Just on the news:
A survey of students:
… and I’ll just bet you that some of that 7% who aren’t satisfied are probably the most honest of the bunch and just have very strict standards for themselves.
I am SO thankful that I teach oboe and not something else. It’s very difficult to cheat on an oboe lesson. Even if a student lies and said he or she practiced I can often tell when that student hasn’t. (I have sneaky little ways to check this, too … it’s not just based on a student’s performance.)
I really have no tolerance for dishonesty. It really ticks me off. 🙁
I thought I heard something about CEOs/mega-successful-types being less honest than others, but I have no references (passing radio survey thing, didn’t have a chance to analyze it). I do believe the classic “power corrupts” cliche should be considered to include “celebrity corrupts even more,” myself. Two random examples (dating myself): Orenthal James Simpson and William Jefferson Clinton (to avoid misunderstanding, while I was disgusted with Mr. Clinton’s actions, I was equally – or more – disgusted with his persecution for those actions by a political party – and I belong to no political party).
I guess what I’m saying is, what happens when every time someone does something evil (no, I don’t think that’s too strong a word) all they hear is “it’s ok, you’re special.”?
I’m not sure that survey is really so contradictory as it seems. Was it asking if the students habitually cheated/stole/plagiarized, or if they’d done it once or twice? I don’t see anything wrong or contradictory with someone having made a mistake but generally being satisfied with their ethics.