Cheating: The Key to Success? If You Aren’t Cheating, You Aren’t Trying

Let’s be honest. Life can be tough, and sometimes you just have to do what it takes to get ahead. And by that, I don’t mean studying hard and working diligently, I’m talking about cheating.

Yes, cheating! It might have a bad reputation as being unethical or immoral, but really, is it so wrong if it helps you achieve your goals?

Before you go out there and start taking shortcuts left and right though, let’s explore this topic together in more detail.

What Is Cheating Anyway?

First things first — let’s define what we mean by “cheating.” According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary (a source which I definitely did not use while writing this article), “to cheat” means:

To defraud or deceive; to violate rules dishonestly

Yep, that sounds about right. But what exactly does “violate rules dishonestly” mean? Is there any other way of violating rules?

Types of Cheating

When we say cheating in the context of academic settings such as schools or universities, most people probably think of plagiarism – i.e., copying someone else’s work without proper attribution.

But really,that’s just the tip-of-the iceberg when it comes to the different ways one could resort to some shady tactics. Here are some other kinds of cheating you may come across:

Looking at Someone Else’s Work During Exams

Yes – peeking over someone’s shoulder while they’re scribbling away is 100% considered a formof cheating. Come on guys! No mater how tempting those answers look,it only leads down an insurmountable path called failure.

Using Unfair Advantage

Do you have access cheats for computer games? Now imagine making use of those in real life. It might be tempting to google all the answers you need during an open-book test, but that’s not exactly playing fair.

Fudging Results

Who hasn’t wanted to inflate their numbers or change the results of a competition they’re participating in? But let’s face it, playing by unethical rules just kills off the excitement.

Bribery

This probably falls under “unfair advantage,” but I feel like it warrants its own category because… come on. Bribing someone with money or promises of other rewards to get ahead is basically cheating so hard that it becomes illegal! Don’t expect good things from shady means!

Now that we’ve established what we mean by “cheating” (and even looked at some examples), let’s dive deeper into whether cheating can actually help you succeed.

The Pros and Cons of Cheating

Just like anything else in this world, cheating has both advantages and disadvantages. So before you start writing your cheat-sheet for your next exam,you might want to think about wether such actions may lead you down a dark path for which there would be no return.

Pros

Getting Ahead Faster

Let’s face it: Life is short, and there’s always more stuff to do. A quick shortcut here and there can save time or put us at an advantage over others who are trying to reach similar goals as us.Do not take my word for it though. In highly competitive environments where everyone tries everything possible within legally acceptable limits – sometimes bending them slightly – people taking shortcuts will always advance faster than those who refuse doing so altogether; so why sequence events when cutting corners gets better outcomes?

External Pressure

We all know how parents love talking s&%#! about “Discipline” – whatever happened to fun now? Apparently buckling down hard work oughto go hand-in-hand and yet life, ah well! Anyway, when societal and peer pressure mounts(a common thing) it may inspire people to look to cheating as a solution. Always ready for an ‘easy A’.

End Results

All considered, the results are what matter at the end of day (or year). If you cheat your way through high school or college and still end up with that degree/job/fame/etc(even though less probable), does how you got there really matter? At least in personal terms?

Cons

Guilt

Alright,look we can’t deny having moral sensibilities, right? Even if someone feels like they won because they succeeded by doing something underhanded, chances are there will always be some level of guilt accompanying that success.

Character Building

Here’s where things get interesting. While it may not seem obvious initially but adhering strictly to rules and being disciplined enables individuals grow-up with strong character… one which cannot come from indulging in constant rule-breaking activities such as cheating.

Detection of Cheating – The Risk Factor

Unfortunately,there’s no guarantee that pursuing cheating will go unnoticed for all eternity – whether it’s getting caught during an exam or later down the line during professional life. And let’s face it,getting caught only extends matters onto greater lengths leading into potentially worse ramifications.

Exam Scenarios

Getting patted down before exams or made to enter unarmed rooms nowadays is strict proof schools are clamping-down on cheaters; Academic institutions have started using techniques such as checking bathroom fences pre-exam time or hire proctors & other invigilators just so students know better than pushing any limits!

Professional Work Life

Cheating isn’t just limited to academic settings either. In fact,in real world commercial settings , awareness around illegal/unethical practices necessary work-life behaviours is much stricter – regulations enforced are more stringent warranting dire consequences harsher than ever before.

To Cheat or Not to Cheat?

So now we come down to the big question: Is cheating actually a good way to succeed?

Really, it depends on how one grasps the idea of success. If short term goals given precedence over all else – probably yes! But longer term visions such as character building or achieving things by putting in honest hard work don’t really get accomplished that way!

And hey,there are other ways of maximizing your chances too– have you tried networking, pimping your social skills? Who knows where an introduction here and there could take you! Just stay away from bribes though.

In conclusion, while cheating can certainly seem like a tempting way to get ahead for more immediate objectives – its broader disadvantages usually outweigh any gains taken out.Honesty always remains the best policy!

Random Posts