There's a Catch-22 to some writing exercises. Example: I was in my Creative Writing class, and as sort of a fun "final exam" we were supposed to go back to why we originally began writing - not worrying about grades and grammar and whatnot - just writing what we felt at the moment (so basically a journal entry).

Now, the teacher prefaced the exercise by saying that no one would be forced to read them out loud, she wouldn't even have us turn it in, and it was just for us. Then she said that whoever wanted to read theirs could.

Doesn't giving people the option to share eliminate the point of writing for just themselves? I'm sure some people did just write what they wanted, but the people who usually volunteer think they're funny and aim their writing at the audience, wanting to extract laughs or praise. So in actuality, by giving the option of sharing, the teacher eliminated the authenticity of private thought, resulting in faux work.

This I can deal with, but for the most part people were just trying to show off how "cool" they were by mentioning drinking or smoking or "how much they have to do" or whatever else they think will impress their peers, when in reality it just makes them look like a jackass.

Thinking back now, it would've been pretty funny if I wrote this up and read it out loud before anyone else, but that in itself is another Catch-22, so I guess it's better I just kept mine secret.