This is causing me quite a dilemma; let me elaborate:

I absolutely detest those people (most of whom are not First class/elite preboarders) who linger in the area around the boarding gate causing massive congestion about five minutes before scheduled boarding. They are an irritant and an obscenity and I want to scream at them to go sit the hell down until their boarding group or row number is called. They make it nearly impossible for First class passengers and elites to board early as they collectively form a human wall of obstruction. Whoever coined the term "gate lice" (not me) is genius.

Now the dilemma. Because I don't check baggage and travel with a carry on roll-aboard, I like to board early to ensure that I can get my bag in the overhead; I'm 6'2" and so don't really have a huge desire to fight my bag for legroom on transcon flights. Because the human wall of misery known as gate lice crowds us legitimate early boarders out of the gate area, I find that I have been forced to become that which I so detest. I find myself standing in the boarding area 7-10 minutes beforehand, gold boarding pass (United First or elite Group 1) in hand.

Now I don't know who I hate more: the gate lice or myself for having become one of them. They forced my hand! Ah, the humanity!