Comments on: “you’re going to be a douchebag in that class, aren’t you” (aka, confessions of a maybe-gunner) http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/ Ramblings on software, law, and the spaces in between. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:11:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Four Starters » Final lectures and thoughts http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/comment-page-1/#comment-14626 Four Starters » Final lectures and thoughts Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:41:18 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/#comment-14626 [...] risk is that I stand the chance of being the gunner in this class. It is really easy to ignore the mantra: Learn, not [...] [...] risk is that I stand the chance of being the gunner in this class. It is really easy to ignore the mantra: Learn, not [...]

]]> By: Luis http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/comment-page-1/#comment-5376 Luis Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:53:59 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/#comment-5376 But we already knew Havoc was a douchebag ;) But we already knew Havoc was a douchebag ;)

]]> By: Owen Taylor http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/comment-page-1/#comment-5375 Owen Taylor Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:41:44 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/#comment-5375 Following the link, I got a kick out of "If you go to Chicago - you might be a gunner." Following the link, I got a kick out of “If you go to Chicago – you might be a gunner.”

]]> By: John Williams http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/comment-page-1/#comment-5359 John Williams Tue, 09 Jan 2007 22:31:05 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/#comment-5359 As a lecturer (Professor) and student in the not-to-distant past (and someone who asks a lot of questions in seminars) I think I may be able to offer some advice. (1) Teachers LOVE intelligent questions. It shows that you are paying attention and understand what they are saying. (2) Your fellow students will often have the same questions as yourself, but be too shy to ask, so they benefit from your questions also. (3) Time in lectures is limited, so resist the urge to engage in CONVERSATION with the lecturer. Just ask your question, listen to the answer, and move on. Do not reply to the answer. If you feel the urge to reply, do so at some later time. This is the way to avoid irritating your teachers and fellow students. (4) Limiting yourself to one question per session seems a bit excessive. Two or three per hour is probably OK. One every ten minutes is probably too much. (5) Why do you care if your fellow students might think that you are a nerd? Are you trying to have sex with any of them? Do you need their vote? You've paid good money for your education. Get the most out of it. Don't let it be spoiled by brain-dead slackers (if, in fact, that is characteristic of your detractors). (6) Rock! As a lecturer (Professor) and student in the not-to-distant past (and someone who asks a lot of questions in seminars) I think I may be able to offer some advice.

(1) Teachers LOVE intelligent questions. It shows that you are paying attention and understand what they are saying.

(2) Your fellow students will often have the same questions as yourself, but be too shy to ask, so they benefit from your questions also.

(3) Time in lectures is limited, so resist the urge to engage in CONVERSATION with the lecturer. Just ask your question, listen to the answer, and move on. Do not reply to the answer. If you feel the urge to reply, do so at some later time. This is the way to avoid irritating your teachers and fellow students.

(4) Limiting yourself to one question per session seems a bit excessive. Two or three per hour is probably OK. One every ten minutes is probably too much.

(5) Why do you care if your fellow students might think that you are a nerd? Are you trying to have sex with any of them? Do you need their vote? You’ve paid good money for your education. Get the most out of it. Don’t let it be spoiled by brain-dead slackers (if, in fact, that is characteristic of your detractors).

(6) Rock!

]]> By: Luis http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/comment-page-1/#comment-5355 Luis Tue, 09 Jan 2007 16:15:17 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/#comment-5355 <i>Out of curiosity, how many of your profs do you suppose are former gunners?</i> Good question. Last semester, one definitely, one maybe; the remaining one was possibly the smartest of all of them but had too many social graces to be a gunner. Of my profs so far this year... hrm. Two possibly (very smart, slightly nerdy, but both seemingly graceful/sensitive enough in conversation that perhaps they would have picked up on the social cues and avoided it); two others it is too early to tell. Interesting question, at any rate, Mark. I'll poll my classmates and see what they think :) Out of curiosity, how many of your profs do you suppose are former gunners?
Good question. Last semester, one definitely, one maybe; the remaining one was possibly the smartest of all of them but had too many social graces to be a gunner. Of my profs so far this year… hrm. Two possibly (very smart, slightly nerdy, but both seemingly graceful/sensitive enough in conversation that perhaps they would have picked up on the social cues and avoided it); two others it is too early to tell.

Interesting question, at any rate, Mark. I’ll poll my classmates and see what they think :)

]]> By: Mark Gordon http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/comment-page-1/#comment-5353 Mark Gordon Tue, 09 Jan 2007 14:27:19 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/#comment-5353 "If you keep a blog detailing your exciting scholastic career..." Oops, too late now. ;-) Out of curiosity, how many of your profs do you suppose are former gunners? Comment on http://www.jewishbuddha.org/archives/2003/01/socrates_v_budd.php : "We're way beyond gunner bingo. Someone in the section set up a Gunner Fantasy League. You draft a team and get points based on how often they volunteer in class." “If you keep a blog detailing your exciting scholastic career…”

Oops, too late now. ;-)

Out of curiosity, how many of your profs do you suppose are former gunners?

Comment on http://www.jewishbuddha.org/archives/2003/01/socrates_v_budd.php :
“We’re way beyond gunner bingo. Someone in the section set up a Gunner Fantasy League. You draft a team and get points based on how often they volunteer in class.”

]]> By: nathan http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/comment-page-1/#comment-5345 nathan Tue, 09 Jan 2007 06:17:38 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/#comment-5345 Go for the Gunner! That was actually quite an enlightening link- I now know what the rest of my classmates must be thinking whenever I explain my various positions which have been completely saturated by the wealth of Free Software. It's kind of neat to be in that place, sort of like the zone you hear sportscasters talk about, not the one that they advertise as located on the corner of Broadway & 42nd but the mental zone where mistakes are few and perfection is within range. At least that's what it feels like on the inside, on the outside well, it's better to be inside. Go for the Gunner! That was actually quite an enlightening link- I now know what the rest of my classmates must be thinking whenever I explain my various positions which have been completely saturated by the wealth of Free Software. It’s kind of neat to be in that place, sort of like the zone you hear sportscasters talk about, not the one that they advertise as located on the corner of Broadway & 42nd but the mental zone where mistakes are few and perfection is within range. At least that’s what it feels like on the inside, on the outside well, it’s better to be inside.

]]> By: Bassam Kurdali http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/comment-page-1/#comment-5343 Bassam Kurdali Tue, 09 Jan 2007 01:58:18 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/#comment-5343 Be the gunner! Just for this one class it doesn't seem excessive- It's an important and pivotal issue you're passionate about, so I don't agree with hiding in the crowd in this case. "looking for the bases for assumptions" doesn't sound like you're lecturing the class, and I don't think you'll miss out on getting the alternative perspective, if anything, you may gain a deeper understanding of it. I hope you enjoy the class whatever you decide :) Be the gunner! Just for this one class it doesn’t seem excessive- It’s an important and pivotal issue you’re passionate about, so I don’t agree with hiding in the crowd in this case. “looking for the bases for assumptions” doesn’t sound like you’re lecturing the class, and I don’t think you’ll miss out on getting the alternative perspective, if anything, you may gain a deeper understanding of it.
I hope you enjoy the class whatever you decide :)

]]> By: Luis http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/comment-page-1/#comment-5338 Luis Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:03:39 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/#comment-5338 As I just explained to someone in IM, I don't want to lecture- I just want to find the bases for the assumptions. I'm so saturated in the copyleft milieu that it will be valuable for me to make sure I'm getting an alternative perspective, and not just mindlessly challenge it. As I just explained to someone in IM, I don’t want to lecture- I just want to find the bases for the assumptions. I’m so saturated in the copyleft milieu that it will be valuable for me to make sure I’m getting an alternative perspective, and not just mindlessly challenge it.

]]> By: Joe Buck http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/comment-page-1/#comment-5337 Joe Buck Mon, 08 Jan 2007 23:58:46 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/01/08/youre-going-to-be-a-douchebag-in-that-class-arent-you-aka-confessions-of-a-maybe-gunner/#comment-5337 In this case, being the "gunner" might be a public service. Lawyers thing about "intellectual property" in a funny way, even law profs, and it would be a public service to challenge this thinking. To show just how bad it gets, I had a discussion with our corporate attorney about getting clearance for making a very minor contribution to GCC, and it was like pulling teeth. It didn't impress her that it was in the company's business interest to have the thing go in, because, she said, we had to balance the company's business interests against the need to protect intellectual property! (That's right, she had elevated "intellectual property" to such a level that it could trump business interests). In this case, being the “gunner” might be a public service. Lawyers thing about “intellectual property” in a funny way, even law profs, and it would be a public service to challenge this thinking.

To show just how bad it gets, I had a discussion with our corporate attorney about getting clearance for making a very minor contribution to GCC, and it was like pulling teeth. It didn’t impress her that it was in the company’s business interest to have the thing go in, because, she said, we had to balance the company’s business interests against the need to protect intellectual property! (That’s right, she had elevated “intellectual property” to such a level that it could trump business interests).

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