STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Kel · Coach

Livid

Elle · Hermes

How many people are in the class? The same thing happened to me in the online writing class I took (and posted about here!) but the teacher was aware since the class was small (15 or so). If your response was posted before the other persons' there won't be any question about your intelligence, only theirs, and I'm sure the teacher will be on the lookout for any more incidents like this one without you having to say anything.

It sucks being lumped together with asshats that can't take a class seriously enough to come up with their own responses. I thought it was because I was in a low-level writing class, but if it's happening in your masters class .... ! No excuse!

Kel · Coach

Yeah the person just posted today like an hour ago. I posted on Monday and thankfully there is a time stamp on our post. Our class size is similar, it has around 15 people. It just frustrates me that people can justifying doing something like that. I feel like posting something like "wow we have similar ideas" just so that they know that I know. But, I don't want to be petty either.

alb · Marc Jacobs

wow, that sucks. you'd think that things like that wouldn't happen in a masters class. i don't have any advice for you (sorry) but i am sure that the professor can see through things like that, and it's likely that the poster will look like a complete idiot once ppl notice what he/she did. i'd just sit back and see what happens. sorry that happened to you!!

Kel · Coach

alb wrote:

wow, that sucks. you'd think that things like that wouldn't happen in a masters class. i don't have any advice for you (sorry) but i am sure that the professor can see through things like that, and it's likely that the poster will look like a complete idiot once ppl notice what he/she did. i'd just sit back and see what happens. sorry that happened to you!!

The worst part is that the newest post are towards the top, so when people naturally read from top to bottom, they get to the other post before mine. There have been a few people that commented on the other person's post on the "good ideas." ARRGGGHHHH

alb · Marc Jacobs

uggh! how frustrating. hang in there, girl!

blubirde · Chanel

Can you email the prof to ask him/her to remove the post, pointing out how similar the ideas/words are to yours? You should definitely stand up for your work. It's yours and that jerk needs to know stealing your ideas is UNACCEPTABLE. I'm so pissed for you!

Suasoria · Chanel

Ugh. I pity the unoriginal.

Maybe an informal note to your professor just saying "I noticed that another post today was just a paraphrase of my comments on Monday. It was a little disconcerting, but I hope this student isn't having trouble understanding other assignments. Could be something to watch out for."

relrel · Marc Jacobs

I wouldn't say anything to either the student or the professor unless it happens again. It's really not worth your time to call the fellow student out on it because it's not going to hurt you at all. The professor will more than likely notice, if it happens again, that there were very similar answers being posted. It's no different than two essays being handed in at two different times but the second following very closely along with the first's answers. Most professors will actually pick up on that sort of thing very quickly. And you know what? I bet the professor already knows that the other student is having trouble. I did online discussion boards for a couple of classes as well, and the professors really did notice which kids posted first and which ones would wait till the end to piggy-back on the others. A couple of times, students were called out (not by name) for waiting till the end to answer the questions.

If it was me that this happened too, I wouldn't even stress. What would I care that some other student is getting the credit for my answers, it doesn't really affect me at all. I would just make sure the professor would know about it, if it happened more than once. That's really all who needs to know about it, ya know? The other kids in the class aren't doing the grading so let me think whatever they want to think.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

I would apply the "second round rule" and contact the instructor if it happens again. Let's just hope your fellow student was just passing a brain-stone.

Sandy · Kate Spade

Ew, I hate cheaters. I second (third? fifth? twentieth?) waiting to see if it happens again before speaking up... but I definitely think that if it happens again you should privately, casually mention it to the professor. That would make me so mad.

Kel · Coach

Thanks girls for the advice. I think I will let it slide this time. I noticed that they person did not respond to anyone, just posted their (my) assignment. So I am sure the professor knows. He is pretty good.