   Dilemma : Friends vs Programming
  So im in college. So here is the dilemma. For semesters( past, current, and future), I have had my friends copy my work either because they weren't capable of doing the work( because of the lack of skill ),or actually thats probably the reason. Now the work they copy off me are either from my math class hw, a programming lab work, or they usually ends up being my partner for projects for many classes and I end up doingall of the programming work because they really don't have the programming skill. Now I don't really mind because I love coding. So its actually a pleasure for me. But I'm a little distress because he doesn't do much workand at the end this is going to affect him. Example, I have a internship and he doesn't. This isn't just one friend, its multiple. And next semester, they ended up signing up for the same classes as me. So what shouldI do? Next semester is my last btw. So do I just hold it out for another semester? I don't want to offend him because they are good friend. I'm worried a little for them because next semester they will be senior majoring in computer science and engineering. What do you guys think I should do? I would help and explain what I do, but I'm afraid the programming we are doing are above their level to completely understand, thus it wastes my time which is very limited for me because of my work load. Advice and thoughts would be great. regards, D.Chhetri   
  Rather than letting him copy off you, try getting it so he learns the material.  This can be done in several ways.  Come up with an excuse, similar to you're too busy, etc.  Or offer to help him learn.  Or split the project.Depending upon the level of friendship, the above should be able to work.  If not, then are they really a friend?  Now, you most likely will get some BS from other people about time will come back to bite him and he'll only hurt himself in the future, but from personal experience, I've rarely seen that happen.  Life is not a hollywood movie where karma works as advertised.  If they're cheating off you now, and you withdraw help, most likely they'll just cheat off someone else, and you'll ruin your friendship with them.  But honestly, being an enabler isn't going to work well in the long run either.  Work on changing their pov's.   ;  That's pretty stupid to cheat through computer science and engineering degrees.  O_o   If I can't do the work then I'd rather just fail out and try again than cheat my way through and not have any ability when I get a real job.I would say screw those clowns.They are obviously a bunch of immature idiots.;  I don't believe you. Anyone can tell if a programming assignment is copied or close to another one. I've been a teaching assistant for one semester and I already caught two students doing what you're doing (I caught it after the second assignment I graded) and most universities have very strong academic dishonesty policies.I think you're hurting them and stopping them from becoming competent programmers.  Or at the very least stopping them from pursuing something else. I had a friend that struggled with the CS major and switched to finance for instance once he found the classes to be too difficult.   ;So im in college. So here is the dilemma. For semesters( past, current, and future), I have had my friends copy my work either because they weren't capable of doing the work( because of the lack of skill ),or actually thats probably the reason. Now the work they copy off me are either from my math class hw, a programming lab work, or they usually ends up being my partner for projects for many classes and I end up doingall of the programming work because they really don't have the programming skill. Now I don't really mind because I love coding. So its actually a pleasure for me. But I'm a little distress because he doesn't do much workand at the end this is going to affect him. Example, I have a internship and he doesn't. This isn't just one friend, its multiple. And next semester, they ended up signing up for the same classes as me. So what shouldI do? You are too nice.  Get some tattoos and start caring less . But really, you shouldn't care that much for them.  If it's just one person who really needs your help, you can probably coach him.  But if it's multiple, then ignore them.  They are using you.  You are the smart guy.  They are going to latch on to you until they get what they want (a CS degree), then they would be off with their own life.  No, they won't remember that you have helped them.Next semester is my last btw. So do I just hold it out for another semester? I don't want to offend him because they are good friend. I'm worried a little for them because next semester they will be senior majoring in computer science and engineering. What do you guys think I should do? I would help and explain what I do, but I'm afraid the programming we are doing are above their level to completely understand, thus it wastes my time which is very limited for me because of my work load. Advice and thoughts would be great. [/quote]Then let it be your last semester and move on to better opportunity for you.  You are not doing any evil.  You have helped them this far, and they are not your kids for heaven's sake.  They should learn how to use their own brain for their own good.;  If I were you, at this point I'd probably stop letting them copy. A CS or engineering degree isn't one like Communications, which is basically meaningless and doesn't matter if you've mastered the material presented or not. If they graduate with no skills they will not be able to hack it in real life. Maybe having to do more than copy will prompt them to start working and salvage what they can of their expensive educational experience. One semester isn't going to be enough for them to compensate for the other 7, but it's better than nothing. And who knows? Maybe they'll stay on an extra year to "complete an interesting minor" or something and learn enough to not be total drains on potential employers.Although on second thought, they're probably not as badly off as I first guessed. To be passing their courses, they must be doing at least acceptably on their exams, which they are less likely to be copying/cheating through than assignments. They're blowing off homework, lab work, and partner project work, all of which can be blown off, regardless of the ability of the blower. They must still be passable students, just lazy ones who aren't as good as they might have been had they not skipped so much. Maybe they're good programmers who can't be bothered with the busywork, or maybe they're lazy and barely competent. Either way, they're not likely headed for stellar success in the field.Whatever you do, don't let them get you to be their remedial tutor. Your time is too valuable to compensate for their years worth of lack of investment, whether you're doing work for a class, taking a nap, watching TV, getting drunk at a party, or whatever. Schools offer tutors and professors keep office hours-- let the people who are paid to deal with it deal with it. They've already largely shown what kinds of programmers (or workers in any field) they'll be, and no matter what you do for the last few months of college that's not likely to change. Out of school, water will find its own level.   ;A CS or engineering degree isn't one like Communications, which is basically meaningless and doesn't matter if you've mastered the material presented or not.I believe in the engineering program they have a saying along the lines of "If you cheat in engineering classes, you will kill people later". I did a rather lengthy ethics report on case studies and it's kind of depressing where a simple programming error kills people. (Therac-25 is the common case study).   ;  The majority is to stop helping them, but its not that easy for me.  They are my friends and I would feel bad just cutting them loose like that. Plus they help me sometimes as well, if they can. And maybe my firstpost came off as a little harsh, they're not stupid, they just have weak programming skills. I would definitely try to help them learn more, but I just don't have the time. I told them to practice on their free time, butI guess that passion is not there for them.   ;The majority is to stop helping them, but its not that easy for me.  They are my friends and I would feel bad just cutting them loose like that. Plus they help me sometimes as well, if they can. And maybe my firstpost came off as a little harsh, they're not stupid, they just have weak programming skills. I would definitely try to help them learn more, but I just don't have the time. I told them to practice on their free time, butI guess that passion is not there for them.Just tell them that you are pursuing another opportunity.  Don't hold yourself back just because you feel bad abandoning your friends.  Let me them know if they need help they can always email you or call your or something.   ;[quote name='D.Chhetri' timestamp='1303674665' post='4802394']The majority is to stop helping them, but its not that easy for me.  They are my friends and I would feel bad just cutting them loose like that. Plus they help me sometimes as well, if they can. And maybe my firstpost came off as a little harsh, they're not stupid, they just have weak programming skills. I would definitely try to help them learn more, but I just don't have the time. I told them to practice on their free time, butI guess that passion is not there for them.Just tell them that you are pursuing another opportunity.  Don't hold yourself back just because you feel bad abandoning your friends.  Let me them know if they need help they can always email you or call your or something.[/quote]I'm not sure what you mean? But they are in all of my classes so I can't really avoid them.   