Why Does This Happen On Ab?

[ClaryS]

Not a criticism or wind up but....I've been looking at a few recent questions on AB and it seems some questions are dismissed as 'coursework'. Does it matter if its Coursework? some questions are reasonable and often lead to sensible discussion on who would be to blame or the best course of action, so why do people feel the need to dismiss these as irrelevant or the work of 'Trolls'? Surely any question is a good one, it is a Q&A site after all.

[sunny-dave]

It's OK if it is presented 'honestly' - nothing wrong with that at all.

It's when a serious issue is dressed up in spurious 'this really did happen' style - that seems unfair as it engages a lot of (wasted) emotional energy from people trying to help.

[ClaryS]

surely its not wasted though sunny-dave because someone may come along in the future who is having similar problems or a similar genuine question and will be able to read what others have written and gain either useful information or emotional support from the answers.

[joggerjayne]

I don't see a problem with people asking coursework questions.

In fact, it's better to ask here than to Google it.

Why?

Because, if you get an answer from Google, you just have to accept it as it is.

If you get an answer on here, other users might come on and expand on it, or challenge it, or dispute it, so you get a proper discussion around the subject.

Searching on AB should not be seen as "not doing proper research".

It IS research.

Just like reading a book.

But with a few jokes thrown in for good measure.

[naomi24]

I agree Jayne.

[Svejk]

I'm with Dave on this. They should be 'flagged up' as hypothetical. Some people pour their hearts(I'm not one of them,lol) into helping out and it must discourage them from helping in genuine cases when they realise they've been duped.

[bookbinder]

Asking a question about one's coursework on AB is OK. After all, we consult various sources of information when we have to do an essay, and those sources can include books, videos, films, living people, so why not ask on AB? It's a source of information, after all.

[naomi24]

I'm assuming the OP relates to students asking questions about homework or whatever they're studying.

[ClaryS]

How do you know if someone is asking a genuine question or not? ( I am genuine by the way, now I'm getting paranoid but I'm not on any Course) Would your answers be any different if the question was preceded by 'This is my Coursework but...''?

[Prudie]

Playing devil's advocate, if you are meaning school coursework then I don't think it should be answered on here - how are they ever going to learn if they just get other people to do it for them? I'm also envious because when I was at school there was no internet and I had to traipse to the damn library in what should have been my 'play' time.

[ClaryS]

Jordyboy I don't think its 'cheating' as the questions are asking for opinions, expecting differing opinions perhaps so they can explore these opinions in their Coursework. Its not like someone is posting a series of mathematical equations and expecting the answers to be given.

[Prudie]

ah but they do post a series of maths equations Clary

[joggerjayne]

Isn't that like saying ...

How are students ever going to learn if they just get the answer out of a book?

[joggerjayne]

Or ... How are students ever going to learn if they just get teachers to tell them everything?

[poorclare]

One learns but asking, looking it up on Google or in a Textbook

[Dizmo]

I don't see a problem with it as long as the person asking the question actually learns and understands the answer.

[Prudie]

At least then they are probably reading and then writing it down rather than pasting. I certainly wouldn't want my child getting all their homework completed by ABers thanks.

[joggerjayne]

Surely part of the process of learning is ...

Presenting a question, to which you don't know the answer, to someone who might know the answer ...

Receiving and absorbing the information from that person, or being pointed in the right direction by that person ...

And then writing it all down, to demonstrate that, by whatever means, you now do know the answer.

[Dizmo]

I think it is better to learn from someone else instead of having your head jammed in a book. The only downside is that you're putting your trust in someone else. I think human interaction (yes it might be over the Internet but you're still talking/typing with someone) is better than reading out of a book. Teachers wouldn't exist if I was wrong.

[Svejk]

I mean when they post 'dilemma' type questions. Like the 'I tried to save someones life and now I'm being sued' variety.
Could one post, spuriously, about their daughter having lukemia, to stimulate debate?