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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Trivial one... AIBU not to share my notes/flashcards?

138 replies

Pineappleundersea · 19/10/2017 11:30

I’ve gone back to university in my late 20’s. As part of my studying/revision process, I make flashcards on a website, but I make them private.

One of the students on my course has asked me multiple times to make them publically available. I don’t want to. He’s said I can look at his (but I don’t want to). I feel like I’m being a bit of an arsehole.

I suppose my reasoning is: I put all the work in, why should someone access it for free?

My friend said that it’s irrational not to share them, as I’ve already made them so I don’t really lose out by sharing. But I feel like someone’s benefitting from my effort and I get nothing in return.

OP posts:
viques · 19/10/2017 12:07

You could always offer to let him see the flash cards, but warn him first that you have included five that have been made up with deliberately misleading information so he needs to check his own notes as well as pimping off yours.........

Wink
Icouldbeknitting · 19/10/2017 12:09

What I'd do in this situation is irrelevant. It comes down to what you want to do. If you don't want to share your revision work - don't share it. It is your choice and you don't have to justify it to anyone.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not sharing my revision notes, make your own" Repeat as many times as is necessary.

BrandNewHouse · 19/10/2017 12:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AtHomeDadGlos · 19/10/2017 12:11

Mrs What? That literally made no sense. No I’ve not been looking at your old posts - you certainly know how ham it up though.

And also, helping with a costume isn’t the same at someone expecting to use revision notes. Revision notes are really only useful if you’ve made them yourself, otherwise you might just as well rely on the initial notes in class/from textbooks. A more compelling example would’ve been if you’d shared notes on acting styles etc you’d got from lectures.

Also, your reaction to me is incredibly OTT and, to be honest, a little sexist.

LagunaBubbles · 19/10/2017 12:11

Erm yes. By returning the favour with his cards

A favour returned is only a favour if its something the person wants or needs. Neither applies to OP as she is perfectly happy with her own FC - why would she need some lazy persons who cant be bothered doing their own and likely then wouldnt be as good as her own?

sinceyouask · 19/10/2017 12:13

Why on earth would anyone think you should share your flashcards? How weird. They are yours. There is no reason for you to share them if you don't want to. If you did want to, fine, but you don't (and I wouldn't either), and I'm really not getting why people think you should!

Assburgers · 19/10/2017 12:14

I’m with Mrsovertheroad

I think we could be so much further along, as a species, if we all shared what we have learnt.

Imagine if all the drugs companies shared the results of their experiments. Thanks to capitalism, they won’t though.

You lose absolutely nothing by sharing your notes. Do you perhaps view that this person being successful would dampen your own success?

YetAnotherSpartacus · 19/10/2017 12:15

I'd be worried about being called up for cheating or plagiarism, especially if phrases or even entire sentences appeared in both your assessments or exams. Be careful.

worridmum · 19/10/2017 12:15

I just hope you are not off sick and people refuse to give you notes for the lecture you missed as we had someone on our course exactly like the OP wouldn't share notes even when someone was off sick, so word got around and NO ONE would share with her at all she started to moan that she had to extra work because no one would share notes with her.....

And she didnt put 2 and 2 together you dont share notes no one will share with you

chickenowner · 19/10/2017 12:16

If you don't want to share your work then you don't have to.

When I was at university I used to attend all my lectures and tutorials, and make notes.

There was one other student who was always missing lectures and she decided to be really nice to me one day and then ask to borrow my notes.

I said that they were at home and then I kept 'forgetting' to bring them in for her. Silly me!

There was NO way I was letting her skive off and then benefit from me turning up every day and working hard!

Original poster
Pineappleundersea · 19/10/2017 12:17

worridmum I’ve studied a degree in the past and never found myself in a situation where I have needed someone else’s notes. I don’t really see why you ever would?

OP posts:
IamtheDevilsAvocado · 19/10/2017 12:17

Is this person helpful to you /others generally?

Or is he one of those delightful CFs that sidle up to you when exams are looming and ask you outrageous favours and then ignore you the rest of the time?

Or share one side of the cards and not the answers.. Or only the answers.... That'll confuse 'im!

Original poster
Pineappleundersea · 19/10/2017 12:19

He’s not helpful in any way. I once lent him money for lunch and it was never returned. Also I just dislike him as a person, but that’s another story.

OP posts:
YetAnotherSpartacus · 19/10/2017 12:19

Sharing notes taken from lectures is different from sharing materials designed for revision.

LemonysSnicket · 19/10/2017 12:20

Well unless you’re headed in a curve then it doesn’t really hider you. But you did the work so you get to pick if you share

MrsOverTheRoad · 19/10/2017 12:20

AtHomeDad then what were you rattling on about copywriters for? Hmm

Looking forward to hearing your reasoning behind that comment.

Original poster
Pineappleundersea · 19/10/2017 12:20

If drugs companies shared all the results of their experiments for free, how would the research be funded? I don’t understand that argument. Pharmaceutical business is hardly a good example of ethical capitalism, but that’s taking things to the other extreme..

OP posts:
LemonysSnicket · 19/10/2017 12:20

Graded on a curve * ffs

LemonysSnicket · 19/10/2017 12:20

Plus making them makes you remember far more easily so that’s what you’ve gotten out of it

AtHomeDadGlos · 19/10/2017 12:20

Interesting point about the drugs companies - they certainly do make a lot of money from them.

However, to expect drugs to be given away for free would mean there was less money to spent on researching new drugs. Unless you’d advocate for the drugs industry being nationalised which isn’t probably a reality.

Unfortunately, for the all ills and abuses of capitalism it probably is the best economic model we have.

Original poster
Pineappleundersea · 19/10/2017 12:21

We aren’t graded on a curve as such, but we are ranked at the end, which can make a huge difference to your career path. So there is an element of competition and grades matter a lot.

OP posts:
IvorHughJars · 19/10/2017 12:22

I'm a lecturer. My advice to you is not to share any of your academic work with your colleagues on the course unless they're people you are studying with reciprocally (for broad topics it can be really good practice to split readings between small groups of study pals who can then brief the others on their section, for example). If you allow sight of your notes and both you and the person you've shared with use the exact same language in an assignment this will be highlighted by Turnitin, or whatever programme your institution uses, and you could both find yourselves accused of plagiarism. Also, you should never feel pressured by any of your colleagues to participate in something that you don't want to participate in. Say no clearly and if he doesn't get th message then raise it with the module lead who can deliver a generic message to the whole group reminding them of their responsibilities to behave with respect towards their peers.

DJBaggySmalls · 19/10/2017 12:22

Yanbu, and the hat anecdote isn't an analogy.
Its not like he missed a class and needs to catch up, he hasn't asked you to show him how to make revision cards, he's just idle.

Billben · 19/10/2017 12:25

I wouldn't share with him either, sorry. If I was happy with my own notes then his notes would be of no use to me. He probably thinks you have better notes than he does that's why he is so insistent. Don't give in.

Assburgers · 19/10/2017 12:26

I’m not suggesting that anyone gives away free drugs - just that data, all data, be open source. It’s something I believe in (& work in).

The only good reason for not sharing your notes is the one above regarding plagiarism. In this case, it’s not exactly data that is being shared, rather a way of expressing things. Depends what your notes are, I guess.