Stealthily looking a seatmate’s exam paper, relaying sophisticated hand signals, tucking tiny papers in every available space of a folded handkerchief, or simply exchanging answer sheets when the teacher’s eyes wander a moment or two—these are some of the many modi operandi that we call cheating. It is prevalent in all campuses around the world—including Silliman University. It is alarming to know, cheating is now claimed as part of a student’s life. For a Christian institution, is this really the way to find the truth, and live life? Think again.
Cheating, as defined in the Webster’s New Encyclopedic Dictionary, is “to get something from another by deception or dishonesty, which suggests using trickery that escapes observation.” And yes, it is indeed. But for college students a detailed and systematic definition of the word is not important; for as long as they have practiced and finally mastered the craft, the act of cheating is as easy as tying one’s shoelace. “Forget values, forget ethics, and pass this damn exam” might be a professional cheater’s code of conduct.
So to survive the pressure that goes along College life, amid disconcerting Professors who seem to enjoy giving mind-numbing exams (or psychological games), cheating slowly has been transformed (from a mere unintelligent way to battle “unprepared-ness”) into an all-around survival kit that could render obsolete the now-waning art called “study.” For in this generation, study has become undesirable.
A majority of the student populace would not consider cheating taboo these days. “It is normal,” one proudly says, or, as another friend relates, “Cheating really looks bad considering that it is like stealing, but if you’re in a tight situation, the act will be done without any hesitations. [sic]”
We can say that cheating is a quest for perfection; a quest to accomplish the formidable task, to achieve the prized goal. But it is not easy. After all, dilemmas go with everything that is thought to be trouble-free. Since a lot of us already know what cheating is and why it is done, therefore it’s uncommon to ask: “How could we cheat—the best way?” Through a number of question and answer sessions with familiar campus figures (ranging from the freshmen up to graduate students), here are the top three unique and bizarre ways of cheating that were explicitly shared. But in order to comprehend the nature of these techniques, it’s rational that we ought to learn what is actually needed—the devices for the “perfect” crime.
Since names of techniques differ from one person to another, we have laid out the materials first (as headers) which may also serve the method’s codename. Let us begin the lesson.
1.) Materials Needed: Pencil and Eraser
- College students these days seldom use basic elementary writing tools such as the pencil. But in this technique, with an ultra-sharp pencil alongside a good-sized rubber eraser (approximately 2” x 1” x 0.5” in dimensions), you, as the conspirator, could fly to greater heights and catch those elusive 4.0s [four-point-zeroes]. The process is simple: First, with your super sharp pencil, write in fine, minute letters your question on the rubber eraser and pass it on to your accomplice beside you, or much better, to a person who is brilliant and “good” enough sharing his or her golden answers. Second, just wait for his or her answer to be written on the same eraser before retrieving it back. It’s that easy!
Question: Wouldn’t the teacher ever notice that you keep on passing along that tiny piece of rubber?
2) Materials Needed: Paper and Garter String
- This method could be best used for people who usually wear skirts (short skirts are preferable). Definitely, this is for women. The procedure should start right at home; write all answers that you need for enlightenment in a small sheet of paper and tie it with a short stretchable string (or garter), then insert it under the skirt. One foreign friend (nationality hidden) shared this as effective. She said that this is popular in their hometown’s high schools. Since they are required to wear near-skimpy skirts as part and parcel of their uniforms, why not use this uncomfortable sight as something useful?
Question: Wouldn’t it look promiscuous that a lady frequently pulls out something from under her skirt?
3) Materials Needed: The Answer Sheets
- If the situation gets tough and executing the first two methods is too lame, why not act with the nastiest wits present in mind? This last method is the funniest but, nevertheless, most effective. The method: Plan it out with your all-time partner-in-crime and make sure you sit beside each other in the room. When you’re in the middle of the exam and you can no longer extract any sensible guesses from your mind, snap those fingers (or give out any sign that can easily be identified, like clucking the tongue), and in a skilled synchronized performance, drop your answer sheets and pick up your partner’s paper instead of yours.
Question: Wouldn’t your situation even worsen once you pick up your accomplice’s paper and discover to your horror that he or she has more unanswered questions than you have?
Even those who consider themselves puritans of goodness must accept the argument that cheating is human nature. For cheating starts early this will, without doubt, grow and strengthen as it is constantly practiced. I, myself, have plunged into the hidden and dark world of cheating, and, honestly speaking, have found that it is upsetting—like there are thousands of needles piercing every innards in me. Actually, cheating could even worsen one’s already-dire circumstances. For Sillimanians in the 21st century, it is obvious the majority are still blinded by cheating’s false glorious promises.
As mentioned in an article in the Weekly Sillimanian (issue 79, volume 7) dated last August 2, 2006, “cheating has become more acceptable to students” and, as it develops into a more common trend in every passing hour, “the important thing is to get the job done.”
Certainly, cheating would still exist in the next years to come; still holding its bogus guarantee of perfection and exactness. But sad to say, it is never the best way out.
Cheating, as defined in the Webster’s New Encyclopedic Dictionary, is “to get something from another by deception or dishonesty, which suggests using trickery that escapes observation.” And yes, it is indeed. But for college students a detailed and systematic definition of the word is not important; for as long as they have practiced and finally mastered the craft, the act of cheating is as easy as tying one’s shoelace. “Forget values, forget ethics, and pass this damn exam” might be a professional cheater’s code of conduct.
So to survive the pressure that goes along College life, amid disconcerting Professors who seem to enjoy giving mind-numbing exams (or psychological games), cheating slowly has been transformed (from a mere unintelligent way to battle “unprepared-ness”) into an all-around survival kit that could render obsolete the now-waning art called “study.” For in this generation, study has become undesirable.
A majority of the student populace would not consider cheating taboo these days. “It is normal,” one proudly says, or, as another friend relates, “Cheating really looks bad considering that it is like stealing, but if you’re in a tight situation, the act will be done without any hesitations. [sic]”
We can say that cheating is a quest for perfection; a quest to accomplish the formidable task, to achieve the prized goal. But it is not easy. After all, dilemmas go with everything that is thought to be trouble-free. Since a lot of us already know what cheating is and why it is done, therefore it’s uncommon to ask: “How could we cheat—the best way?” Through a number of question and answer sessions with familiar campus figures (ranging from the freshmen up to graduate students), here are the top three unique and bizarre ways of cheating that were explicitly shared. But in order to comprehend the nature of these techniques, it’s rational that we ought to learn what is actually needed—the devices for the “perfect” crime.
Since names of techniques differ from one person to another, we have laid out the materials first (as headers) which may also serve the method’s codename. Let us begin the lesson.
1.) Materials Needed: Pencil and Eraser
- College students these days seldom use basic elementary writing tools such as the pencil. But in this technique, with an ultra-sharp pencil alongside a good-sized rubber eraser (approximately 2” x 1” x 0.5” in dimensions), you, as the conspirator, could fly to greater heights and catch those elusive 4.0s [four-point-zeroes]. The process is simple: First, with your super sharp pencil, write in fine, minute letters your question on the rubber eraser and pass it on to your accomplice beside you, or much better, to a person who is brilliant and “good” enough sharing his or her golden answers. Second, just wait for his or her answer to be written on the same eraser before retrieving it back. It’s that easy!
Question: Wouldn’t the teacher ever notice that you keep on passing along that tiny piece of rubber?
2) Materials Needed: Paper and Garter String
- This method could be best used for people who usually wear skirts (short skirts are preferable). Definitely, this is for women. The procedure should start right at home; write all answers that you need for enlightenment in a small sheet of paper and tie it with a short stretchable string (or garter), then insert it under the skirt. One foreign friend (nationality hidden) shared this as effective. She said that this is popular in their hometown’s high schools. Since they are required to wear near-skimpy skirts as part and parcel of their uniforms, why not use this uncomfortable sight as something useful?
Question: Wouldn’t it look promiscuous that a lady frequently pulls out something from under her skirt?
3) Materials Needed: The Answer Sheets
- If the situation gets tough and executing the first two methods is too lame, why not act with the nastiest wits present in mind? This last method is the funniest but, nevertheless, most effective. The method: Plan it out with your all-time partner-in-crime and make sure you sit beside each other in the room. When you’re in the middle of the exam and you can no longer extract any sensible guesses from your mind, snap those fingers (or give out any sign that can easily be identified, like clucking the tongue), and in a skilled synchronized performance, drop your answer sheets and pick up your partner’s paper instead of yours.
Question: Wouldn’t your situation even worsen once you pick up your accomplice’s paper and discover to your horror that he or she has more unanswered questions than you have?
Even those who consider themselves puritans of goodness must accept the argument that cheating is human nature. For cheating starts early this will, without doubt, grow and strengthen as it is constantly practiced. I, myself, have plunged into the hidden and dark world of cheating, and, honestly speaking, have found that it is upsetting—like there are thousands of needles piercing every innards in me. Actually, cheating could even worsen one’s already-dire circumstances. For Sillimanians in the 21st century, it is obvious the majority are still blinded by cheating’s false glorious promises.
As mentioned in an article in the Weekly Sillimanian (issue 79, volume 7) dated last August 2, 2006, “cheating has become more acceptable to students” and, as it develops into a more common trend in every passing hour, “the important thing is to get the job done.”
Certainly, cheating would still exist in the next years to come; still holding its bogus guarantee of perfection and exactness. But sad to say, it is never the best way out.
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2 comments:
We used to encircle the geniuses with the blatant cheaters. Those geniuses were strategically placed far from each other so that everyone could benefit from their wisdom. They too, trade knowledge from one another through the blatant cheaters that passed information between them. Hehe.
In the long run, you will forget the lessons you have discussed in class. You would even forget the exams you have taken. What really remains - forever are the camaraderie and shared experiences you had with your classmates.
It includes cheating during exams.
precisely!
very well said...
ok people, cheat!
:)
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