How do you know if it’s better to tell a lie?

At the beginning of each tutorial for Networked Media, every student is to mark down upon a form exactly how many ongoing subject requirements out of ten they’ve achieved within the last week. Whilst some blogs may be checked for compliance with their owner’s markings, it is mostly an honesty based self-assessment.

Which, of course, is trampled all over by students wanting to raise their grades by way of a little white lying.

“If they’re drafts, they still count as a post.”
“I skimmed both readings. Yes, it counts.”
“Sure, I was at the lecture (guys wat was it about srsly tell me)”

Yeah, okay. The chances of you getting caught out by a tutor are pretty slim. Go ahead and fake it.
Today, my classmates decided that there would be absolutely no negative repercussions were we to be found cheating. None. No catch, nothing. Tutors, you’re either really stupid, or you’re really sneaky. The way I see it – with no consequences from your tutor seeing your lack of posts other than their disappointment in you and your work ethic, it’s going to simulate getting the cold shoulder of disappointment from your parents, rather than being shouted at and punished. Your moral compass is going to spin out if you lie.

Why? Because you know you’ve done wrong. You have nothing and no one to bounce anger off at, so you end up deflated and guilty. Well done, Networked Media tutors. Plan well thought through. You knew some smart student would suggest the ‘no punishment’ idea, and that everyone else would agree.

Honestly, I’d rather just have to shout everyone food or drinks. You can earn money back a lot faster than you can respect/trust/all other virtues.

fuck this, why can’t i lie?