If you have to cheat to win...

Did you really win?

According to my up-bringing ... The answer would be "No!" You make your choices, and YOU are the one who has to live with them. Cheating takes away from your own self-respect. A clear conscience is more valueable than a false trophy for "winning at all cost."

In my day, we didn't have self-esteem, we had self-respect, and no more of it than we had earned. ~ Jane Haddam

Of course, there ARE those who think like this:
There are two types of people in this world, good and bad. The good sleep better, but the bad seem to enjoy the waking hours much more. ~ Woody Allen

Does anyone else know Droopy Dog? I was raised with him.

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I absolutely ! understood the "morality" of that ^ concept and I
believed every word of it.

It was truly a HUGE disappointment /disillusionment / blow
to my belief in very-many things (and people) when I learned
that cheaters DO win; they win a lot !

I have not noticed that it keeps them awake at night.

("Depending", of course, on what is won...) - the grade is theirs;
the salary is more; the accolades are awarded ... and on and on - ad naseum.

Knowing "But they DIDN'T really ! win" is not a big comfort.
Feeling "morally superior" is not a big comfort either - and it is risky.

I live day-to-day in the 'real world' now. (Not many Unicorns.)
In this world, cheating goes on [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.](and on ! ) - all day,
every! day - and at ALL "levels" - from an unearned
(but recorded -and-HIGHER) grade, to abuse of power -
by the small and petty because they ! are small, petty people
and they take it out when-and-wherever 'because they can !'
and on it goes up ! to some of our Supreme Court Justices.
It is a HUGE disappointment for me that I no longer trust them.

Cheating of all kinds extends to the entire world and every 'walk of life'.
It is "human" and it is very real.
(The professed "Godly" among us are an excellent example of
cheaters "winning".)
It doesn't appear to hold "them" back; it doesn't even slow them down.

I don't cheat - much - [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] and then only with myself -
(I also only COMPETE! against myself) because I know me
and I know from past experience that I would never forget how I "won".
It would take ALL the fun and reward out it.
The [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] morality lesson stuck.

People who cheat would not do it if their alleged conscience bothered them -
or if they truly did/do believe in a God. That ... is one hell ! of a chance to take !

I also did not read to my son most the Fairy Tales
I grew up with (and loved ! sooo much !) because they lie.
(One of the 'BEST LINES EVER' -IMO, of course, [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] is,
"Happily-ever-after is just a story that isn't finished yet."

Greg was also "peeved" (very peeved !) with ME when he learned
that cheaters do indeed 'prosper'... and that I knew that !
and that they do so with no visible-to-the-naked-eye comebacks.
(Yup. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] I told him what I was told and what I believe.)

There is a difference between knowing 'Cheaters do-indeed "win" '
...
and being willing to condone it and/or encourage/recommend it.

From that point on, how he handles what he handles is between him and him.
(I think he's stuck with 'But it's WRONG !' too. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] )
Oh - not "[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]" because I don't think he cheats (I'm happy! about that!)
- but because he's stuck with "It's WROOONG" too. Bummer.

You know... once again I am 10 years old and "But it isn't fair !" still burns. };>

What?!? You did ask...

Ja'aj... I understand that completely.
I also understand the satisfaction I get from doing something the right way, no cheating involved. lol It may not get me any money, but those who value an honest way of doing things will remember that. And yes... I have a sense of pride for being ABLE to accomplish things without cheating.
The way I see it... ANYBODY can cheat, but it takes those with more substance and character to stick to being "winners" by doing things the fair and right way. It says a lot about a person. I'd rather cheating didn't speak for me.

Bree,
Actually, anybody can try to cheat. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Very few are good-enough at it to have it work for them.
You can see some of the truly skilled / gited cheats in
our top government ... andalso a lot of rank imitations .
It is a kind of gift to cheat - to have EVERYone ! know
they were cheated; that it was you who cheated them ...
AND have those people STILL tell others how GREAT!
you were.
"What did he know ... and when did he know it. "};>
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As I said - it isn't my choice [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
(and I'd probably be not nearly ! good-enough at it)
- but it does accomplish several things - for the cheat.