Is this morally wrong?

[Mtukufu]

Hello everybody!

I'm kinda new on the DIS: I joined up over the weekend and I'm a teenager but I think I've only posted in this sections once or twice.

Anyway, today I kind of encountered an issue that's kind of messing with my head a bit and I wanted to ask other kids about it since it's probably more of a relevant issue for us than the adults elsewhere on the DIS.

So, my story:

I'm a senior, and I don't really have straight As (I usually get high 80s) and I don't know what my GPA is or anything, but I'm a pretty good student. Lately I've really been impressing all my teachers; my English teacher likes me because I know more about the subject matter than everybody else and I participate in class and everything, my Geography teacher loves me for the same reason, even though I don't really like Geography, and my French teacher likes me alot too for, well, the same reason. I know the material and I talk alot to teachers in class I guess.

Today in French class we had this paper due, and this morning at my locker a guy in my French class (who is also in my two other classes, actually, and he's actually been in every class I've taken at this school sorta strange but anyway) half-jokingly offered me 10 bucks to write his paper for him. I politely declined; dude isn't my friend at all and besides I couldn't take money for it. I also didn't want to come up with fresh arguments for the paper after spending a few hours last night coming up with my own. So yeah, I said no.

So we went to English class and about 45 minutes into the class, during a lull in activity the guy asks me (he doesn't sit near me but the room is small enough) to translate the paper he's just written in the english language into french. I say no again but he passes it over to my table and a dude at my table gives it to me.

I'm not under any pressure to translate it for him. He's not my friend and he doesn't like me, same as alot of kids, and translating a paper is hardly something that would win me acceptance from anybody. I've helped people before and they didn't care but I still help them just because I guess I like taking the high road or something.

Anyway, I took a look at it, read it, and translated it in 15 minutes. Then I gave it back to him and he was totally thrilled, I guess (he copied it over to his own handwriting later on). Some other kids who are also in my French class kind of gave me incredulous looks like "Dude, why didn't you do MINE?"

I think the thing is that if they'd asked me, I would've helped them out, like I help out everybody who asks. This guy just happened to have asked.

So when French class came around, he handed it in. And I handed mine in. And everybody handed theirs in.

At this point in high school it's like I'm okay with sharing knowledge and stuff, tricking the bureaucratic machine that school often is, I guess. I didn't used to be like this. Two years ago if somebody asked me to peer-edit an essay I'd have looked at them like they were a moron and walked away. Now I'll help out anybody who asks, going to the point of doing half of somebody's solo project.

***SO TO CLARIFY***
I only translated the guy's paper into french. He'd written it in english, and had some pretty good thoughts on the paper's subject.
I didn't get any compensation for this; I won't get paid (I don't want to be paid) and these kids won't become my friends. Basically I did this out of the goodness of my heart.
*******************

Was what I did wrong? How so? Have you ever experienced anything like this?

Thanks guys,

Mtukufu

 

[Pearls]

Eh, I wouldn't lose sleep over it.
I mean, its definitely cheating, and had you been caught you could have gotten in trouble with your school, but its not like you stole from orphans, or set puppies on fire.

I used to copy friend's homework all the time, although that sort of puts me in his shoes instead of yours..

If I were you, I would have asked for the $10


Basically, I don't think its that big of a deal. Maybe I'm just morally wrong too?

 

[dancer4life22]

no biggie ive done much worse!

ie. writing the answers on my hand/backpack/thumnail, getting the tests from previous students, copying homework.

basically you were going to do something like that eventually!

**the thumbnail was genius if i do say so mysel**

btw... im not an awful person. it was an awful class. i would have failed if i hadnt done some of that.

 

[Sparx]

Its cheating. Yes, its wrong.

 

[life of the party]

The only problem I see here is that you did this kids work, he took advantage of you. You shouldn't have done that out of self respect, who cares if it was cheating?

 

[Sparx]

The only problem I see here is that you did this kids work, he took advantage of you. You shouldn't have done that out of self respect, who cares if it was cheating?

At my school, cheating gets you referred to judicial services. And expelled.

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Yeah, it's cheating, but I wouldn't worry about it. Practically everybody has cheated before. I don't think you should worry about it too much.

 

[Mtukufu]

Well first guys thanks for all the responses so far

But what I'm more concerned about is whether I did the right thing or not; in general, I don't mind bending rules. It just puzzles me why I did it: he didn't deserve the help, and he wasn't appreciative and I knew he wasn't going to be.

What do you guys think caused me to do it?

 

[DramaQueen]

Eh, not a huge deal to me.
I'm at university for french and this girl who i BARELY know who is taking beginner french messages me on facebook and asks me to translate her composition into french for her. I couldn't believe it....in university!! And some girl I've probably talked to TWICE!!

I didn't do it, but I wouldn't having a problem helping a friend out if they needed it. The only thing I don't like about the situation is that guy took advantage of you. I know it's not a big deal because it only took you 15 minutes, but still. If he or anyone else asks you to do it I'd just plain refuse.
And like Paula said...I would've asked for my $10 before I handed it back to him!

 

[M.I.C.]

and you didnt get any money for it at all? sounds morally wrong to me in that case

 

[MKBekka]

Its cheating. Yes, its wrong.

I have to agree. If it's against the rule, and if the rule's good then YES. Cheating is wrong, but everyone can mess up, so don't worry, but I wouldn't do it again. I think it would have been worse if you had taken the pay...that's mercenary.

 

[dancer067]

Ahh don't sweat it. I wouldn't do it again though. Here's my take on the "cheating":
-I don't do it if its for a big grade.
As long as it's not a big assignment you'll be ok. My friends and I do that stuff on meaningless busy work all the time.
-You just helped him out
-You didn't take the $.
Don't worry about it.

 

[Babyjustrun]

The whole point of taking French class is to write your papers in French.
Therefore, yes, it is cheating.
He wasn't writing a paper for English. It was for French, and he should be marked according to his French skills, not his ability to come up with ideas.

I wouldn't tell you to do that again.
People should be responsible for their own work.

 

[Stitch4Prez]

I wouldn't worry about it, as long as it wasn't something that goes to a big part of his grade. Just don't do it again (unless he offers $20).

 

[dancer067]

The whole point of taking French class is to write your papers in French.
Therefore, yes, it is cheating.
He wasn't writing a paper for English. It was for French, and he should be marked according to his French skills, not his ability to come up with ideas.

I wouldn't tell you to do that again.
People should be responsible for their own work.

I agree with this, but like what I posted before don't sweat it.

 

[KidGoofy]

Just be careful with that...a kid I know got kicked out of school for doing stuff like that

 

[CastawayJ]

it's wrong, you should have said "make it $25 and I will"

who cares if it's wrong
life don't work that way