I'm Not Above Cheating!

I’m not above cheating; yet, I cherish honesty above all else!

Doublespeak? First, hear me out; then decide!

One of the tasks in the SWAG challenge is "Live Chat" participation. However, I must admit that the chat requirement is not my favorite activity. Why? Well, it has everything to do with my feelings of inadequacy in that setting. You see, I still feel as though I have very little to contribute to other members of the community because, compared to most of those using chat, I know so little.

In chat, you can participate primarily in two ways: Ask a question or help someone else who has a question.

I could never think of a meaningful question to ask because, most of the time, all my questions have already been dealt with in other ways. So, after opening the chat feature, I would introduce myself and then read the comments on screen…waiting for an opportunity to help someone else.

Most of the questions asked were beyond my ability to respond to in a helpful way, but occasionally, a relatively easy question would be asked, and I—thoroughly elated—would start preparing my brilliant response.

TOO LATE! Foiled again!

By the time I had my answer formulated and typed out (I am a very slow typist), someone else would answer the question. And, unless I had some unique perspective to add to the discussion, it was pointless for me to simply reiterate what had already been said.

Yet, I was determined to participate in chat in a meaningful way. Thus, I decided to cheat. Here’s what I did.

First, I decided NOT to directly compete with those far more knowledgeable than I am. So, since I am a natural night dweller anyway, I decided to save my chat time until the wee hours of the morning, when there are not so many members on chat.

IT WORKED!

The first time out, I was able to answer two questions on chat within a 20-minute time span and added some insight on one other. This was good practice for me because later, I planned on returning to prime time to do the same. Also, after doing this for several sessions, I learned some other tidbits that will help me chat with the best of them.

Next, I found that I don’t have to have all the answers. If I can add some unique or unusual aspect to the discussion, that is a good thing. It also helped me to learn to think about an issue in novel ways that increase my own understanding of that issue.

Finally, in addition, just doing it helped to increase my ability to…well…just do it! Most of that initial fear is now dissipated.

WIN WIN!

So, I began this post by stating: “I’m not above cheating; yet, I cherish honesty above all else.”

Then, I posed the question: Doublespeak? First, hear me out; then decide!

Well, after you have examined the evidence, I would hope you’d say something like this:

“Why, sure it’s doublespeak…and he IS a cheater!” “But, I’m going to give this person a pass because it’s furthering his WA journey and he is better able to help others in the community…

Honestly!