Teutonic Tomboy T-Girl
I think the name is fine, but on reflection, disallowing guns designed to shoot backwards (like the one in the current trope image, which technically wouldn't be an example under the current description) seems unnecessary.
It's basically a comedy trope so the "clearly designed to shoot backwards" guns should fit too. Nobody would make such a thing except as a gag, or to fool a really stupid character.
Plus, it's not like there's an enormous number of examples of either type out there.
edited 11th Apr '11 8:14:09 AM by suedenim
Jet-a-Reeno!
:(
The page image was changed, I believe, but I think both types of examples are okay.
First key to interpreting a work: Things mean things.
World's Toughest Milkman
How about this: "A gun designed or modified to fire backwards, tricking the person who uses it into shooting themselves. A common version seen in cartoons is to bend the barrel back into a "U" shape. Note that this trope may still come into play even if the person who might fire the gun would have to be really stupid not to notice the modification."
Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.
Loser
I agree with suedenim that there really are not too many examples of this trope, so it seems fine to me to include the "clearly designed to shoot backwards" examples. I like Xtifr's new description idea, so unless there are any objections, I think we might as well use it as the base for the new description.
"irhgT nm0w tehre might b ea lotof th1nmgs i dont udarstannd, ubt oim ujst goinjg to keepfollowing this pazth i belieove iN !!!!!1 d
World's Toughest Milkman
Bump. This seems fairly non-controversial, so this is a last call for objections before I implement my suggestion above.
Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.
Sounds good.
Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
...Okay, so I'm not the most qualified when it comes to trope manipulation. But for the sake of discussion: the YKTTW was started in October with requests for Needs A Better Title and eventually launched as Backwards-Firing Gun in January, still with the request for a better title. Aptly enough, "backfire" was derived from firearms.
I was thinking of something along the lines of "Literal Gun Backfire", but it sounds odd.
Only problem is that it doesn't seem broken enough to require fixing, although the use of "Backwards Firing Gun" seems to have caused some confusion with weapons which are clearly designed to shoot yourself in the face, emphasis intentional. So I'm pitching this for suggestions and useful input.
Fire away!
Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.