On Cheating

Source: Wikimedia Commons

"Cheating is a part of human nature"

This is something I heard on the radio this morning (BBC 5 Live, for those that care) and it got me thinking. This is certainly something I have heard before, so I thought I'd explore it briefly.

First off, I feel I should clarify that I mean cheating in the sense of taking questionable steps in the pursuit of success, not, as my quick google search revealed most people immediately think, the taking of another amorous partner at the same time as another who may object to such a union. That is a whole other kettle of fish.

The discussion on the radio was in regards to the Olympics, apparently a scant year away and obviously this is something where cheating is a big concern. Here we have athletes at peak physical condition, brutally murdering any remaining supposition that these games are meant to be performed by "amatures". You don't want to watch these people win a race and then find out they were artificially boosted. You would feel, well, cheated.

These are artificially boosted, and I feel cheated.

But it is clear to see why people do it. If you're, say, number 5 in the entire world, and you think that a small drug or another will give you the edge you need to reach that number 1 spot, all those moral questions you have been hearing through your athletic life might seem a little quieter in your head. The view of the top from below is a powerful motivator. And this is why I got thinking about the phrase in the first place. The reason an athlete would cheat is because they feel it will give them what they need to reach the top. A student will cheat academically in order to get good marks and subsequently (or so we have been lead to believe thus far) a good job and life. Or at least not to seem stupid. Your average roleplayer will be under constant internal pressure to fudge his or her dice rolls because they want their beloved character to succeed in their task, or at least not die.

So far we have seen the motivation of cheating to be athletic success, academic success, and critical success. There is a theme here. Let's carry it further. Gamblers: Financial success. Artists who plagiarise: Artistic or possibly Popularity success (i.e. being famous).

It is certainly possibly to achieve these aims without cheating. This requires hard work and determination. And so do we stumble upon another reason for cheating. Laziness. The student might not want high grades but they still don't want to fail. But studying is boring and difficult to get into, so it is much easier to write notes on his hand or ironically put much more effort into hiding a crib sheet on the label of a coke bottle than actually studying would have taken. Other examples are available but I am already pushing the limit on what can reasonably be considered "Brief discussion".

In conclusion, I have discussed a couple of motivations for cheating, but neither were cheating itself. Cheating for cheating's sake strikes me as being counter productive. If you have nothing to gain by cheating then you won't cheat. Thus do I disagree with the statement "Cheating is human nature". It isn't. The desire for success in one's endeavours, and tendency to follow the path or least resistance is, and these (among others, I'm sure) are what may lead to someone cheating.

I don't claim this to be a concrete answer. What do you think? Have I missed a glaringly obvious point to the contrary? Or am I a shining light or all that is right in the world? Thoughts in the comments.

Read more

Fred the Unicorn Goes to School

I missed Saturday's update because I was working. Here is a short story I wrote to make up for it. Aka: Why I shouldn't write children's books. Or be a primary school teacher.

______________________________________________________________

"Everyone, quieten down. It's time for today's lessons to begin."

It was a new day at Burrington Primary School, but much like any other. Based in a small village out of the way, this was a place where nothing much happened. And so, today was different only in that they had a new student.

"Now children, we have a new student today. Everyone give a warm welcome to Fred!"

"Hello Fred!" The class shouted out in chorus. Fred chewed on a book.

"Now Fred, You can sit over there next to Anton. Anton, you look after Fred."

"Yes miss." said Anton, smiling brightly at his new friend. Fred trotted over to his place and whinnied.

"Now, who can tell me what we were doing last lesson?"

"Addition, miss!"

"Very good! Now who can explain to me what addition is? Maybe out new student has an idea?" Fred looked blankly at the board and snorted. Sparkles fell from his body and onto a boy to his left. The boy scowled at Fred.

"Shy are we, Fred? No need to worry. You'll fit in soon enough" promised the teacher, her voice saturated with a sickly sweetness. She turned back to the board and started writing down sums for the children to complete. It was not long however before trouble arose!

"Miss! Miss!" It was Anton, desperately trying to get the teacher's attention! "Miss, Charlie is bullying Fred!" Immediately the teacher turned around to find the boy to Fred's left tugging on Fred's horn. Fred looked to be in pain, as he moved in clear discomfort and whinnied in protest.

"Charlie! How dare you bully our new student!"

"But miss, it's not my fault! He keeps sparkling on me! He's weird!"

"That is no excuse! You should no better" the teacher squared herself, as if she was about to recite the moral to a short story. "You should never judge people purely based on their appearance."

Charlie's head dropped, not only because he realised what he had done wrong, and that he had learnt a valuable life lesson today, but also because Fred had gored Charlie through the chest. As the blood poured down his horn, it began to glow softly. Runes appeared down the side of his body, as an ancient choir chanted a dark evensong from the aether, growing in power and fury by the second. A̅̐̐̃҉̼̤̙̺̫̥̮ ͉̭̺͇̯̻͟w̱͕͌͋́i̬͍͚ͦͮ͋̈́͒̆͋n͇̏͂ͣ͛ͭ̒͟d͈̞̔ͯͩ̌́ ̵̻̞͌f̱ͩ͒̈́ͬͯͪ͡oͪ̔̆r̜̻̥̥̤͍̳m͓͕̯ͥ̂ͦë̹̤̹̪͉́̓ͥ͛͑͐d̹̙̙͚ͣͣͭͣ͆͝ ͚̪̙̇̂̀͂̑ͥ̚͠ā̶̼͙͚̰̦͓̫̿͛̽̆ͦ̚r͍̥̹͙͍̮̝͒̅̇͐ͧ͊o͐ͬͫ̚u̪̩͍͖ͪ͢nͭ̃̔̐̅̀ď͏̫͔̠̜̝̫̹ ̛̖F͈͚͈̦̬̤̜̃̈̔ͬ̽̚r̰͙͓͔̟̮̼̒̅͂̓̈́ë̔ͯḑ̝̱͈̙̼̋͐ͫ̊ ̴ͭͩͮ͛̔̇̈́ạ̭͙̘̯̪̻͑s̛ͩ̎͂̄̔ͮ ̷̪̯̬͕͍h҉̝i̘̤̝̝s̠͙̹̪̈́̂̒̆ ͇̞̗̇ͬͧ̆ẽ̫̤̖͚̹̥͞y͎͚̤̘̥̔̓̍͘ȩ̳̗̲͎͑ͨͤ̽ͫͤs̱ͯ̑͐͆̋͘ ͉͍͕̮̃͜sͤͦ̄̾̋̚t̮̲̔͌a̶͚r͍̮̫̼͙͕ͯ̐̅͗ṯ̦̉̔͟e̳̼͙͔ͮ̅̃d̙̪̱͊́ͦ̐ͬ͋ ̿͗ẗ͇̻͙̙͈́ͯͯ̑͊o̵̹̤̣̲̱̝̒ͫ̆ͧͥ ̭͓̖̺̟̫̹ͮ̃́g̰̤͛͒̃̂̎͌l̨̇ͨo̍̀̓͆̓̅͏̖̪̗̘̣w͂͑͑͢ ̱̻̪̣̾̈́̆̈́ͮ̎͡a̻̱͚̹̅͋ ̙ͬͨ̇ͧͭ̀͘c̘̜̩͂͑̂o͋͋̉ͣl̺o̗̍̎̓͟ų͎͎̘̰̖̝ͤ̉̈̓͊ŕ̗͎̺͓̘̏̿̇ ̢̈́̔͑́l̤̠͔̖͙̯̾̃̐o̷̎̃̔̓̿̚n̸̼͚̰̙̑͛̔͊ͫ͌̎g̷̰̳̭̼̠͌ ̸̳͇̠͙̣̱f̦̞͈̱͚̝ͦ̍̐ͮ͆o͖̦̼̼̥̲͆̓̊̎̽̂͠ͅr̜͎̬̺̞̭ͫ̋̒̐ͯ͆ͅg̱͇̙͚̙̜̃͑̒̐̒͊ŏ͂͏̟̫͍̯͖t̯͓͎̎ͯͮ̽ͧt͉̘̆̒ͦ̾͘e̢̜̍̎ͥ̇n̵ͬ̿̌̂̒, ̦̃ͥ͗̅ͮa̰͊̆̐͟n̼̈́̒͌ͭ̆ͤd͖͖̠̮͉ͯͩ̅ͦ

̙͍͖̞́̆͒̔͑ͪ̈́a̟̮̻̹̼̰̞ ̟͕̬̺͕̭̐ͨ͒͒͗ͭp̸̣͍͈̙ͪͭ̍̓ͭͩͯḯ͓͖͔̞̂t̹̟̹̯̱ͫͯͨ̉͌͊̎c̝̙̀ͧ̓̚h͏͉͉ͅ ̝̖͇̺͚͓̉̓̄̚ó̙̙̜͚̖͎̅̑̔̚r̈b̷̼̖̻̟͓̘͖ ̮o̦̬̘͖̻̗f̴̫̦̣͇̜ ̗̩̺́͂n͙̓̎̈̍ͥ̕ǫ͍̥̫ͧͩ̽̐͗͊ͦt̝̝̮ͥ̏͂̈́̀ͦh͕̮̯ͤi͛ͩ͐̍̇̃n̝͚̹ͪ̉͋̀g̢ͬ̃̏ͧ ̶̬̺̫̗̝ͩf̪ͥͪͫͪͩ̾o̺ͅŕ̨m̽̾͢e̩̮̥̤͈̰̘ͦ͊d̃ͭͩ ̵̖̮̬͚͇ͤ̏ͧ͑͑a̖̦̹̮͉̖̭b͖̻̺͖͓̼̾͗̈̂̉̒̚͜o͖͕̲̦͎̺ͩ̈̈́̎ͮ͊v̷̹̱͖ͧ̍͌ͣ͋̿e̓̐͐̅ͭ̀̚ ̳͕t͇̔̋̾͗h͙ë̞͙̫́ͨ͌̽̆̄ ͍͓̫͚̲͉͙͒͌̽̍͐̇ͨc̡͔̙̻̠͙͑̓̊̚l̼̽͐͗̓͘ą̳̐ͬ̈ṣ̐̇̿̔̅̽̐s̜̼̦͓͇̗͟,͂ ͇̠̳͇̦͙̌ͣl͊̍ͦ͟ó̮̫o̰̺̗͊̏͐m͕i̤̟̥͍ṉ̜̭̙͚͔͓ͫ͂ͯg̳̪̘̫̰͆̿͐͊͟
̵͎͖̬͚o͙̘ͤ͛vͮë̓̃̀̒̓͋͏̭̳̬̺̲͉̪r̝̻̹̜̼̥̔̀ͫ̋ ̐̏̍̀̕a̲͖̘̜̒̑̄͞s̮̟͇͚̹ͣ̈́ͤ͛ ̧̲͐ͮ̌̏͊̑i̜͖̭̼̽ͫ̋ͬ̔ͯf͈͉͟ ̛͗̾̂͆͂a͓̹̫̳̫̫͝ḇ̖̩͚͈̼͟ͅo̪̔͗u̞͚̣͇ͪͤ̈͑̒̽t̵͎̱̙̘͚͙͉ͮ́ͪ͊ͮ̓ ̬͂ͫ̎̂̎̃̀t̉̍̈́̅̾͗͏o͕͙̹̰̭ͅ
̵̼͈͖sͣ̈́͏͔̭p͎͔̽ͩ̑̎e̙̻͇̦͚̳ͧͣ̀̎͟w̨̲͎̭̥ͮ̊́̉̾͊ͣ ̖̖͕͓̳̘͓̆ͧͧ̉f̖ͥ̐̄̄oͦ͊r̢̳͇͈͒̊ͮͩ̌t͙̔͝h̘̮͙̫͍̲̟̑ͫͯ̚͝ ̶̗͖͍̰̯̜͂ͮa̲̗̲̤ ͂͠n̟̣̰̫̥ͅě̱̭͍̦͉͐ͅw̖̮̓ͤ̅ͮ͟ ̗͟h̞̿̐̑̈̈ͭ̚͘ḛ͈̞̯̙̯̋ͅl̸̪̈́͐l̵̲͈ ̵͎̖͕̫̖ͣ͒͒̋ͪ̎ủ͉̙͠p̵̺̟͎͍̫ͩ̿̋͊̉͊ͭͅó͙̞̇͠n̪̤̼̹͔̯̍͂̽̉̕ ̠̲t͎̞̩͈̳͈̠̊̾̾̔̆͐h͉̳͎̰͓ͩ̊ͩ̿͟e͑ͩ̚͡ ̯͓̦̟͖̮͇ͨ̐̌ë͙̰͉̩̹̟̘́̃ͨ̽͌ḁ̳̟̟ͩͮͨͣ̅ͫ̇͜r̯͒ͩ̐̋ͅẗ͇̻̖̤̦͓̠́̈́h̝͈̱͎͚͍̞̾̑̊ͤ̇̏.̣̙̻̮͚̣̖̇̈̀̾̎̇̈́́ T̲͈͕̫͇͋͑̔h̶̜̒̒̈́̑̀̉ẽ͚̤͙̱̗̎̉͋͠͝ ́̉̾̀̇̄̐͊̄͟҉̼͎̜̥͎s̴̴̠̝̦͙̍ͅo͈̦̐ͥ̌͊̇͋͢ū̵̶̼͕̭̱͈̱̔̿͌̋ͫ̓ͅn̢̩͕̜̖͎̬̓ͦ̋͑͑̄͒̌̀͞d̦̉̿́ ̛̳̺̹̱̙̦̱̓̌̉o̢͓̩͔̔͒͊̐͛f̰̂͐̒ͧͭ̉ͫ͒ͨ͟ ̸̗̩͈̲̈̔ͥ̓̒̔ͣͮ͊͞ͅd̳͙̗̟̻͕̖̅̎͛̃͛̊̔̌͘͝ͅi̧̳̥͍̩̹̤͉̯ͨͫ͋̔ͪ̓ͭͧ̈́̕s̸͕̩̖̬̿̓̏̑̋ͦ͝e̥̻̻̔̈̒̍ͣ̈̔m̨̘̥͚͍̿ͮͭb͛ͧ̍̍͗͋́͊ͩ͏̪͎̺͇̦͓̣̯̦o̭̭̗ͯ̇̍̊̌ͬ̍̚͟d͖̯̠̟̱̹ͬ̆͛̆̈͂̀̚ï̢̝̫̱̪̥͉͚̤̒͋ͩ̀ͪě̐̄̋̚͏̱̣̝̝̦ͅḑ̷͎͇̖̼̝͔̬̳ͧ̄̂̈̈́̏̒̈́ ̮̠̦̫͚̺̣̯͐̍s̸̼͎̦̬̺̤͍͔ͬ͐c̸͍͎̬̹͊̾̒͑́́͜ṝ̥̱͎͑͑͠͡ȩ̵̜͉̠̘̟̫͈̿͗̏͑̇ͯ͊̾͜a͊̔͆ͬ͏̤̩m̴̫̙͒̀͟͜s̨̥͍̯̬͋̽̕ ̢̦̟ͦ̒́ͫ͟ç̶̙̝̠̓̌ͣͯ͌̋̎o̿ͨ̓҉̟̲̬̳ų͙̩̺̄ͯͯͬ͑̐̅̇̎͘͠l̵̀͛ͩ̆̾ͪ̓̑҉̙̗̝͠d̶̘̺̭͕̦̗̥͊̓̒ͮ̊̉ͧ͠ͅ ͆̇̋̋͊͏̵̢͖͚͓͙͈͍b̴̘͔̘̝̫̭̪̅͂͑e͉̝̩̫̔̄̽ͧ̕͜ ̷̹̩̞͓̦͇̲̰ͩͪ̆͊̌͆̈́́h̴̨̼̩͉̋̎̈ͣ̈́͊̕ę͔̹̥̻̝͙́̆̓̀̐ͤ̆̀͞a̢̼̘ͪ̈́̒̓ͥ͗ŕ̗ͫ̔ͣͪ̀̀d̴̸̰͚͙͖̼̣̩͎͑̄̃ͩ͠.̧̮̪͙͖̣ͩ̌̋̐͜͡ ̇̊̽͠͏̰̻̰̩͙͟S̢͇̩̠̬̱̟̲̥ͬͤ̍ͣl̨͖͗̊ô̸̼̫̹͔̘͙̙ͪ͑̓̾̅̚͟͠w̙̞͓͕̯̝ͫͤͫ̕ͅl̖̯͔̜̰͔̺͔̑ͩͬ̋͝͝y̡̧͚͚͔̗ͮ͆ͬ̉ͬ̂ͅ,͓̺̌͑͡ ̛̥̣̯͖̭͕͍̫̿ͬ͑ͧ͢͝t̎ͪͧͬͦ̏͌̎҉̴̛̥̗̮͙e̢͎̟̙̎̇ͧ̒ͨ̊̒̋̀͘n̖̾̇ͣ͠ț̶̳̯̯̭͖̥̈́̿ͨ̊͌͞ã̷̫̩͉̳̱͌͊̓̊̎ͪ͒ĉ̷̳̗̻̗͈ͤ͞l̴̤͇̼̙̹ͫ̈̅̏̂̇̏͜ē̵̥̰̟̙͑͊̿ͅs̴̞̭̜̪͙̮͚̔̋ͣ̄ͥ͢͜ ̤̲͎̎ͫ̂̑̒̚̚̕͞f̛̺̩̳̬͓̈́e͌́ͨ͂͏̠̝̦̥͚l̷̦͚͖̖̘͎̙ͨ̄ͭ̉͜ͅͅl̴̠̘͍̿̔̚ ̨̳͎̄̎̓̔͝f̢͙̦̹̱̹̫͕́ͣͥͨ͐ͫ̃͑̐̀͠r̛̺̗̟̖̫̪̖̗͗̓ͬ̌͋̑ͧó̞̥͖̣̙̖̦̽̇̐ͦͯ̍̎m̨̛̲͙̠̍̉͑̓͞ ̸́͐ͨͮ̈́̑͊͠͏̥̼ṯ̨̋̊̐̊̓̆ḩ͖̪̎ͯ̒̎ͥe̴̫̘̭͚͒̌ͭ́ ͊ͭ͐̀҉̭̯̙̺̞͈ò̪̐ͥͅr̢̮̪̼̬͉̘̲͊ͅb̦̩͇̟ͩ͝,̻̪̥͈́ͨ̐́ ͕̯̖͍̈̾ͭ͂ͯ̒̐̚͜i̵̶͇̙̣͇̥̟͉ͬ̑ͩͭ̕n̶̹̜̺͎̯̠̼ͣͩ̓̒͆̿ͫf͒ͯ̍̍͏͉̗̣e͗̉̐̆͑͏̡̛̤͈̳c̳͎̈ͣ͂ṱ̨̫̦̓̅̄͊͠i̷̹̭͉͚̦̥̊ͯ͑̃͢ͅň͛́͗҉̠ͅğ̺ͪ̊͆ͫ̆ ̈́͐̌̌҉̼a̛̯̮̩̥̯͎͎̾̂ͅl͆́͜͟ͅl̸̷̲͎͕̺̏̍ͣ̎̀͠ ̷̨̛͚͎̖̦̩̣͍̤̾̈ͦ̌̇̿̿̆̚t̛̹̘̏̌̒ͦ͐͋h̐̆͆̉͌̒̀ͣ͌͏͉̥̫̻̥̣̦̙͈͘ẻ̵͙̪͍̟͐͗̄͊͋͐͝y̬͖̪̹̰̘̣̣̒̈́̇͒̓̚͠ ͈̹̀̒̑͊ͨ̇̇̽t̶̢̖̠̰̱̅̂ͭͪo͔̤̺͇͑͜͟ụ̘͉̮̩̼̜̝ͥ̓̈̋̌̈̍̕c̷̦̜̯͔̩̩ͮͅẖ͚̬̖̼̯̬̪̌̍̓̀́͂ͬë̟̻̥̖͔̼̠͌̂ͤͣ͆d̴̵̤̾ͪ ̢͔̼̘͖̘̍̅͑̀w̰͆̅͛͑͆͆̈̂͊ͅį̣͚̺͙̰͉͐̾ͪͮ͆t͔̒̓̓̊h̶̡̭̤̱ͬ̏͗ͣͬͯ͞ ͓̟͇̠̫͖̤̙͑̂ͬ̀̊ͬͦͭͧc̩̳̠̲͈̮̝̮̓̏ͧͦͬ̚h͍̱̱̤͂ͩ̃ͨ̓̓ͅā̛͈̹̻͋ͭ̊ͧͯ̆ͯo̔͑̽҉̛̣͍̱̣̦̹͉̕ş̳̪͓̳̯ͥ̊ͬͨ.̧̖̞̯̻̫̼͊ͨ͋̏͗̐͝͡ 


"̧̋̊ͦͨ̿ͭͮ͒͗ͪ͒̏̈̃ͭ͑̅͠͝҉̬͉̯̤̲̩̲͕̭̻͓̜̖͕ͅH̢̨̝̪̩̩̍ͮ̔̋͒ͥ͗͂͑͟A̵̽̑ͥ̿̿̇ͪ̽̂ͨ̔̚҉̬͓̩̜̲͍̝̦̳̺͙̩̪͈I̴̧̳̭͈̣͈͓̫̙̰̠͍̣̯͎̜̭͂ͭͩ̚͞L̡͓̳̞̦͉ͧͣ̆ͨ͑̓ͣͯ͟͞ ͕̗̹̲̝̰̯̘̰̻̞̏̋ͮ̌̀̎́̎́́͟C̡̟̳̫̩͖̹͎̘͉̞̮̯͇̬̻̓̐̂̆̑̍ͦ̔ͪͭ̌ͩͦ̋̓ͫ͛̕̕ͅͅH̛͍̥̖̹͕̄̍ͯ̈́ͥͦ́ͦ̏ͫ̾ͭ̎́̕͠͝A̵̷̱̲̰̪̱̜̗͈̝͉̭̲̽̓ͬ̾͒̂̔̌ͯ̅ͭ̉̌̆̒̎ͭͅO̡̮̰̱̦̪̟̦̼͇͈̣͍̯͙̩̿͂̓ͮ͗͋̚͞͠͠Ş̵̢̨͓̯̺̰̮̠̭̩̥͑ͬͪ̓̐͢ͅ!̴̢̢̣̣͖͙̦̟̞̼̠̒̽̐ͭͮ͌̀͞ͅ"̵̨̨̪̹̣͖̦̱͎̝͓͍ͥͣͪ͒̾̒͐́̈ͫ̇ͭ̾̐͗ͅ ̸̵̢̗̜̖͕̞̩ͣͭͣͨͯ͛̍ͦ̆ͧ̆̋͑̐ͬ͛̔̚͜t̸̛͎͙̯̪͕̜͓̩̹̗̐̾͒ͯ̐̚ͅh̡̻̫̥͕̼͖͎̹̠̝̟̻̤̭͈̖̐͊̿̉ͩ̍́̂̅̈́̿̉ͦ̌̑ͬ́͜ͅe̢̢͖͇̣̪̣̦͔̥̒̾̆̐ͭͧ̂̓̿͂́͊̽͛͑̏̋͐̚͢ ̡͛̏̏ͦ̎͛̉ͭ̐̽̊́͜͜҉͔̬̰̤̺̼͔̠̭v̸̡͓̝̺͕͔͙̳̪̖̳͍͔̠̫̳̺̱ͦ̾ͦ͑͌̋̚͘͢ǫ̷̩͓̞͕͈͙̫̪̻̬͕̘̟̗̯͂͛͊ͬͤͯ̊̌ͧͬͯͬ͒ͯ̄ͫ̈́ͣ͢͜ͅͅi̴̺̠̤̮͉͕͓͍͙͓̤̠̟͛͋̃̐ͦ͐ͪ́͢͡ͅc͚̜̯̣͉͕̺͔̫͙̙͎͙̤̰̲̥̹͎̆̍̅͑̅̅͊̐̄ͮ̀͢͡͡e̢̫̟̖̜ͤ̅ͩͪ̅ͦ͌̔̏̾ͭ̂́̑ͤ̃̒͗͐͟͜s̸͎̼̻̠̱̘̻͙͙̪̣̙̳̮͚̹̮̺̩̉̽́ͧ̀̀̆ͦ̀̿ͩ͛́ͫ̿ͬ̿͑ͭ͡ ̧̛͙͈̩͈̠̝̤̆͋ͥ̋̈͊ͫ̀ͧ̇ͧ̅͊ͭ̍ͦͬ̀̚͟s̵̴̢͙̝͈̹̖͎ͯ̾̄͛̍̍̃ͤͨ͒͂̐̓̿ͬ̈͊ͅc̴̵̡̡̟̞̟̹̝̜̬̤̻͉̤̬͚̥̞̼͓͈̿͆̇͛͂͡r̎͊̃̋͑̊̈́ͥ͛̓̽͊҉̵̢͕͓̤̭͉͓̹̻͎͞e̓̃̇̾ͧ͏̵̜͙͕̱͚̥̰̜͈͈̭̙̣͘͟ͅa̶͆̌ͫ̎̈́͏̸̡͖͚̯̗͍̝̦̦̪̹͔͓͉͜m̩͍̬̣̦̬͖̯ͯ̾ͥͩ͋ͦ̽ͤ̓̾̅̋̚͢͢͝͞ė̂ͪ͆̄ͤ̓ͫ͂̾ͦͥ̇̅̆͘҉̶̠͍̱͉͎̪̯̲̪̲̲͖̩͎̺͢d̢̜͓͇͍͈͕̆ͭ̇ͪ̒ͯ̏̅͞.̨̟̗̮̫̭̠̣̺̠ͣ́̍ͧ̃̄͑̓ͪ́̂ͥ͛́͘͟ ͈̤͍̠͖̖̣̺͋̇ͮ̀̆ͬ͘"̦̰̣͙̱͇̜̗̖̼̳̞̜̝̟ͩ̆͑ͨ̔̔͟B̲̲̻̟̠̫̹̯̉͊́̐ͯ͐ͮ̆̃ͩͮͨ̾ͥͩ͊ͯͬ́̚͝͡Ǫ̢̗͓͍̰̗̥̻̆̏͂ͤ̾̂̓ͤ͘͢͠W̶̧̢͇̦͍͈̲͎͔̬͇͕̞̤̘͎̬͕̠͌̇͐ͭ́̏ͫͨͫ̋̊̓̆̈̒ͧ̽̚̕͞ͅ ̢̳̬̝̰̬͍͙̗͖̹̥̀ͣ́̄ͨ̒̕͜͝Aͬ̌̑͒̈͂ͬ͐̎ͦͮ̀҉҉̺̼̞̯̜͇̳Ň̾̾̒̄ͣ̿̀͂ͣ͋̑̃ͧ̚͏̷̙̯̞́̀D̡͈̹̩̹̼̜̥̫̣̣̳͖͆̿̀ͩ̂ͣ̓́͘ ̒̄̃ͤ͏̱̠͍̙̘̲̮̀Sͪ͑̍͂̀̽͑̓͗̽̓͆ͯ̒҉̸̴̫̻̫͔̝̫̕E̴̝̲̬͓̥̯͛̓ͭ̉ͦ͆͐ͤ͆R̷̷̢̳̯͎͉̺̯̜̰͔̮̼̥̰̭̉̈́̔̓ͯ̍ͩͯ͒͛̍̍͗́ͣͫ̎ͨ̉͞ͅV̷̧̞̭̝̳̮̯̥̭̯̠̘̳͗ͨ̿͑̄͋̄͑ͫ̍̀ͦ̀̀E̡͉̪̝͉ͫͨ̅̑ͤ͆̏͂̃͊͂ͬ̔͗͛̆̿͘ ̴̷ͭͬ̾̿ͮ̊͐ͨͮ҉͍̻̯̥͙̳̮Y̶̛̖͔̭̖̪̼̟͇͙̺̺̯̘̹̭̏ͬͪ̏̓̃̿ͦͫ͛ͤ͑̃ͦ͜͠O̴̫̳͚̩̮͉͚͉̗̰̞͓̩̭͎͚̺͕͆͐̆͋̌̆̏ͧ̉̊̔͞Ų̼̺̲̰̫̠͇̹̟̫̖̺̫͙̜̣̰̯̩̈̃̓ͫͬ͆͂ͣͮ̏ͭͪ̓̿̓̚̕͝͡R̺̼͙͖̫͖̦̔̇͗͌̓̌ͬ̔͋́ͨͮ̆ͯ̏͢ ͒̓ͣ̃҉͟͏̝̼̭̝̹N̴̢̞͈̻̙̮̮̩̾̀ͫ̎ͥ̑ͥ̅̃̓ͥͣ͂͛Ȩ̵̭̗̦͖͈̉̈́̂͐ͫ̀͝W̢̧͙̼̳̫͈̭͉̰̳̠̩͍̏̒͊̓͋̽̀͝͞ ͋ͮ̑͛̈̀͏̨̢̘̞̣Ḿ̷̶̜̪͚̜̘̘͈̫́̇͊͢A̴̘̜̺̲̪̮̤̮͕̖͖̬͍̱̹͛̔̂̑ͧ̿ͥ̃̋̚͘Ş̴̢̻͙̲̠̬̘ͤ̓̆ͫ̈̉̀̾̄́̅̚͟͡T̡ͧ͊͛̐̎̌̉͒͗̐ͥ͏̶̩̖̠͔E̶̛̳̩̺̭͖̫̮̞̾̅ͩ͑͌̓̏̄ͪ̄ͩ̚͝R̡̦̤̦͕̘̩͚̠̪̃̊̆̔͂̈̔̂̎̌͞Ş̡̛͈̲̦̠͚͊ͤͫ̀́ͫ̇ͭ̋̓̀̃͂̾͂͜͠!̨̧̝͕̬̭̻͎̠̤̭̳̪̫͙͔̝̟̲ͦ̆̂̑ͬ͂ͤͧ͊ͩ̇͂"̡́̾ͯ͛̂͊͐͋͆͒́͏͏̡͖̟͕̟
M̡̗̼̫̞̹̩̫̟ͧ̊̇̋ͤͥ̔ͮa̴͓̳̝͇̹̲͈͙ͤ̃̔̾ͪ͐ȳ̬̳̟̟̯̦̩̳̿̀̒ͅ ̶̛̯͈͓̭͎̺̈́̔͒̎ͧy̸̡̞̩͕̗̲̥͖͛ͮͫ͠o̊ͯ͊̏͊͒̃ͩͧ͘͏̘̯̱͕ų̲͕̪̬̰̩͇̪ͨ̏̈́ͮ̇̌͌rͣ̎ͣ҉̗ ̥͈̱͕ͣ́͢͝d̙̝̬̩̫͇͉͈̈ͣe̟̣̺͔̙̙̓̉̈̎ͦ̋ͩͩ͘ą͓̙̩̳̺̄͗͛͂̂̏̾ͫ͞t̒ͧ͏͈͙̥̫̫͎̣͚͞ͅh̐̅̄̈́͠҉̩̣͈̦́s̶͎̺̫̭͓͓̿̂̈ͫͥͫͪ ̸̧̝͓̭̝̺̩͛̉̾ͤ͢c̭̟̤̠̘̺̓̀͛̓̈͟͠ͅo̸̢̨̜̬̟̲͆ͯ͋̇m̨͖͈̬̠͖̘̠̉̈ͯ͋̅̎ͭ́e̼̘̪͖͈̹̲ͮ̈́͢ͅ ̧͍͎ͥ̇ͯ͜ș̵̺̗ͣ͒͌͋͘w̹̰͙̦͂͛ͧ͐̕͝͠ḭ̢̨̥͕̯̘̭̲̉̊͌ͪ͗͋f̻͇̙͔̐̉̅́t̫͗͗̏̊̅̔̆ͣ̌͝l̡̦̖̮̼ͩ̅͑̉̾̔ͯͨy̶̱͚̻ͧ̈̓͆̾̅̄͡,̷͕̉͗ͬ͢ ̤͙̳̥̮̎̃̋ͯ̀̀͜l̰̙̦̥̩͚̒̔ͫ̍̕͢ȩ̱͉͈̣͙̿̒̽ͦ̓͠͠s̡̝ͥͩͬ͞t̡̥̠̯ͮ͛̎͌ͥ̔̚͝ ̨̡̗̜̹̜͈͔̿ͩ̏́͊͑ͅỳ̜͕̹̳̬ͦ͢͞o̲̠̪ͭ̚u̧̔͛̾̐͐͌͊͏͕̥̲͉̱͚͎͉̻ ̷̹̞̭̫͗ͧͣͯ̓͐͑̀̚͠ŝ̸̪̰̯͇͚͂̓ͅu͍ͩ͑̀̕͜f͚̥͙̻̯̭̞̭̽̑͘͡͠f̴̼̌͛ͬ͡ë͕̫́ͩͧͧͪ̉͝ŗ̺̯̫̌ͭ̎̉̓̓͂̀ ̬̞̘͎̱̙̙͔͛͘ͅt̷͙̥̙̞̤̙̗̻̋̐͊̇̈ẖ̢̒ͨ͋e͇̰̖̥͚̣̯ͭ̑ͦ͆̏̿͛̑ͫ͡ ̝̩̜͓̣̠̲ͬ̑͋ͩ͜a̿̌̽ͫ̓̊͏͔͔̖̺̰g͇͈̮̯̬̈́̂ͧő͎͕͔̥̙̥͆̓͌̄ͩ͑́n͙̝͕̹̩͈̤̍̿y̡̰̪͚̾̓ ̩̗̗̲͎̟͍̪ͬͦͬͣ̔́͘͞o̙̲͕̜̩͕̜̬͗̓͛̂͂͋͑̌f̶̶̱͍̥̩͇͎͎̔̑ͅ ̌̆̽̽ͮ̉ͨ͏̴̭̼̮͍͎̳͚ͅe̵̺ͭ̎ͮ́̈̂t̙̄̈́̐̑̓̂̋ͦ͊͘͞e̷̦̣͎͉͈̞ͨ̐̇͝͠ŗ̶̹̹̹̖̦̞͇̤͊̉ͭ̒̔̌̅nͮ̋̃͏҉̼̺͇͉̲iͫ͌͏͎͕̘͘͢t̸͇͔̗͔͙͗ͫ͆ͥ̍ͦͧy̧̩̤̬̪̼͔̹̖͕ͤͦͣ͋̎,̛̤̦̠͈̥̮̉ͤ̈́ͨͭ͆͂͝ ̥̙̝̤̮̿ͣͩ̍ͧ̎̊
̶̢͍̻͉͚̫͙͇͑̆͐ͭ̚͠y̺͇̩̜͍͛̓̆ó̷͇̰ͨ̐̔̾͆͛u̬̥͕̖͖̓ͥͣ̽̉͝r̙͕̙͐ͥ̅̉ͧ͛̂̋͝ ̢̛̠̖̝̘̠̗̖̖̹͛ͭ͂̃ͣͬf͓͎̫̺͉̥̜̎͆͒ͮ͛o̿͗ͭ̂̓ͤ͑͗̌̕҉͚̻̹͇̦͕̟r̙̝̟͔̥ͨ̒͗͂̆̆͆͗m̤̠̑̐ ̵̶̰̲͕̆̂̓̓̀͟t̰͍̑w̩̭̜͓̺͕͇ͪ̽͛̎ĩͭͮ̆̌͊҉͔͕̭̺̲̠͜s̵͍͈̮͚̦̮͓̘̝̎̋͑t͚͉̻͆ͤi̐̇͂̊̉̊ͧͮ͏̝͔̥̙n͚̭̪̦͎̙͎͚̄͊̌̊ͫg͎̣̥̮̤͚͓ͦͩͫͣͬ͡ͅ ̮̺̻ͪ͑̕͢w̞ͯ͗͌̊̒ͭ̚͢͝i̡̞̲̫̹̱͊͋̎͌ͮͣ̑͢͡t̸̜͉̩̠ͯͣͥ̎ͣ̾͠h̵̞̮̩ͥ̈́ô͚͖̗̪̩̱̥̗ͭu̮̝̙̖ͣͥ̎̋̉͝t̡̫̯ͩͥ ͦ̊͐ͧ̈҉̶̢̱͕͔c̷̭̫̙̥̉ͣ̒͛̓̑ͥ̆͋͜ō̡̤̪͇ͫͬ̊̈ñ͍̬̙͕͔̪͔͓͇́͛h̃̄͋ͧ҉̻̩͔̺̰͇̮̯e̵͎̹͙͎̼͇̮̙̜̾̇̃̇ͧ͂͘̕r͍̼ͥͥͬͪͣͥ̿̎͠ȇ̜̹̺̟̒̒̀ͤͣ̊ͣn͛̉̍̊ͮ̚͏̯̰͙̼͙̭c̶̹͍̜̬̻͗̄̍͗ͭͨe͍̠̹̰͊̌ͬ͋̾ͩ͡,̼̱̙͕͈̤̮̉͊̈́̃̈́ ̵̣̫̺̳̻̹̍̇͞ņ̌̾͒͋͏͙̞̰̗e̢̲̙͙̟͗̓̚vͣ̾̓͏҉̯̱͍̠é͚͙̣̫̬͎̬ͮ̏͢r̙͙̃̀̑̓̈́̑ ̥̪̣̖̜̪͖̂̊ͨ̉̕ë̻͔̫̯͕́͗̀ṋ̶̟̞̖̠̥̎̉̓ͨ̈͟d̢̪̯̲̰̟͖͈̤́i͊̔ͭ̀̃̎̍҉̺̱̗n̫̦̪̔̈̿̑̔ͪg̦͇͇͈̰͖̮͙̒ͮ́͡͠,̜̫͖̞̜̱͚͒̿͆̽͋͟ͅ ̦͙͚̥ͪ͂ͤͤ̐͋̀͢p̦̄r̶̝̖̤̍ͥͩ̃̓͐̐͌͢͡ͅȧ̸͖͕͉͍̤̙̠͈ͯ̑̋ͧ̊́i̬̮͉ͭͥͭͧ͗ͣͨ̚͝͝s̫͙̣͒ͩ͠e̡̫̱̲͕͎̲ͦͣͬ͂͐͗ͩ́ ̤̞̬͇ͧͬ͒̑̅̈́͒̕t̥̤̞̾̅̒ͯ̃̇ͯͪ͆͘h̢̛͍̣̠̹̪͙̗ͦ͠ẹ̵̖̭̘̺͎̬͋
̖̳̯͆ͧͮ̿ͬ̂ͩḑ̴̷͓̪͉̳̟̲͒̽̊̊͐̄à̃̎̔̾̄ͤ͏͎r̵͇͙̳̎̔̀̈͐͜͟k̤̼̩̦̲̅̽͂̿͢ ̵͎̥͎̟͇̄̐͒̀m͔̋̌̋̀̇ͪ̄a̴̤̮͋̎̋͟s̮̣̘̫̙͖̱ͮ͌̒ͩ̑ͥ̂ͬͬ͘ͅͅtͯ͋̃́̋́̉҉͇͉̝͡e̹͇̝̥̺͓̥̠ͨ̒̓͢͞r̸̫̬͋ͫ̑́̀͞ś̵̵͍̼̄͝ͅ ̯̜͚̄̑̄̆̿͑̊̚̚͡ͅͅt̨͓̯̖̓̐̍ͦͫ͂̄hͧ̓͒́̔͐͊̓͏̴̸̫̝̘͍̩̲̼̻ͅạ̡̳͖͖̤̜͎̤͌͗ͩ̋ͩ́͝ṯ̪̙̟̺̎͆́̚͜͠͝ͅ ̢͕͇̮͕͖͌ͮͭ̋̀̒c̛̻͍͍̹̪̼̩͔̭ͩͮ͌ͧͤ̔̏͠o̸̟͇͓̽ͨ͌ͩ̌ͦͬͬm̢̘̟̬͚͛̄͗ͮę̻̼͊̎̾̋̚͠͠ ͩ̓͏͏̞̝͓ͅf̯̣̹̠͈̣͕͓̓ͣ́͜o̪͎̩̖̲̠̱̖̊ͬͮ̒̅ͨ̃ͫͅr̭̗͊ͥ̓ͫ̓̐ͫ̄̃̀͜ ̢̳̒͑̍ͪ͛͒͐͞ͅo̢̬̻͚̼͍̦̞̤̻̓̓ͫͮ̄u̢̦͇͖̹̼͒ͮ͜r̳̝̫̘̗͇̟̟̽̎̀ ̶̫͇̩̬̿̒̉ͭ̊͌̃͟͟l̼̱̬̻̤̤̄ͦ͠ͅi̢̘͕̫̻̔̅ͪ̇͐̏ͧ̌ͮv̸̔ͧ̉҉͈̹̹̙͈e͂̊ͦ̇̍͆͌̈͏̼̻ș͙͈̩͉̙͍͗ͦ̌ͪ̊ͭ̿̃̀ͅ ̮̗̝͗̾̎̐ͯt̷̴̖̻̬͉̣͈͓̬̋ͫ͟hͤ͌̽ͪ̿̂̔҉̱̥ͅě͔͍̞͉͗̌ͭ̃͌̍͆́y̸̹̯̦̦̤̆̑͊̒̃͞ ̸͉̭̩̰͔ͫ͊̉͋́̈́̉̀̓ẗ͔̤̰̤̻̦͔͍́̔ͮ̀̒̐͛h̭̝̓̏e̦͍ͯ͊͒ͦ͆ͥ͛y͖̱̓ͭ͂ ̐̀̈̈́ͩ҉͖̠̙̬m̡̛̻̩̮̣̣ͮͮͧ̒̏ͬ̑ͭ́͟a͚̞̒̇y̧̲͓̱͇͎̹̑̚͝ ̮ͩt̡̥̝͍͖̹̣͆̊ͪ̏͐ͨ͂̈̕ͅͅa̴̭͙̪̜̘̦͚̲͒̉̇ͪͅk̈̎̓͗͊̽͝͏̶̹̺̤͙̞ȩ̘̝̝̘͖ͣ̏̑̏ͪ̚ ̨̥̩̱͔̮͖ͩ͐͆͡ͅt̶̡͈͈̠ͭͮ͐ͥ̾̌̋h̢̤̤̪̱̗̪̦͌ͫͬ͜e̢̳̰̣̱͉͒̀͝m̴̈́̌̉̉̆͗͌̾̔͏͖̺̗̰̣
͖̝̦͒̄̽ͬ͆ͯ̾͟b̴̞͓̯͍͍̦͈̗̋ͫ͑ͧͫͫͦͩe̞̻̻͉͉͕ͩ͗f̣̲͙̣̺͕̟̤͌ͥ͂͘͝o̡̪̥̘͕ͦͮ̋ͦ͊̽ͥͮṙ̸̗͔ͬ͆̆̅̆ͭ̃͋͡eͦͥ̆ͤ̊̌̈̐҉̭͟ ̧͍̮͉̳̓̀ý̜̬͔̗̩ͫͯͪͧͧ̀͜o̷̞̲͕͕̼̎͋ͭ̕͠ų̖̭̈̔ͪ́͊̊ͮͧ͝ ̃̑ͨ͏̣͓̱g̻̠̲̪͙̺̟̔̄ͨ͆͞͝͡l̘̝̤̣̫͙͖̥͌ͮ̾͜iͮ҉̲̙̣̜̥̰͎m̨̯ͯ̐̒̔̎̿ͣp̷̺̫̦̣ͥ͋̅ͣ̎̉̔ͦ͆̀s̟͙͙̦͉͖̋̊ͤ͞e̹̝̞͚͙̓̌ͪ ̶̸̜̻͇̤̝ͯͦt̡̛̞̩̜̿̀h̗̠͋͒̈́̔͝ȩ̤͕̺͖̫̻ͣ̄̉̓̀͡i͓̬̗̬͖̽ͭ͒̔̕r̒ͮ̆͋ͪ͝͏͚̲͖͙̝̫̞ ̦̩͇̳̃̂ͯ̔̎ͫͯ̈́i͋͏͈̦͈̱͖͙͖͇͚͞ṁ̧̢͚ͫ̃p͍͇̥̮ͩ͂ͤ̐̋͆ö̧̥̲̪̼̝̀̑̅̊̋̐͊͢s̴͍̹̳̰̟̣͎̓̇ͦ̂ͨ̀̕s̠̲͙͚͓̑ͫ̒iͪ̇͑̉͐̑͒͂͏̷͍͕̼̜̠̟̭ͅb̞̠̬̞̏̔͆ͩ̅ͣ͘͝ͅļ͓̩̺̪̈e̪̼͙ͥ̊̽̃ ̵̫̗̣͚͛͞ͅͅf̸̫͙͕̰̥͈̺̮̋o̼͙̲̩͉̙ͭ̀̀ͅr͓͖̰͙̗̈̋̈́̈̏́̕͝ͅm̴̼̪̞ͣͮ̆ͫ̍͐ͅs̯͙̪ͭ̈̊ͮ̇̋ͣ͐̕.̡̯̬̱̝̹̻͙̹ͧͥͣͥ̅̽



Suddenly Fred sneezed. The whole class laughed as Fred swung Charlie's eviscerated corpse around in embarrassment. What fun the new student was, they mused as their very life source was ripped from them in order to fuel the eternal fear engine powering̘̻͇̘̜̹ͣ̈́͋͆̏ͪ͜ͅ t̤͓̊̒ͤ͆͟h̷͉͕̰͇̬ͤ̆e̮̊͛̓͞i̮̩͙ͩ̎ͭͤ̐̀r̺̘ͮ͛͊̍̓̓͡ ͉͞v͇̞͒͗e̸͎̖̋ͬͤͬr̖͍̩̟̋̀ͬ̇̊y̶͔͕͑͐ͣ͊̍̾̉ ̻̎͑͆͝ͅd̵̬̪͕̣̗̅ͩ̃͂̓é͕͙̺m̦̤̗̗̌̏͂i̢͔s̼̹̱̰̝̬̫̈́ͣ̃̌ͬ̚e̲͊̀ͩͫ̈̐ͨ




T̪̻̼̙͎͗͌̔͊́̍̃̐ͥ̑͌̿̈ͥ̒̀̕h̴̷̡͖͚̞̯̞ͤͥ͊͗̓ͬ̃͗̔͆̔ͧ̄͟e̡̥̙̩͍̮͕̟͉̩̠͇̹̩̱̱ͪͭ̀͋̑ͩ̃̿̀ͪ͞ ̰̳̼̲̠͔͍̬͍̺͎͖̃ͣ̿̑̑̈́ͪ̿̓ͥ͆ͫ͌̿͌͘͢ͅE̼͕̟̳̺͉̩͙͈͉̞̬͇̲̹̘ͤͮͤͪ͊ͥ̀̈́ͤ͂ͬ̿ͦ̀̕͟n̨̼̦͖̺̠̖̩̻̥̥̒͋̆ͣ̀̓͛̏̇̊̃̄̅̆̔͆́͢͝d̢͔̼̝̣͇͈͔̻͕͎͍̮͚͉̝̯̹̭̋̆ͣ̔ͥ̿ͥ̎̀


___________________________________________________________________

 Heartwarming, no?

Read more