This is a class that is graded on a curve.

And really, I doubt that going to the prof is going to do anything, since I don't know my "peers" who did this.

It's just frustrating that I spent hours and got nowhere, and these guys did nothing. And actually, I can't believe that girl would just let them copy her work. I know how long and hard I worked on that lab report to get nowhere. I can't imagine the amount of time it took to actually complete it.

I get both sides. Although I feel like I should fry their asses when I work so hard, in reality I have never turned them in. But I should! And it would feel good.

I think it also betrays an alignment with the power structure/hierarchy over loyalty to your peers, which also feels wrong/petty/bad to me.

I dunno. This seems to suggest that the power structure//heirarchy is less worthy of loyalty than ones peers, and that's not always the case. I went to college because of what the structure represented and offered. The peers were just sort of there, for better or worse. Usually better, but they weren't what I was in college for. Of course, for most of my college career I was planning to join that power structure/heirarchy after graduation (and still would like to do so), so I probably went into school somewhat pre-aligned.

There's a reason why snitch, tattletale, informer, rat, narc are all such unpleasant words.

There are a number of reasons, some of them having to do with maintaining a corrupt status quo. I do understand your ethics police point -- I think most of us have that image in our heads of the class tattletale who constantly ran to the teacher to prove his own imagined superiority. But if one of your peers were picking pockets or stealing credit card numbers, would that justify breaking ranks to report it?

This is a class that is graded on a curve.

That does change the equation, but I still wouldn't do it. As Jen notes, what does that have to do with what I learned?

Pegging self worth to grades is one of the worst things smart people do to themselves. I think it's really destructive.

But if one of your peers were picking pockets or stealing credit card numbers, would that justify breaking ranks to report it?

That's different than telling on a co-worker who arrives work to late every day, just because you resent the fact that they haven't been caught and you make every effort to get in on time.

I guess it depends on where you peg the infraction on your individual scale of wrongitude.

an alignment with the power structure/hierarchy over loyalty to your peers

Hmm. I don't have any inherent loyalty to the people with whom I go to school just because we're all students. I don't like the ones who cheat and I wouldn't side with them, were I forced to choose sides. But as long as I'm not forced to choose sides, I'm fine with watching them dig their own graves.

Pegging self worth to grades is one of the worst things smart people do to themselves. I think it's really destructive.

And this has what, exactly, to do with seeing cheating and thinking it's wrong enough to do something about?

As Jen notes, what does that have to do with what I learned?

I've learned that if I cheat, my GPA won't go down when I have a hard class.

Pegging self worth to grades is one of the worst things smart people do to themselves. I think it's really destructive.

I feel like that was directed at me. I could be wrong and just oversensitive, but this is an issue I'm working on. And, for the record, I've lowered my standards to shooting for a C in this class. I will be thrilled just to pass it. And I think I will...'cause if I didn't think I would I would be dropping it and taking it again next year.

And I am a bit of a grade whore, as I was discussing with MG on IM this morning. I don't think there's anything wrong with feeling good when one gets a good grade - one they've worked hard for.

Pegging self worth to grades is one of the worst things smart people do to themselves. I think it's really destructive.

I agree with that, as a stand-alone statement. But I don't think it ties in to cheating. Reporting cheaters has nothing to do with grades and/or what a student learns; it has to do with what's right.

(That said, I would have been too chicken to have reported anyone in college. My wee screed of What's Right comes from the wise old age of 34.)

ION, I'm editing an article about methadone, and the author keeps using the phrase "heroine addiction." I want to ask which heroine -- Wonder Woman? Sojourner Truth?