Thread: The Moral Delima

  1. #1
    mov.w #$1337,D0 Jeremy G's Avatar
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    The Moral Delima

    What happens when you post on this forum asking for some one to do your homework for you?

    You get flamed


    I've flamed such people, and I believe you should "DYOFH" or do your own -------ing homework.



    That being said, some one IM'd asking me to code them a program for Monies. It is as I suspected, and admitted right away to be their home work.

    As a coder, I take jobs coding. Is it it right or wrong to "take a job" doing some ones home work??

    Discuss.









    ps: If you're wondering, I happen to be "Working" right now. I never said I wasn't a hypocrit.
    c++->visualc++->directx->opengl->c++;
    (it should be realized my posts are all in a light hearted manner. And should not be taken offense to.)

  2. #2
    mov.w #$1337,D0 Jeremy G's Avatar
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    Also, what if during the coding process you add detective hints into the code insinuating that this code was not written by the individual turning it in.

    Say, you know this individual has no experience with C++, and indeed most of the class does not. But you have throw backs to c++ ideas in your c code.

    Say, like my bool definition
    Code:
    typedef enum { false = 0, true = 1 } bool;
    Or macro's that "simulate" c++ functionality like say my new macro
    Code:
    #define new(c) malloc( sizeof(c) ) 
    #define bnew(c) bTreeNodeI( new(c) ) /*/ uses a constructor */
    It's kinda like encouraging poetic justice. Dirty on my part, but rightous big picture wise....
    c++->visualc++->directx->opengl->c++;
    (it should be realized my posts are all in a light hearted manner. And should not be taken offense to.)

  3. #3
    Software Developer jverkoey's Avatar
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    Those would be called Easter Eggs, I believe.

    But basically, the general concensus you're going to get here is, no, doing another person's homework is not ok.

    This is much like normal subjects in school. Having someone do your homework for you will do nothing for you in the end and will have just been a waste of both people's time.

  4. #4
    mov.w #$1337,D0 Jeremy G's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jverkoey
    Those would be called Easter Eggs, I believe.

    But basically, the general concensus you're going to get here is, no, doing another person's homework is not ok.

    This is much like normal subjects in school. Having someone do your homework for you will do nothing for you in the end and will have just been a waste of both people's time.

    But perhaps the question is more of context based.
    I mean, lets say the government hires you to code an efficient search algorythem. They don't tell you what it's for. You do a service, they pay you. Nothing wrong with this right?

    What if, it turns out they are going to use this algorythem in an entirely wrong manner. To invade the privacy of it's citizens or some other sinister idea. Now, they tell you this before hand and ask you to do the job. Is it still ok to take the job? Isn't it relative to perspective? It's the ol' guns don't kill people, people kill people argument. Surely theres something to this argument more then "It depends on if you know, or don't know ahead of time"
    c++->visualc++->directx->opengl->c++;
    (it should be realized my posts are all in a light hearted manner. And should not be taken offense to.)

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jeremy G
    Surely theres something to this argument more then "It depends on if you know, or don't know ahead of time"
    Sometimes that's all there is. If someone wants to do something unethical with your code, they probably won't tell you about it. If you have a bad feeling about something, or if an organization has a shady reputation that you don't want to be associated with, then you make your decision based on what you do know. Otherwise, you just go with it. Most of the time code is morally neutral, so I wouldn't lose much sleep if someone used it for ill.

  6. #6
    Cheesy Poofs! PJYelton's Avatar
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    I would say doing someone's homework would be unethical and wrong in almost all circumstances. Schools have rules that say they are not allowed to cheat, and by doing their homework you are helping them circumvent these rules.

    That being said, its questionable HOW bad it is. Rent-a-coder sure turns a blind eye, I see lots of homework questions posted there.

  7. #7
    mov.w #$1337,D0 Jeremy G's Avatar
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    Lucky for me I guess, I started coding with the idea of becomming a hacker. (No, didnt pan ou for me)

    But it servers to reitterate my lack of ethical and moral standards.
    Money is money.
    c++->visualc++->directx->opengl->c++;
    (it should be realized my posts are all in a light hearted manner. And should not be taken offense to.)

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by PJYelton
    Schools have rules that say they are not allowed to cheat, and by doing their homework you are helping them circumvent these rules.
    This may be true, but since I don't go to that school, what will they do to me?

    The only times I would do something like this is when the problem is sufficiently interesting, or absurdly simple. The interesting problems are just for my own amusement, and the simple problems usually end up looking something like the following:
    Code:
    #include <stdio.h>
    OO(O0){return !(O0 & 1);}main(_OO,_00)
    int*_00;{int _0O;char _O0[]="How many\
     integers will you enter? \0is\0odd.\n\
    \0even.\n\0Enter an integer: \0";for(
    _00=&_0O,printf("%s",_O0),scanf("%d",
    _00),_00=&_OO;_0O;printf("%s",_O0+51),
    scanf("%d",_00),OO(*_00)?printf("%d %s\
     %s",*_00,_O0+35,_O0+44):printf("%d %s \
    %s",*_00,_O0+35,_O0+38),_0O--);return _0O;}
    I don't think the moral dilemma is yours. The person approaching you has decided that they don't care about learning and will attempt to get a good grade through other means. They have already decided to make a poor choice, but their poor choice doesn't transfer the responsibility to make a good choice to you. If you don't help the derelict student, the student will simply go elsewhere. I have no problem profitting from the morally deficient.
    If I did your homework for you, then you might pass your class without learning how to write a program like this. Then you might graduate and get your degree without learning how to write a program like this. You might become a professional programmer without knowing how to write a program like this. Someday you might work on a project with me without knowing how to write a program like this. Then I would have to do you serious bodily harm. - Jack Klein

  9. #9
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    Everything has a price, right?

  10. #10
    Senior Member joshdick's Avatar
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    It's blatantly unethical, and you know it.

    ACM's Code of Ethics

    You're just looking for a way to rationalize irresponsible behaviour.

  11. #11
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    I'm game.

    Exactly where in that code of ethics would you say that doing someone else's homework for money is a violation? I attempted a quick lookover through sections 1 and 2, but I didn't see anything explicit.

    Further, I am not a member of the ACM. Why should I allow them to dictate to me what my ethical standards are?
    If I did your homework for you, then you might pass your class without learning how to write a program like this. Then you might graduate and get your degree without learning how to write a program like this. You might become a professional programmer without knowing how to write a program like this. Someday you might work on a project with me without knowing how to write a program like this. Then I would have to do you serious bodily harm. - Jack Klein

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jeremy G
    But perhaps the question is more of context based.
    I mean, lets say the government hires you to code an efficient search algorythem. They don't tell you what it's for. You do a service, they pay you. Nothing wrong with this right?
    You're comparing apples and oranges. Is the government taking a class in programming where they should be learning how to use the lanuage? No! There's a big difference between a company asking for a coding job and a student looking for someone to do their homework. All you're doing is helping them dig themselves into a deeper hole.

  13. #13
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    Doing someone else's homework is wrong.

  14. #14
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    Dilemma.
    -Felix
    Rots Soft
    If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts.
    Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by joshdick
    It's blatantly unethical, and you know it.

    ACM's Code of Ethics

    You're just looking for a way to rationalize irresponsible behaviour.
    I gotta agree with JoshDick and Bubba. It's wrong. If someone posts an interesting problem, solve it for yourself, but don't post your solution. Give the poster a general idea of how to start solving the problem.

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