•Re^2: Finding longest palindrome from a string

in reply to Re: Finding longest palindrome from a string
in thread Finding longest palindrome from a string

When you mentioned in #perl last night that you intended to make a SoPW post about this, I assumed you would have also mentioned that it was for a job application.

Limbic~Region, thanks for that revelation. I've both notified the original job posting author directly, and posted this travesty in use.perl blog for awareness.

I can only hope that I never meet BUU in person, especially at a job hiring situtation. This is despicable. This is worse than homework, because it's about getting a job, by cheating.

-- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker
Be sure to read my standard disclaimer if this is a reply.

Comment on •Re^2: Finding longest palindrome from a string

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Re^3: Finding longest palindrome from a string by PhilHibbs (Hermit) on Aug 13, 2004 at 14:26 UTC
Methinks this might be a slight over-reaction (*Update:* or might have been, based on your original text), given that BUU did post his original solution to the problem. He may well have intended to go to the interview, describe his code, and then say "here are some alternatives that I solicited on Perl Monks", which is a valid thing to do when trying to solve a job-related Perl problem. One could say that he is showing initiative. Sure, it would have been polite to point this out in the OP. Maybe I'm too forgiving, but I always try to see the positive side.	[reply]
•Re^4: Finding longest palindrome from a string by merlyn (Sage) on Aug 13, 2004 at 14:34 UTC
I know if I were an interviewer asking that question, I would have explicitly said "using whatever resources you have available... here's a terminal" if I had intended that. Instead, the question appears to be about a person's personal skills and knowledge. -- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker Be sure to read my standard disclaimer if this is a reply.	[reply]
Re^5: Finding longest palindrome from a string by PhilHibbs (Hermit) on Aug 13, 2004 at 14:42 UTC
Surely part of being "a totally kickass hacker" is your ability to use Internet resources effectively. I can see why you compare it with homework, but to me it's less abusive to do this for job interviews than it is for homework. Homework is designed to educate, so cheating is cheating. This is the real world. Tangentially, I'm sure BUU didn't get to be Saint in (presumably) under two years by being a mediocre Perl hacker. Don't read too much into that arguement, though, I don't know how easy it is to troll your way to Sainthood 'round here.	[reply]
Re^6: Finding longest palindrome from a string by tilly (Archbishop) on Aug 14, 2004 at 19:55 UTC
Re^3: Finding longest palindrome from a string by etcshadow (Priest) on Aug 13, 2004 at 14:28 UTC
Not only is it cheating... but it's also plagiarism (of a sort)... no where does he mention that he ripped off this brain teaser from someone else. (Namely me, my boss, and a friend.) `------------ :Wq Not an editor command: Wq` [download]	[reply] [d/l]
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Re^3: Finding longest palindrome from a string by Aristotle (Chancellor) on Aug 13, 2004 at 15:03 UTC
Your reaction to notify the author is exactly what I would have done. But no more. I voted "keep" in your consideration for deletion. Deleting BUU's node alone would be ineffective as it leaves all the replies with solutions lingering, but these replies are valid contributions in their own right and deletion is not justified merely because they're in reply to a deceptive node. Further, any possible damage is already done at this point and cannot be averted by deleting the parent node, which would rob the replies of their context. An editorial amendment of the node might be called for, but deleting it would be counterproductive. Makeshifts last the longest.	[reply]
Re^3: Finding longest palindrome from a string by BUU (Prior) on Aug 13, 2004 at 20:57 UTC
Let me repeat myself in large letters merlyn. I HAD NO INTENTIONS OF EVER STEALING PEOPLES CODE TO GET A JOB . Do you get it now? I DO NOT WANT TO CHEAT TO GET THE JOB. I just assumed other people would enjoy solving this problem, since I enjoyed writing the code. Shame on you merlyn, for the same reasons as limbic~region. You have no evidence that I have ever cheated to get a job (because I never have or will). All you have is some unfounded slander from limbic~region saying that "I want to cheat" or some such, and you launch off to critically castigate me, not only here, but posted to use.perl.org, a much more public site, WITHOUT EVEN CONSIDERING THAT THERE BE MORE TO THE ISSUE. Now I have large amounts of slander over something I HAVE NEVER DONE, WILL NEVER DO, AND HAD NO INTENTION OF DOING, and some people will probably never believe it, all because of some baseless slander.	[reply]
•Re^4: Finding longest palindrome from a string by merlyn (Sage) on Aug 13, 2004 at 21:05 UTC
First, it's libel, not slander. Libel is printed, slander is spoken. Second, I never said you cheated to get a job. Only that this might be an indication that you are. In absence of further evidence, it still remains a possible explanation of the visible facts. Third, I will now need to take you on your word that you didn't not intend to cheat, even though this is inconsistent (in my mind) with the rest of your actions around this issue. I understand what you are saying, but it still smells. -- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker Be sure to read my standard disclaimer if this is a reply. update: OK, having read L-R's description, I'm more convinced you just lied to me in attempting to defend yourself. Admittedly, it's hearsay, but I'm now saying it smells even worse.	[reply]
Re^5: Finding longest palindrome from a string by Aristotle (Chancellor) on Aug 14, 2004 at 00:26 UTC
Posting the question on PerlMonks doesn't seem like a particularly subtle way to cheat yourself into a job, especially when you have already mentioned in another context where monks hang out that the challenge was taken from a job listing. I have no more evidence to go by than you, but I find it hard to believe that BUU would be so delusional as to think this would go unnoticed. I do agree, of course, that his failure to mention his source is inexcusable. Makeshifts last the longest.	[reply]
Re^5: Finding longest palindrome from a string by BUU (Prior) on Aug 13, 2004 at 21:49 UTC
Excuse my misuse of the term "slander". I shall now use "libel" when ever I refer to it in the printed press. update: OK, having read L-R's description, I'm more convinced you just lied to me in attempting to defend yourself. Admittedly, it's heresay, but I'm now saying it smells even worse. What, pray tell, exactly did I lie about? My intentions? My intentions were exactly as stated.	[reply]
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I HAD NO INTENTIONS OF EVER STEALING PEOPLES CODE TO GET A JOB