Gunners

[MarlyMarl]

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Why do people hate gunners? Every statement I've seen on this website talks about "them" in a condescending tone. From what I have seen many people who make it to med school are gunners or are friends with a gunner. Explain it to me please because I'd like to know what is what before I matriculate. Thanks for your input in advance. And I am sorry if there has already been a recent thread discussing "gunners."

 

[chman]

The term gunner is often misused so people get the wrong idea(s) of what one is, like you perhaps. A real gunner does not only want to do well, but they do so by throwing their classmates under the bus. Examples could be giving them false information to study, ripping pages out of texts in the library, trying to look better in front of professors, not letting anyone take notes after a sick day, etc. There is nothing wrong with wanting to work hard and do well, in fact I try to be around people who do, but it is not cool to do so at the expense of others, aka being a gunner.

I've never been to med-school, so I don't know about the prevalence of them, but I have heard stories from friends in law school and it can be really bad there.

 

[psipsina]

The general definition of a gunner is someone who will do anything to get to the top of the class, including stepping on others. Most medstuds are type A overachieving hard workers. But there is a whole different level in a gunner's case. The word is often misused to describe someone with great grades but who doesn't fit the rest of the definition. In that case the negativity is usually jealousy.

 

[Narmerguy]

The term gunner is often misused so people get the wrong idea(s) of what one is, like you perhaps. A real gunner does not only want to do well, but they do so by throwing their classmates under the bus. Examples could be giving them false information to study, ripping pages out of texts in the library, trying to look better in front of professors, not letting anyone take notes after a sick day, etc. There is nothing wrong with wanting to work hard and do well, in fact I try to be around people who do, but it is not cool to do so at the expense of others, aka being a gunner.

I've never been to med-school, so I don't know about the prevalence of them, but I have heard stories from friends in law school and it can be really bad there.

The general definition of a gunner is someone who will do anything to get to the top of the class, including stepping on others. Most medstuds are type A overachieving hard workers. But there is a whole different level in a gunner's case. The word is often misused to describe someone with great grades but who doesn't fit the rest of the definition. In that case the negativity is usually jealousy.

I agree. People on SDN overuse the word to describe anyone that's an overachiever that's not particularly pleasant or helpful. The word "gunner" is intended to describe people who attempt to get ahead by undermining everyone else. It is not simply a strong desire to get ahead.