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Sigh, I understand this was done with good intentions, but a dictionary is one of the last things whose integrity should be compromised. They call the searches
by cooper12 10y ago
Sigh, I understand this was done with good intentions, but a dictionary is one of the last things whose integrity should be compromised. They call the searches for "treachery" an "unfortunate coincidence", but it's really a betrayal of people searching for authoritative definitions. When you're deliberately falsifying the definition of words, you've failed as a dictionary. Instead, the schools giving the test should have sought other solutions: make proctors be more vigilant, collect student cellphones, or even reach out to dictionary websites beforehand so they could omit, rather than modify, the definitions of any words on the test day.
- JoeAltmaier 10y agoOr proxy the dictionary entry in the ISP DNS at the test site. No need to corrupt the dictionary for everybody.
- catalinme 10y agoThe test is taken in schools national-wide. You should basically ban the entire country of Romania from accessing the dictionary.
- petre 10y agoThat's actually censorship.
- cpburns2009 10y agoIf kids are looking up answers on cell phones, I don't know how well that will work.
- deevious 10y agoJust to clear some points: there is no administrative connection between the volunteers which provide the dictionary service and the testing. For this kind of national test you are not supposed to be able to bring in dictionaries, communication devices or any other helper material, it's just you and your brain. Classrooms where the exam is taken are outfitted with cameras, so in the event that there are suspicions of cheating, the footage may help. Of course, all of this does not mean that nobody will be able to cheat. Finally, I think it's useful to point out that this was just the team of volunteers behind the online dictionary who modified the definition of 3 very uncommon words for a few hours.