Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sunybcs!sybil.cs.Buffalo.EDU!lively From: lively@sybil.cs.Buffalo.EDU (Richard S. Lively) Newsgroups: comp.graphics Subject: Re: Commonly asked questions, homework on the net, etc. Message-ID: <19573@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> Date: 19 Mar 90 16:35:21 GMT References: Sender: nobody@acsu.Buffalo.EDU Organization: State University of New York at Buffalo/Comp Sci Lines: 17 Anecdote follows: A couple of years ago, I had a student post a homework question that I had assigned to comp.graphics. To protect the innocent, let's just say it was something like "Given A, derive B". There were about 10 solutions to the problem posted to the net. 2 of the solutions were not even related to the question posed; 4 were relevant but grossly underestimated the complexity of the problem; 3 solved the problem "Given B, derive A" (a much easier problem); and 1 had the correct solution. The student chose the last solution (hmm-must have learned something!), printed it out verbatim (well, except for the name and institution of the individual from whom it orinated), and submitted it. Surprisingly, I guess it never occurred to them that I might monitor the net as well. The frustrating thing about this is that I am sure that the person that posted the solution did it because they thought they were providing a valuable service. If they only knew the truth...