Am I a terrible person for this? [Poll]
 

We have an essay due on the 3rd which I've already handed in. Everyone else on my course is really struggling with it because the question is quite philosophical and vague, but a few weeks ago something just clicked in my head and I now totally understand (or at least feel like I understand) the key themes in the play and managed to write my essay in 4 hours last weekend and feel like it's the best essay I've written for uni, ever.

It's in my nature to try and help others, but I'm so sick of getting average marks and seeing people get As who I know haven't done nearly as much work as I have, so I'm just keeping quiet whenever I see one of my friends moan about how they don't get the essay question and how the deadline is drawing nearer... I'm keeping quiet because I think if everyone else hands in a crap essay, it'll make mine look even better than I think it is, probably giving me a better chance at a good mark.

Am I a terrible person for not helping people, or would you keep quiet if you were in my shoes?

Its a competitive dog eat dog world, dont feel gulity

i would be like what the fish

I would help your closest friend, but not give them all your points, try to make them understand it more if they don't already know.

It's not giving them word-for-word what to say but it does make you feel better

This.

You can suggest things they should look into maybe, but the whole point of a mark system is to see how much you know, so not everyone will get the grades.

Heh. Both :p

It's just we've had experiences in our class of certain people not showing up to any of the classes and then asking to borrow our notes and then that person getting an A because they're just good at writing essays whilst those of us who've turned up and put the work in get a C. This is the first time I've felt like I know exactly what to write and I've never gotten an A at uni, always a high B at best, I really want this so badly!

I always help my best friend, because I know he would do the same for me, but I wouldn't help my other friends haha

Not at all Zee. Credit should go where its due. By all means give them a couple of pointers, but if they don't understand it then marks wouldn't be merited. You don't owe then anything. And how many would do it for you in the opposite position. Don't be too softhearted.

..you’re always a terrible person though Zee...I mean, I’m not sure why you’re asking us to confirm it....

....but what I really think...is that people are only talking to you about it because they know you’ll help...you always help...they’re not really just passing the time of day with you here...but I mean you could go around saying ...’oh crikey, I’m struggling with this’....but actually it wouldn’t be true would it...?...because you’ve actually done your essay and you’re happy with it....so, how do you know that they haven’t done their essay too...and they might be reasonably pleased with it as well...but they may think there’s room for improvement.... or maybe they’re worried they might just have missed something they should have written or they just want to up their marks..so then they mention it to the person or in front of the person who they know will help them...and also the person they know will have done a good job....

..Has it ever occurred to you that they could get higher marks than you because when you help them or when someone helps them..., they have a combined effort with other people's ideas...which makes a more detailed essay.....?...

..I think the answer is no..don’t feel guilty..your essay and thoughts and ideas belong to you and no one else......

No

If they're real friends and really struggling with it, then yes, you're being selfish and a dick :idc: I can see your frustration but I'd never let someone potentially fail an essay because I want to get a better grade than them.

No as they are not trying hard enough if they are struggling this badly imo.

would be unfair if you helped them out

See this is what I'm thinking, but then I've had this before where I've helped people and they've ended up with a better mark than me because, as Ammi said, they've got my ideas as well as their own to write with... it's tough. It's not like I'm going to gain anything from helping them other than just being a nice person, it's kind of hard to know where to draw the line.

well if they have their own already then ask them what they're already thinking of writing. It's not as if you're giving them every rhetoric skill in your repertoire, and most essays really come down to that

Well most of them are just sitting there clueless how to answer the essay question and don't know how to begin, and I don't really want to start telling them what I've written because I don't want them to copy my essay ideas and then get a better mark for it than me... :/

No

I'm sure they can do more than just ask a friend for help

You're a disgrace to humanity

i would do the same as your doing

I'd give them a dumbed down explanation of what to do.

yeah that way they get it but it be different

No you're not a terrible person.