The Mermaids discussion is far from over, but while I concoct my next post about my most brilliant idea, here's this:
In law school there is a character called a "gunner." You know them out in the world too: know-it-alls who fall all over themselves to let the world know how bright they are. Sometimes they are excited and overly enthusiastic. Sometimes they are smug, which is worse. Anyway, in a law school classroom, these are the guys who are constantly seeking favor with the professor by raising their hands constantly and chiming in on every discussion. It's obvious that they are trying to prove something. They are annoying as hell and much hated by the proletariat law school students. The reason is that everybody in the room knows just as much if not more than the gunner and it's just that nobody else is trying to draw attention to themselves because of it. (As a side note, it is a well known fact that gunners typically do not do as well as others on law school exams. Everybody loves that.)
So, there's a game that most 1L's play called Gunner Bingo. There are several variations of the game but basically a group of players picks four or five names. When one of the people on the list raises their hand or speaks in class you put a mark next to their name. When all four (or five) of the gunners on your list have a mark next to their name you get a bingo.
I have actually been in a class when somebody yelled out "BINGO!" after one of the gunners started speaking. We all knew what was going on and so did the professor. The professor didn't do anything because they generally hate gunners too.
Here's a great prize for Gunner Bingo.
interesting. we used the term "gunners" in med school, as well (just ask llogg), although the gunners in med school indeed are often near the top of the class (though, quite typically, the very top students were unknown until graduation). and besides annoying outbursts during class, gunners would also sabotage; for instance, and i actually believe that this is a bit urban legend, one might steal an important book from the library so that (s)he would be the only one who could successfully complete a project.
Posted by: desert boy | August 31, 2005 at 07:53 PM
fuck gunners.
Posted by: llogg | August 31, 2005 at 11:13 PM
I'm going to assume that gunner means someone who is gunning for [insert acheivement here].
Discounting sabotage, why do you hate gunners? I get that they are annoying, but is that alone worth such scorn?
However, if they do engage in sabotage ignore above questions and scorn away.
Posted by: MathJames | September 01, 2005 at 02:29 AM
I would think they would get annoying and it would just get old.
People who think they know everything are annoying in general unless they are also funny and they make fun of themselves or can be humble at times.
Posted by: ambs77 | September 01, 2005 at 02:37 AM
Gunners as you call them are incredibly annoying. I use terms like KissAss, JackAss, Annoying Bitch or Bastard to describe these people. The ones in my section also included "Granny" the old lady that is back in school and reads every line and talks everyday and wastes valuable minutes of my life. If you want to kiss ass, do it after class. Gunners do that anyway, so why can't they just keep their mouths shut during class time. Note to Gunners. NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU SAY OR THINK. Especially the professors.
Posted by: allbilly | September 01, 2005 at 10:44 AM
mathjames (whatever happened to getting a new handle?),
gunners are mostly annoying. i'm sure that some of the disdain stems from jealousy of what one may perceive as a more successful student (again, i think that there is a bit of a difference among graduate programs with what constitutes a "gunner"; of course, my comments stem from my personal experience), but mostly the gunnner is annoying and disruptive to the ideal learning milieu.
Posted by: desert boy | September 01, 2005 at 11:13 AM
The main source of hatred for gunners is simply the annoyance factor. But it does go a little deeper. Most law students are aware that they are in a room full of bright, capable people. To act like you know more than everybody else and make a big show of it is insulting.
Especially in first year, everybody is a little self conscious about whether they are smart enough and are working hard enough to compete. Gunners add to the stress by making it seem like you aren't and you don't. That's why it's so cool to know that gunners are not the ones at the top of the class.
Gunners in law school are typically not saboteurs. I've never run into anything like that although I've heard rumors. What IS common is people withholding information or outlines and things that might translate into a real advantage. The reason that happens is complicated and would take too long to explain here, but I've done that myself and don't blame others who do.
Posted by: Ojo Rojo | September 01, 2005 at 02:20 PM
i see...ojo is a gunner. death to ojo.
Posted by: desert boy | September 01, 2005 at 02:26 PM
I am definitely NOT a gunner. Anyone will tell you that.
Better watch it desert boy, I know where you live...
Posted by: Ojo Rojo | September 01, 2005 at 04:25 PM
I am not sure where you all come up with the fact that gunners do not score well or do not end up at the top of the class. I am one of these gunners, as are a couple of my friends. One of use finished at the top 20%, one top 5%, and the other two of us in the top 3%. I figure this is just a way for you to feel better about yourself for not preparing as well or for not having the balls to raise your hand in class. Wouldn't you rather find out you don't have some concept down as well as you think during class, instead when you are reviewing you C exam? Gunners that continue on past the 1st semester are almost always very successful students, for it is the ones who failed to achieve that tend to quite down.
Posted by: Up Yours | March 03, 2009 at 09:42 PM
Anyone who has the time to dredge up a four-year-old post on a random blog and comment on it is not a gunner. At least, not the quality of gunner seen in med school. If you spend time doing anything but studying and eating you're not as much of a gunner as you think you are. You're just a smug prick, instead.
Posted by: llogg | March 04, 2009 at 09:51 AM
You broke the gunner curve. Congratulations.
Tool.
Posted by: Ojo Rojo | March 04, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Umm, sweet grammatical errors. Douche.
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So I decided to complain and dialed police and screamed at the top of my lungs.
I can't believe how retarded I am Gulf Coast Western -the oil company- was contacting me to approve my job application - apparently I got the job!
Wow, I really feel dumb. But I think I've lost my chance...???
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There are the people who are always seeking favor with the professor. It is so true.
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