, 2004, 12:47:01 pm
I murdered someone. I didn't get caught so I murdered 200 more people. Now they say I should go on trial for all the murders but if they'd caught me after the first one I would have been able to get away with less prison time. Plus I spent thousend on axes, knives and guns. I should at least get that money back. I'm going to sue. :rolleyes:

What a ****ing dickhead. He was probably laughing to himself about this every f**king time he went out drinking while the rest of his year had to stay in and actually do some work.

The rules are clear. He deserved every single thing that happened to him.

Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
but University costs alot of money. There is no reason at all why it should go down the drain. Unless his parents are rich, this is going to set him back for a number of years.


He choose to waste his money. You're supposed to go to university to learn not cheat. If he decided to waste his time and money that's not the universities fault.

Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
I could care less about Algebra and Physics, I am never going to need it. Why should I spend my time, my effort, my hard work, to learn something which will be useless to me in the future? Why, because the system says I should?


The excuse of the ignorant. I don't need it so why should I learn it :rolleyes: Ever heard of knowledge for knowledges sake? Jesus Christ, if every human had been as lazy and ignorant we'd still be sitting in caves.
Title: Thicky
Post by: JarC on May 27, 2004, 12:47:16 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
Why is this so terribly, inconcievably wrong?
:doubt: the fact you even dare ask proves that it is no use explaining it to you...

it's just a matter of integrity...something you obviously haven't...
Title: Thicky
Post by: aldo_14 on May 27, 2004, 12:48:43 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
no no, please explain this to me? why is this the worst thing that has ever happened to mankind, a catastrophe of epic proportions, the end of society as we know it etc etc? Why is this so terribly, inconcievably wrong?

Tell me you've never plagarised. Tell me.


I have never plagarised.  EVER.  That's with big capiatla letters and a full stop.  Nor will I ever plagarise.  I do my own work, I earn my own qualifications.  

And at the end of it all, I actually understand what I'm doing, and I get a result that is an accurate representation of the blood, sweat and tears that i have poured into the work

There is no excuse.  If you can;t do the work, then try harder.  If you aren't willing to try harder, then just **** off, because you don;t deserve anything.

I've already spoken about how long, how hard I've worked at uni.  Should I really be put on the same level as someone who spends 15 minutes doing a cut & paste job?

If someone wants to cheat, and copy, and basically steal their way toewards a degree, then fine - they take the risk.  But don;t expect anything other than glee when they get caught out and kicked out.
Title: Thicky
Post by: Rictor on May 27, 2004, 12:56:49 pm
Here, I'll tell you something. If their royal highnesses accept me, I will probably be going to Sheridan College, pretty well known for design stuff. I just found out that its going to cost me $6600 per year, plus $1000-$3000 per year for extra materials. The course runs for 4 years, so the amount which I pay them will total roughly 35-40 thousand dollars.

Now, I will learn, I admit that. But will the knowledge I gain be worth 40,000? I could put a down-payment on a house for that money. I could start up a small drug operation. I could get myself a great car. I could travel the world for a year or so. And you know what I suspect? That I could learn design just as well if I were to sit at home for a year, browse design websites and have Photoshop open to experiment.

And what do I get, four greuling years and 40,000 later? The privilege to work my ass of for 35 grand a year, thinking up new and exciting ways to sell people overpriced **** they don't really want. And consider, this is the best case scenario. This is IF they accept me, IF I have the 40,000, and IF I manage to find work after college.

Lucky me, my cup runeth over!
Title: Thicky
Post by: an0n on May 27, 2004, 01:02:34 pm
So you want to pay them $40k for doing nothing for 4 years, then graduate with a diploma that proves you can cheat, then never get a chance of a real career because after 2 weeks at any job they'll realise you know ****-all and sack you?
Title: Thicky
Post by: aldo_14 on May 27, 2004, 01:03:29 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
Here, I'll tell you something. If their royal highnesses accept me, I will probably be going to Sheridan College, pretty well known for design stuff. I just found out that its going to cost me $6600 per year, plus $1000-$3000 per year for extra materials. The course runs for 4 years, so the amount which I pay them will total roughly 35-40 thousand dollars.

Now, I will learn, I admit that. But will the knowledge I gain be worth 40,000? I could put a down-payment on a house for that money. I could start up a small drug operation. I could get myself a great car. I could travel the world for a year or so. And you know what I suspect? That I could learn design just as well if I were to sit at home for a year, browse design websites and have Photoshop open to experiment.

And what do I get, four greuling years and 40,000 later? The privilege to work my ass of for 35 grand a year, thinking up new and exciting ways to sell people overpriced **** they don't really want. And consider, this is the best case scenario. This is IF they accept me, IF I have the 40,000, and IF I manage to find work after college.

Lucky me, my cup runeth over!


so why don't you just go and buy a 'life experience degree' of the internet, if that's how you feel?  Now, i know that (what I presume is) the US education system is stupid in its expenses, but thats no excuse for effectively stealing a qualification.

And even if you did somehow manage to cheat and copy your way to the end, you'd still end up getting found out when you went to your first job.  

Don't give me some ****e that overpriced tuition fees are a license to cheat.  Thats crap.  there's no excuse.  If you don;t value the education, don;t go.  If you think it's too expensive, go abroad to where its cheaper and quite possibly better.

It's up to you whether you think it;s better to spend xx grand on 4 years of cut and paste, or 4 years of actually learning what you're going to do for the rest of your life.
Title: Thicky
Post by: Rictor on May 27, 2004, 01:06:15 pm
lots of accusations flying my way. I'm not lazy at all. I work as hard as anyone else, IF I judge that where I will end up is where I want to be.

If you accuse me of being lazy and lcaking integrity, I accuse you of blindly following the road that has been provided. Living life on rails.

Go from Strop 1, elementary school, to Stop 2, highschool, to Stop 3, university, to Stop 4, work, to Stop 5, a family, to Stop 6, retirement, to Stop 7, death. And don't forget to buy as much useless crap as you can along the way, becasue your worth as a person is defined by the amount of junk you have.

See, I question, why the hell do they deserve my money? Will I get my moneys worth? WHo built this system, and who is to say that its a good as it can be. Who is to say that there isn't something better?

Integrity has nothing to do with school. What have they ever done to earn my integrity?

I don't doubt that you all work very hard in University, and I even believe you when you say you've never plagarised, but does someone want to explain to me why its fair that you work your ass off, while some kid with rich parents and connections can coast through life, without every lifting a finger, and still live b better than most of you ever will. I refuse to obey a system that allows that.

/rant

edit: this may have gone a bit OT.
Title: Thicky
Post by: an0n on May 27, 2004, 01:10:15 pm
Rictor, even by my standards of 'flexible integrity', your entire argument is so retarded on so many levels I don't even know where to start on the blatant stupidity.

So I'll focus on the most obvious point: You don't want to go through the system, but you want to go to college, university, get a job.....Basically, follow the system. You just don't want to work at Uni. And if that's so, why are you even going?
Title: Thicky
Post by: aldo_14 on May 27, 2004, 01:15:38 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
lots of accusations flying my way. I'm not lazy at all. I work as hard as anyone else, IF I judge that where I will end up is where I want to be.

If you accuse me of being lazy and lcaking integrity, I accuse you of blindly following the road that has been provided. Living life on rails.

Go from Strop 1, elementary school, to Stop 2, highschool, to Stop 3, university, to Stop 4, work, to Stop 5, a family, to Stop 6, retirement, to Stop 7, death. And don't forget to buy as much useless crap as you can along the way, becasue your worth as a person is defined by the amount of junk you have.

See, I question, why the hell do they deserve my money? Will I get my moneys worth? WHo built this system, and who is to say that its a good as it can be. Who is to say that there isn't something better?

Integrity has nothing to do with school. What have they ever done to earn my integrity?

I don't doubt that you all work very hard in University, and I even believe you when you say you've never plagarised, but does someone want to explain to me why its fair that you work your ass off, while some kid with rich parents and connections can coast through life, without every lifting a finger, and still live b better than most of you ever will. I refuse to obey a system that allows that.

/rant


If you think 'Living life on rails' amounts to actually deserving what i have, then I'm happy to.  I'm not concerned with rich kids or wealthy families, or any of that pish.

 I know people who have it easier, and those who have it much, much harder than me.  I know people who are much smarter, and those who are dumber.  I know people who can coast through the work, and those who work as much as I do.

At the end of the day, I don;t care about any of it.  I judge myself by who I am, not who other people are.  You can whine about 'the system' all you want, but 99% of use will only get out of life what we are willing to put in.

you want to try and coast your way to some degree (or whatever) that's worth - in terms of effort and what you've gained - about as much bog paper, then fine.  But I'd rather have something I can value, and I work(ed) my arse off because i know I'll have achieved something.

Incidentally, I find it strangely bizarre that you find it unusual that I have never plagarised.  In my experience, the people that have to plagarise get caught out and end up chucked out.  And in the most case, they lack the intelligence or effort to make it beyond the first year, anyways.
Title: Thicky
Post by: Rictor on May 27, 2004, 01:17:57 pm
because for the time being, I have no better plans. The second I can come up with something better to do, I'm ditching this. You could say I'm doing this by default. And even so, I'm tempted to say, screw it, its not worth the price, and go learn design on my own, better than they would ever teach me.

as for ethics, consider this:

you are captured by the mob, and interogatted. You're pretty sure that you can get away with lieing to them, and if you can, its going to save you time and money. Do you feel compeled to tell them the truth, because you're a nice person? No way, they jackholes and not worthy of your integrity. I've heard the "its not about them, its about you" arguement, and I don't agree. I won't lie to my mother, but I will lie to the Revenue Canada (tax collectors), because I don't respect them. If I can get away with it, sure. Similarly, I will lie to get out of military service, to get the government to apporve a loan etc etc.

edit: aldo, I was talking about plagarising and/or cheating in highschool. I imagine its a hell of a lot harder in University.
Title: Thicky
Post by: an0n on May 27, 2004, 01:26:28 pm
By your analogy, you'd be lying to the mob and still giving them all your time and money.

So you'd be no better off, but you'd have lied to the mob.
Title: Thicky
Post by: Rictor on May 27, 2004, 01:31:24 pm
I'm not saying that people should be able to coast through life without doing any work. not at all. But I'm arguing that the time of money (and to a lesser degree, effort) that goes into attaining a University degree is not usually, equal to the payoff at the end.

I'm not disputing the principal, I'm disputing the specifics of investment/return.

I also believe that education is a right, not a privilege. Instead of sinking $10 billion dollars (or whatever) each year into buying tanks and guns, why doesn't the government pay a percentage, or even all, of the costs of University tuition. Do you honestly believe that the UK is going to be attacked any time soon, and you'll be cursing yourself for getting rid of all the guns in favour of a vastly improved education system? I doubt it....

It sounds to me like most students are working their asses off at University. Now, do you believe that after you graduate, you will be able to find a job that pays well enough to have made that effort worth while? I for one dont want to give up 4 years of my life, probably among the best ones, so that I can live packcheck the paycheck, with bill collectors hounding me. Thanks, I can accomplish that feat without the help of University.
Title: Thicky
Post by: aldo_14 on May 27, 2004, 01:32:29 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
because for the time being, I have no better plans. The second I can come up with something better to do, I'm ditching this. You could say I'm doing this by default. And even so, I'm tempted to say, screw it, its not worth the price, and go learn design on my own, better than they would ever teach me.

as for ethics, consider this:

you are captured by the mob, and interogatted. You're pretty sure that you can get away with lieing to them, and if you can, its going to save you time and money. Do you feel compeled to tell them the truth, because you're a nice person? No way, they jackholes and not worthy of your integrity. I've heard the "its not about them, its about you" arguement, and I don't agree. I won't lie to my mother, but I will lie to the Revenue Canada (tax collectors), because I don't respect them. If I can get away with it, sure. Similarly, I will lie to get out of military service, to get the government to apporve a loan etc etc.


firstly, you are pulling examples out of your arse.  You are giving one where you are in some way avoiding harm - i.e. self (or financial) preservation.  

It's simple, and i'll put in a clear context.

- the purpose of university is to gain a valuable education.
- this includes a certification of that learning, by the form of academic qualification which is used by prospective employers to judge your ability and intellignce
- if you do not do the work, then you do not deserve this ceritifcation.  
 - In other words, if you copy rather than actually learn and understand what you're studying, then you have not learned anything and do not deserve a qualification
- if you somehow manage to cheat your way to a qualification, and get a job, then you are essentially stealing someone elses job (who is qualified)
- you are also defrauding your employer
- and also harming other people - both in terms of the lower class of work you will invariably put in, and also in the effect that will have on the reputation of proper graduates from your university
- you are also hruting yourself, as you will be asked to do work you are incapable of performing, based upon the fact you never studied it

And that's excluding the whole moral issue that you'd be basically pissing all over other peoples effort and work by stealing an education.

Plagarism & cheating is stealing.  Simple as that.

I've made it evident, i think, that I regard people who cheat/lie/copy their way through education and, by extension,  life as being essentially worthless human beings.

If you want to keep on making excuses, go ahead.  But the only person who'll fall for them is you - not anyone else on this board, and sure as hell not the first person to catch you out and kick you out.  There's no moral or ethical excuse, and no financial one either.  The only people whop think there are / is one, are those who need it to try and justify themselves.
Title: Thicky
Post by: an0n on May 27, 2004, 02:28:52 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
I'm not saying that people should be able to coast through life without doing any work. not at all. But I'm arguing that the time of money (and to a lesser degree, effort) that goes into attaining a University degree is not usually, equal to the payoff at the end.
It is if you put in some effort and use what you've learned. But God forbid that you should actually be expected to work for your money. I mean, you've already put in 4 whole years of work, shouldn't that be enough for the rest of your life? :doubt:
Quote
I'm not disputing the principal, I'm disputing the specifics of investment/return.
No, you're disputing the principle.
Quote
I also believe that education is a right, not a privilege.
So you're annoyed that other people aren't paying to give you an education?

Get a ****ing clue. Everyone should have to pay for their own education and they do. It's called TAXES. If you want a better education, go protest for increased taxes.

Highschool is your free education. Why should anyone have to pay just so you can get a better job and live a better life? Why should someone living in a $40/week apartment with no electricity and a crappy water supply, trying to support 5 kids, have to pay so you can go to some 'design school'?
Quote
Instead of sinking $10 billion dollars (or whatever) each year into buying tanks and guns, why doesn't the government pay a percentage, or even all, of the costs of University tuition. Do you honestly believe that the UK is going to be attacked any time soon, and you'll be cursing yourself for getting rid of all the guns in favour of a vastly improved education system? I doubt it....
From the level of stupidity demonstrated in this paragraph alone, you don't deserve to be allowed to pay for further education.

I'll tell you what, we'll get rid of all our guns and our tanks and our planes then the next time the Albanians are being slaughtered we'll send you in to fight for them. And when every piss-poor country in the world with an axe to grind sees Britain has no defences and we get into a cluster-**** for our lives and when hundreds of thousands of people are being butchered every day, we can sit back and be proud that we spent all our money on education; that those aren't just any kids being killed, they're the smartest darn kids in the whole, wide, crater-riddled world.

You fuc[color=32423][/color]king moron.
Quote
It sounds to me like most students are working their asses off at University. Now, do you believe that after you graduate, you will be able to find a job that pays well enough to have made that effort worth while? I for one dont want to give up 4 years of my life, probably among the best ones, so that I can live packcheck the paycheck, with bill collectors hounding me. Thanks, I can accomplish that feat without the help of University.
Well, Cletus, why the f[color=3231][/color]uck are you going to University?
Title: Thicky
Post by: karajorma on May 27, 2004, 03:55:00 pm
Sometimes Rictor's ability to talk nonsense surprises me :D

I think we've passed stupidity and are into out and out trolling here.
Title: Thicky
Post by: an0n on May 27, 2004, 04:03:04 pm
Nah, I think he knows he's talking crap and is just trying to evade having to admit he was wrong in the first place.
Title: Thicky
Post by: karajorma on May 27, 2004, 04:26:02 pm
Actually I've seen Rictor admit he's wrong before so unless he believes that doing it too many times invokes the Candyman or something he either really does believe what he's saying or is trolling.
Title: Thicky
Post by: Langy on May 27, 2004, 10:43:54 pm
Quote
It sounds to me like most students are working their asses off at University. Now, do you believe that after you graduate, you will be able to find a job that pays well enough to have made that effort worth while? I for one dont want to give up 4 years of my life, probably among the best ones, so that I can live packcheck the paycheck, with bill collectors hounding me. Thanks, I can accomplish that feat without the help of University.


Why yes. Yes I do believe a $70k a year sallary is worth the $60k I'm paying in order to go to one of the best schools in the world for my major. And that's just the average starting salary. Even with having to pay off loans and everything, I'm still going to be making more than enough money but, more importantly, doing a job I want. And, hopefully, I'll be doing it good due to my education and all the hard work I'm putting into it.

Oh, and no, I don't plagarise. Nor do I cheat. Neither of those things helps you in learning, which is the whole damn reason I go to school. It isn't about getting a job, and it isn't about doing it because the system tells me to. It's about simply learning the stuff. Since going to college is probably one of the best ways to learn engineering and things of that nature, I'm definitely going. A great bonus is that I'll also be able to get a stellar job and work in a field I love.