Cheating

_Cheating_
    Today, Americans use the word “cheat” to describe a wide range of activities that all involve depriving another of some right or property through deceptive means. The severity of these behaviors ranges from the fairly benign to the most severe. For example, when people cheat their neighbors by buying inexpensively priced items at a garage sale they know to be valuable, they may end up celebrating their savvy purchase on “Antiques Road Show”. When they cheat on their income taxes or their spouses, though, the outcomes can be expected to be negative and may involve criminal prosecution. While definitions of cheating vary, it would seem reasonable to posit that most people possess a “little voice” that tells them when they are cheating. Because people are just people and subject to all of the frailties of the human condition through any number of rationalizations that justify such behaviors.
    Cheating used to be considered an unmentionable sin. However, in this day and age, it has become more common and somewhat of a daily occurrence. Cheating is more widespread today than in the past. According to the article titled “Education”: The New Morality, cheating has not been an issue of values, but simply one of practicality. This shows that many view cheating as a mere occurrence and something that can be often skipped over.   The reason cheating has become such a persuasive movement is because many students tend to rationalize their cheating behavior. A common rationalization that many students use is, “That’s the only way I’ll get anywhere in life.” Many students also tend to incorporate reasons, such as parental pressures, the aim to be the best, and the lack of time, with their dishonest behavior.
    Since cheating has been a problem in our society, there have been many attempts to rid the world of this problem. Such attempts include creating an honor code, forms of punishment, and possibly a computer integrated classroom. The terms by which an...