>From the current issue of mini-AIR (on-line version of the Annals of
Improbable Research), a question to ponder:
1999-08-09 Ethics Puzzler of the Month
This month's AIRhead Ethics Puzzler Question concerns plagiarism.
A mother in upstate New York explained to us that her son's
high school teacher refused to accept a paper the son had written
unless the son also handed in a rough draft. The mother was
outraged, explaining to us that that the paper was of excellent
quality, because it was written by the boy's sister, a Cornell
University senior majoring in computer science. Upon our
suggesting that the lad had committed plagiarism, the mother
replied that no, this was not plagiarism -- that what all the
OTHER children in the class did was plagiarism because THOSE
children paid MONEY to STRANGERS to write their papers. Thus
(explained the mother) her son, having paid no money for his
paper, and having had it written by a sibling, had in no way
committed plagiarism.
Our puzzler question is hypothetical:
If you had four college-attending siblings, and were forced to
choose JUST ONE of them to write your papers for you, then
ETHICALLY which one should you choose?
1. A sibling who attends a prestigious college
2. A sibling who is a sister
3. A sibling who refuses to accept payment for written work
4. A sibling who is a computer science major
Please send your Ethics Puzzler answer (25 words max, please) to
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.
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-Stephen
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Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470
Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661
Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Lennoxville, QC
J1M 1Z7
Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy
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