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

[Pineappleundersea]

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, one of my acquaintances during undergrad was very into sharing the work. Except she never came to our blocked out group revision or study sessions where we each briefed each other indetail, never did her share of the reading, basically wanted free notes (never attended lectures or did the reading) and then free revision strategies and resources (also coursework which went through turnitin as said above). I was generous with my time and help, but saying ‘it make no difference to you’ isn’t quite right - if loads of people get the results without the work it does degrade the grades of the people who did the graft.

I'd give him a few pointers as to how I put flashcards and revision notes together, but he'd have to make his own.

Everything Ivor has said.

I put hours and hours and hours into uni, to the detriment of other parts of my life.

There is no way, no how someone is going to coast off my hard work and I would not risk an accusation of plagiarism for anyone.

I don't understand why he is asking for your flash cards when he told you he had made a set for himself already.

Why does he need yours, when he already --claims to have his own set ?

If he asks again, I would say..you need to do your own revision and work off your own flash cards. Stops a asking for my work.

YANBU. I'm pretty sure the whole point of going to university is to increase your knowledge through independent research. At least, that's what my uni continually reiterate in lectures. The lecturers will not give you everything you need to get above a 2:2. Certainly not in a science degree.
Any notes you take in lectures should be regarding anything not contained in a power point slide. If the lecturer writes it down, you write it down. If the lecturer says "this is important", you make a note of it. But when it comes to the exams, the best marks come from your own research, reading journals, textbooks, websites. I'm pretty sure that not one single lecturer (unless I really wasn't paying attention at that point/it was mentioned right at the end of the final lecture on a Friday) classed reading someone else's notes or flash cards as independent research.

I’d also just give him some pointers. Perhaps he is struggling to make his own flash cards. And helping him out without jeopardising yourself would be a nice thing to do.

But why should she spend her time helping someone else? To be nice? Fuck that. Woman has to be nice, wasting her own study time to help him, lazy man gets higher grades off the back of her hard work. How is that fair or right?

I always help people out. You never know when you might need a favour.

I'd say no, OP.

Sharing is all very nice, but one person lazily piggybacking on another is not.

I always help people out. You never know when you might need a favour

good for you. People are taking advantage of you though.

Perhaps he is struggling to make his own flash cards. And helping him out without jeopardising yourself would be a nice thing to do.

It's not the OPs job to play mummy/teacher to other students who 'might be struggling' (lazy). This guy isn't even her friend!

Don't be such a walk over.

The fact he's asked multiple times would annoy me and make me firmer in my resolve to not let him as he's not listening to you or respecting you.

I was also going to ask are you graded on a bell curve in which case there is competition - I see you mention that.

There could be some phrase you've used in your notes that sums something up bang on and he might start using it so I'd be wary of that. Time to get tougher and tell him to not ask again.

I agree with Summer - in my job, I've seen students referred for academic misconduct when they have good-naturedly shared their work with other students who have just copied it. Worst case scenario, he "borrows" from you too directly in his assessment and you're both penalised for collusion.