Shortcuts and Shadows

11/16/2025

Image: Courtesy of Bhabna Banerjee, Creative Director

Cheating shows up everywhere: classrooms, friendships, sports, jobs, even online. It’s so common that people often overlook the bigger question: why does it happen in the first place? Some say it’s about pressure. Others say it’s about opportunity. And sometimes, it’s simply a moment where someone chooses the easiest path instead of the honest one. But regardless of the reason, cheating always leaves a mark, even when nobody gets caught.

There’s also the question of what cheating does to the people around us. When someone bends the rules, it can create a quiet ripple that affects trust, fairness, and how people see one another. Some folks act like it’s not a big deal, while other folk feel like it shows you easily betray people.

At the same time, cheating shows our values. If winning matters more than learning, or appearance matters more than integrity, people will find shortcuts. How do you show your face with pride if you know you cheated to get that "A" or pass that test and your grandma, parents, and friends cheer you on, talk about how proud they are, or brag about you to everyone they know? How do you feel accomplished when the praise isn’t really yours? It belongs to the version of you they think they know.

Let's Write! Is cheating, on tests, in relationships, in life, yourself, ever okay? Why or Why not?

INSTRUCTIONS

1. INCLUDE: Last Name, First Initial, AND Class Block. You do not have to include an email address or a website.

2. Respond to the post. Read the entire post, including watching any videos or reading any articles attached. Do not post vague or ambiguous commentary. Your post should have depth, be thoughtful, and provide specific, meaningful insight. Make sure it addresses the topic and encourages reflection, discussion, or a connection.

3. You MUST comment on at least TWO other posts from any student in any class. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.

4. Language. Do NOT use profanity. Vague or repeated responses will not be accepted in your post or replies.

5. Disrespectful comments will not be accepted and will result in a zero whether you do the assignment or not.

REMINDERS

**Set a weekly alarm or calendar timer. Whatever you do to remember other important events, I'd do the same for this assignment.

**Don't wait until the last minute. Telling me that you didn't do the assignment on Friday because you broke your leg, for example, on Thursday will not do anything for you when you've had a week. Be responsible and accountable.

**How to post. Click in the top right hand corner or the lower left hand corner where it says Comments to access the discussion board. Once there, scroll to the bottom of the page to post a Reply. After, choose comments from at least two students from any class and Reply to what they wrote.

CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school, your family or your upbringing with tasteless, meaningless comments. This is for a grade.

DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you do not write your name correctly, and I don't see your work, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you use profanity, you will not receive credit for the work. It's all or nothing.

WARNING: If you post even one second past midnight, your comment might appear to be posted, but as soon as it is opened to be graded, it will automatically delete.

Due Fri., November 21, 11:59 p.m. CST

Taneilyha Jones-Blunt

11/19/2025 12:20:52 pm

I believe cheating is never okay because cheating erodes trust, which is a foundational element in relationships, academic integrity, and social contracts. Once trust is broken, it can be incredibly difficult to repair.Also cheating creates an unfair advantage, disadvantaging those who follow the rules and work honestly. It also can lead to severe consequences, including academic expulsion, relationship dissolution, legal penalties, or professional ruin.

Watson S 1A

11/20/2025 08:40:58 am

I agree with you stating that "cheating creates an unfair advantage, disadvantaging those who follow the rules and work honestly." It is unfair because those that take the time to do their work actually worked for the grade they received.

Washington B 1A

11/20/2025 09:23:43 am

I also agre when you say "cheating creates unfair advantages" because it does when you parther is being loyal and giving you everything your going behind there back and doing things you aren't supposed to do

ladainian williams

11/21/2025 11:03:10 am

I agree with this statement and its very unfair

Washington B

11/20/2025 09:17:37 am

Fraire.Y 1A

11/20/2025 10:37:06 am

Yes cheating dose create a unfair advantage,because there are some people that do try ther best and work for what they want if you are cheating you are taking the easy way out of things and not actually working for your things.

ladainian williams

11/21/2025 11:04:14 am

I also agree with this taking the easy way out of things never turns out good later

Scales A 7B

11/21/2025 01:43:02 pm

I agree because it takes a while to build trust in a relationship, so once it is broken it will be a lot of trust issues.

Taneilyha Jones-Blunt

11/19/2025 12:21:03 pm

Washington B

11/20/2025 09:16:02 am

i agree with you saying "Once trust is broken , it can be incredibly difficult to reair." it can be hard in so many ways because they'll always have to worry about you doing something behind there back

Wideman C 1A

11/20/2025 09:23:32 am

I agree cheating is not okay because it can mess up trust no matter what kind of trust it is because cheating is basically saying you didn't work for it and try because in life no matter who it is everyone gots to get taught lessons in life.

Washington B 1A

11/20/2025 09:24:01 am

Cervantes Y 2A

11/20/2025 12:19:36 pm

I agree because if your cheating it could affect the trust you will get from people

Cervantes Y 2A

11/20/2025 12:20:20 pm

i agree because it could really hurt people and their feelings

Valdez K. 2A

11/21/2025 05:48:14 pm

I agree. Cheating is just a bad habit that causes harm to others by creating unfair advantages for people who don't work for it and harm to oneself because you could end up in serious trouble (and because you simply won't know how to navigate life on your own).

Watson S 1A

11/20/2025 08:34:56 am

I don't think cheating is okay, it could mislead people that think they know you. Cheating in relationships, on assignments and even in games can cause a lack of trust to come from the people around you. If you have a record of being a liar/cheater it is hard to redeem yourself from that and people may tell others not to trust you.

Fraire.Y 1A

11/20/2025 10:34:50 am

Yes,it creates a record but not also that it shows people that you will probably end up doing it again that why they won't be able to have trust fror you like you said.

Scales A 7B

11/21/2025 01:46:00 pm

I agree, cheating should be bad to be known as, and you should try first or ask a friend for examples on a assignment. and in a relationship just break up instead of cheating.

Washington B

11/20/2025 09:13:05 am

I don't think cheating is okay, it can make people think bad about you and not only could it ruin you it could ruin your reputation because people will never trust you or be with you because they would always have something to worry about.

Washington B 1A

11/20/2025 09:22:34 am

Watson S 1A

11/20/2025 09:25:03 am

I agree that cheating could ruin your reputation. It causes mistrust and people wouldn't know what to believe from you.

Cervantes Y 2A

11/20/2025 12:21:02 pm

I agree because it could really affect yourself and how people think or even trust about you

Nunez B 7B

11/21/2025 01:31:45 pm

I agree with this comment because I could ruin a lot of things that can affect anything you try to do.

Larios, A 7B

11/21/2025 02:02:13 pm

I agree, and not just that but when you cheat on your partner that scars them. Now they lose the ability to trust ANYONE for a long time or forever.

Washington B 1A

11/20/2025 09:23:19 am

Chavez D. 7B

11/21/2025 01:49:46 pm

I agree, cheating is not okay. The damage it can do to yourself and your reputation is never worth it. Especially the damage it can do to someone else's ability to trust you.

Fraire.Y 1A

11/20/2025 10:30:44 am

I dont think that cheating is ever ok it just gives you the easy way out of thing but not also that it shows your not able to keep a promise for yourself, the person or thing your cheating on it also shows that you really don't care enough for you to put enough effort in to it.

Chavez D. 7B

11/21/2025 01:57:16 pm

I agree, cheating is never okay. I especially agree on the point where you said, "It shows you're not able to keep a promise to yourself." And I think that's the worst part about cheating, the lack of self-respect that you have for yourself and others. Because if you can't respect yourself, how can you have respect for others.

Cervantes Y 2A

11/20/2025 12:18:33 pm

I think that cheating is not okay it just gives you the things easier to you and you dont care about it or even the person

ladainian williams

11/21/2025 11:01:13 am

cheating is not okay only because once you get older in life you cant cheat. also if you go through some bad since you were cheating so much its not gone be easy as you think.

Larios, A 7B

11/21/2025 02:00:47 pm

I agree, it can "work" for now but you will hit a dead end where you're the only one who doesn't know how to do certain things just because you cheated that one time back then.

Nunez B 7B

11/21/2025 01:29:45 pm

Cheating is not okay but I know doing it in certain situations could help you in something you are trying to achieve. Cheating will come back to you cause everything you do will come back to you so you should try to avoid it in life as mush as possible.

Scales A 7B

11/21/2025 01:37:41 pm

Cheating is too normalized that makes some people feel like it's okay to do when in reality it's something you should be ashamed of. People who feel the need to cheat on their significant other should be considered disloyal and unfaithful. They always end up getting the same treatment that they did.

Kenechi O 6B

11/21/2025 11:58:49 pm

I agree with this comment because cheating can possibly ruin someones well-being and have an impact on their personal life.

Chavez D. 7B

11/21/2025 01:44:29 pm

I believe that cheating is never okay, in any aspect of life. This is because if you start cheating it is going to leave a ripple effect of mistrust. And that mistrust can negatively impact you in your relationships, work life, school and so many other aspects of your life, but most importantly, the ability to trust in yourself when cheating isn't an option. Ultimately, it is the person that you become that relies on cheating that suffers the most from their own actions.

Valdez K. 2A

11/21/2025 05:45:06 pm

I agree. Cheating on something small and getting away with it is a gateway into a vicious cycle of relying on everything and everyone but oneself, which in the end just does more harm than the temporary good it did.

Larios, A 7B

11/21/2025 01:58:31 pm

Cheating to society is not okay but there are so many people who bend their morals and create excuses for why they did what they "had" to do.You slowly lose all respect for yourself as a human being. If you cant be faithful to yourself how will you be faithful to others or when no one is looking?

Valdez K. 2A

11/21/2025 05:41:16 pm

Cheating is never okay. End of story. It doesn't matter if you cheat on school assignments, cheat on your partner, or cheat on the job, in any aspect you choose to act deceitfully it'll just come back to you and the "easy way out" will quickly become worse than if you had integrity to begin with. Cheating doesn't allow you to be true to yourself and display who you are, it simply displays the fact that you don't know yourself and don't value the journey and lessons that comes with living. For example, cheating on a test in the moment may seem beneficial because you get instant gratification (which would be an easy grade and a quick way into college), but by cheating you only sabotage yourself because when the time comes to actually use those skills and you have nothing or anybody to rely on but yourself, you'll be lost.

Kenechi O 6B

11/21/2025 11:57:14 pm

I agree with this comment because it makes someone questing their value and worth.

Kenechi, O 6B

11/21/2025 11:55:56 pm

I think cheating is not good in general because it breaks the trust and honesty that ruins relationships, and everyone else involved.

Comments are closed.

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Mixed Ink is our class blog, the window into our souls. It was designed to improve students' writing, critical thinking and communication skills by giving them a platform to provide meaningful content based on their interpretation of what they see.

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