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I say probably too much

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Neale Pickett 2022-10-05 12:21:02 -06:00
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content/blog/2022-10-04-CLRG-cheating.md
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@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ the volume down button at the same time. It's common for people to hit the
volume button before power, which results in the phone turning the volume down volume button before power, which results in the phone turning the volume down
just before the screen shot is taken. You can see evidence of this: the volume just before the screen shot is taken. You can see evidence of this: the volume
control appears in some of the screen shots. Someone more familiar with mobile control appears in some of the screen shots. Someone more familiar with mobile
phones could probably tell you the Android version and phone manufacturer. phones could tell you the Android version and phone manufacturer.
The screen shots are of text messages with WhatsApp and Instagram (thanks to my The screen shots are of text messages with WhatsApp and Instagram (thanks to my
daughter for figuring this one out). In both apps, Sam is writing the text on daughter for figuring this one out). In both apps, Sam is writing the text on
@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ better.
### Sam is involved in an affair ### Sam is involved in an affair
In what is probably the most memorable part of the document, In the most memorable part of the document,
one school owner and Sam exchange messages outlining an extramarital affair. one school owner and Sam exchange messages outlining an extramarital affair.
It's not clear whether the school owner's spouse is aware of this. It's not clear whether the school owner's spouse is aware of this.
But it is clear that the school owner likes Sam to have his "ass up". But it is clear that the school owner likes Sam to have his "ass up".
@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ But it is clear that the school owner likes Sam to have his "ass up".
While I don't know what his motivation was for taking and sending these screen While I don't know what his motivation was for taking and sending these screen
shots, I feel sorry for this person. Nothing in this document makes it look like shots, I feel sorry for this person. Nothing in this document makes it look like
Sam was trying to publicize what was going on. And there are a few things that Sam was trying to publicize what was going on. And there are a few things that
Sam is probably seriously regretting sending, such as the affair. Sam surely regrets sending, such as the affair.
In fact, there are enough clues in these messages that my team is confident they In fact, there are enough clues in these messages that my team is confident they
know Sam's real name. If we're right, Sam definitely would not want any of this know Sam's real name. If we're right, Sam definitely would not want any of this
@ -121,23 +121,24 @@ compromised belies severe problems, no matter how you slice it.
Most of these messages are just lists of numbers. Most of these messages are just lists of numbers.
One smart cheater sent a photograph, One smart cheater sent a photograph,
which is probably easier to remember. which would be easier to remember.
The reality is likely that they don't remember all the numbers with 100% accuracy. The reality is likely that they don't remember all the numbers with 100% accuracy.
This would result either in fair judging, This would result either in fair judging,
or throwing points at the wrong number. or throwing points at the wrong number.
The younger dancers probably suffer the most from inaccuracy in cheating. The younger dancers would have the most inaccuracy in cheating.
For the older competitors, the accuracy of cheating is probably higher, For the older competitors, the accuracy of cheating goes up,
as the adjudicators grow to recognize dancers. as the adjudicators grow to recognize dancers.
Also working in favor of fairness is the number of adjudicators. At smaller Another thing that helps fairness is the number of adjudicators. At smaller
events, there are 3 on a panel, so about a 5% chance that everybody is events, there are 3 on a panel, so about a 5% chance that everybody is
compromised, if half the judges are bad. compromised, if half the judges are bad.
This is why there are more adjudicators at the higher-placing events.
### This could probably be detected ### This could be detected
If anybody ever bothered to do analysis of the scores handed out, it would If anybody ever bothered to do analysis of the scores handed out, it would
probably be pretty easy to detect the type of cheating that this document seems be pretty easy to detect the type of cheating that this document seems
to illustrate. That wouldn't stop the cheating, but it would make it harder. to illustrate. That wouldn't stop the cheating, but it would make it harder.
Unfortunately, I don't believe any of the software in use does anything like Unfortunately, I don't believe any of the software in use does anything like
@ -147,8 +148,7 @@ independent audits feasible.
The data exists to be analyzed and audited, but until there's a lot of pressure The data exists to be analyzed and audited, but until there's a lot of pressure
to do this, I don't see it happening. And as angry as everyone is about things, to do this, I don't see it happening. And as angry as everyone is about things,
I doubt the result will be auditable data. Doing audits is expensive, and the I doubt the result will be auditable data. Doing audits is expensive, and the
people with lots of money are probably more inclined to use it to bribe people with lots of money have more incentives to use that money to bribe adjudicators.
adjudicators.
### These messages are just the tip of the iceberg ### These messages are just the tip of the iceberg
@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ there are 14 people implicated by this document.
We are just reading Sam's messages: presumably everyone involved is messaging We are just reading Sam's messages: presumably everyone involved is messaging
everyone else as well. Mathematicians call this a "complete graph". That means everyone else as well. Mathematicians call this a "complete graph". That means
there are (14*13)/2 = 91 conversations. Put another way, we are only seeing 15% there are `(14*13)/2 = 91` conversations. Put another way, we are only seeing 15%
of the racket within this group of 14 people of the racket within this group of 14 people
But these appear to mostly be UK people. But these appear to mostly be UK people.
@ -173,43 +173,6 @@ This doesn't mean your school is involved.
But it probably does mean your school has been affected. But it probably does mean your school has been affected.
Closing Thoughts
-------------------
Trees grow up *and* down. The part of the tree you can see is only half of the
organism: for every meter of Siberian Elm tree I can cut down, there's a meter
of Siberian Elm tree I need to dig out, and digging is way more work than
cutting.
I suspect that this racket is deep-rooted and widespread. I imagine the most
likely outcome will be a lot of social media posts, some funny T shirts, a few
resignations, maybe some people getting banned from events, and that's about it.
The only adjudicator this document proves is corrupt is the whisleblower who
sent in the screen shots. Even people named in these messages stand a decent
chance of escaping consequences, if they play their cards right.
Don't forget that you need a lot of certified adjudicators for things to run at
their current scale. They can't just fire everybody and start over: they need
their current instructors to train up new ones. And if this document is
representative, half of their current instructor pool is already compromised.
There's no way to ensure this scheme won't be a part of the new adjudicator
training.
Somebody is going to have to deliver a candid presentation to the board, or
whatever they have, about the reality here. The corruption is probably so deep
that they won't be able to take any significant action without destroying the
whole organization. And this is just going to embolden the bad actors.
After time passes, the presure from some of these intense and monied parents
I've met will resume, and everything will be back to the way it was before.
Sure, there will be some casting changes, but the system that's been built up
for years--possibly decades--is going to persist long after the furore dies
down.
We may, however, see a renewed interest in some of the smaller Irish Dance
organizations like CRN, who already seems to be making some moves.
Background Background
--------------- ---------------