Checking a Number for Palindromic Behavior
rurpy at yahoo.com
rurpy at yahoo.com
Tue Oct 20 13:18:55 EDT 2009
Why *not* answering a question in comp.lang.python
because you think it is homework is BAD.
1) It may look like a homework problem to you but it
probably isn't.
See http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.python/msg/8ac6db43b09fdc92
2) When you publicly accuse someone of "cheating" (and
even asking is tantamount to an accusation unless done
very tactfully), especially without anything more than
your "feelings" to back it up, you will likely anger
the poster, contribute to an generally unpleasant
atmosphere in the newsgroup, and intimidate other
people who want to ask legitimate questions.
3) You are not responding only to the original poster;
there are many other silent readers who are interested
in the answer and whom you are depriving of knowledge
by refusing to answer.
4) When you post a specific solution to a question,
usually a number of other people will respond with
alternate or better solutions. While perhaps overkill
for the original poster who likely will be satisfied
with any answer, such discussion greatly benefits
other readers.
5) Although "working out" an answer oneself is the usual
goal of homework problems, it is not the only way to
learn. Often, when one is really stuck, one can learn
what one is supposed to by seeing the fully worked out
problem's answer. You, who don't know anything about
the poster, are not in a position to decide for him/her
what the best way of learning is. The poster is also
free to ignore your answer if he/she chooses.
6) Please don't apply your abstract moral standards to
the entire rest of the world, knowing nothing about the
particular circumstances of the poster.
7) If the poster is determined to cheat, he/she will do
so with or without your help. Your self-righteous
stand will serve only to generate the above undesirable
results without changing the poster's behavior.
Of course, whether you choose to provide a specific
answer to something you think is homework, or not,
is ultimately a personal decision and you are free
to follow your conscious. Just please don't demand
that every other participant in this group adopt
your personal standards.
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