Slashdot Mirror
Computer Science Students Outsource Homework
Carl Bialik from the WSJ writes "'If U.S. companies can go online to outsource their programming, why can't U.S. computer students outsource their homework--which, after all, often involves writing sample programs?' Wall Street Journal colummnist Lee Gomes asks. 'Scruples aside, no reason at all. Search for "homework" in the data base of Rent A Coder projects, and you get 1,000 hits. (An impressive number, but still a tiny fraction of all computer students, the vast majority of whom are no doubt an honest and hardworking lot.)' Some of the Rent a Coder users appear to be outsourcing their way through school, at low costs--probably less than $100 per assignment. The posting are, of course, anonymous, but Gomes traces one to a student at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where an instructor tells him that Rent a Coder contributed to a problem of plagiarism last semester."
If I'm good at programming, why shouldn't I be able to SELL my hard work? Isn't that what capitalism is about? Supply and Demand. I have the supply - they have the demand. Now I agree that they should be punished if caught using my code for a project - but I have no problem selling it to them. It might be wise to include some small hidden sig - just that if someone complains I can prove its my work. Hell, I should put a EULA on it - "YOU AGREE NOT TO USE THIS FOR ANY SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS".
Welcome to the world of Republican Achievement! You don't have to do the work, just outsource it! Or find a 1HB student or an undocumented student to do it for you. As for after graduation, all you have to do is pick the right roommate, and you can have a high paying no real work job for life! Just ask the former head of FEMA. All you need is a rich dad and/or a trust fund.
For the ultimate example of life outsourcing, "W" is the king. Get into school via a legacy placement (outsourced K to 12 education), fail at every business you try, then get a Saudi prince, Bandar Bush, to bail you out (outsource making money). When you go into politics, find a freak who was born without any decency or morality, Karl Rove, to do your dirty work (outsource your criminal side). When you run for President, outsource your victory to a partisan Republican supreme court. When are president, outsource decision making to the vice president and power and money hungry special interest groups. Nothing is too good for the oil, credit card and pharmaceutical lobbies! When courage and sacrifice are needed for defense, outsource pain, suffering and death to the volunteer military. Note: this is a follow up to outsourcing your military service as a no show TANG (Texas Air National Guard) member.
The only trouble with outsourcing CS homework is that it's thinking too small. Think big, like "W", and you can outsource not only your life, but take a free ride at the expense of an entire country. If you are rich and connected enough, the free ride can last a lifetime!
Like that there will be more interesting subjetcs than this crap.
"I'm very insulted by your comment. You have made my four years of university sound like a joke and you've also insulted not only my education, but the education of every American and Canadian. I only wish you would have had to go through one PARTIAL course which I've taken..."
Oh, this is cute. You're insulted and yet slashdot in this story and others insults other professions all the time. Guess it doesn't feel so good when your the insulted intead of the insultee.