Why is the term "noob" even used?

I am sort of a returning member to Gamingforce. I was a frequent user about two years ago and now i'm just getting back into it. I have a problem with the term noob. It seems to me that the only use for the word noob is when there is a disagreement. If someone says something that goes against anothers ideals they can be called a noob(by someone of a higher level).That just doesn't make any sense whatsoever to me. What if someone is new to the forum but they are a hell of a lot smarter than you are? Do they get to call YOU a noob? Or is that a privileage that only the higher levels use? It's just that the term noob is used too the point that it now has an obscure definition. It always seemed to me that the word noob should only be used in reference to someone who is new to something and doesn't really know the rules yet, not to try and embarass someone because you think you know what you are talking about and it pisses you off when someone of a lower level is better than you. When people use that term I can't help but think that they are 26 years old and they live in their mother's basement looking at cartoon porn. I also think that the person has no friends and the only place where he has a seat of power is on this website.
So, if the person is new, why can't you just teach him the rules? If you think the person is wrong, then why can't you just attach a counterpoint and not try to rip him/her to shreds by bashing how long they have been a member?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I am sure that it is just a whole forum fun thing. You can never usually tell if the person is being sarcastic or serious about the term. I would suggest you just ignore it and not take it too seriously. If you post enough, and learn the toold of the trade, and add to the community, the next thing you know, people won't be calling you a noob.

Think of it as something that will want you to participate more, so that you are not labelled in such a way.

How ya doing, buddy?

It seems hard to be able to distinguish all the new low postcount members since there aren't enough examples to see if the poster is standard low-quality (eg. fresh from gamefaqs), or if the person has a style that seems to conform to a good GFF quality post. Of course everyone was a noob at some point, and although it feels insulting, it's more of a point that's just brought up rather than to be dwelt on. Until the person posts more frequently (ideally with a decent quality), then it's very easy to throw the term out loosely, and be correct, since there aren't a sufficient number of posts to tell what kind of poster the user is.

How ya doing, buddy?

Cameras make you look bigger.

and mirrors.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Its because some people are just beyond helping. You've met those kinds of people and thought the same things. People just would rather not try and flame them away instead of helping a lost cause. There are different outlets for different kinds of people. For example, Gamingforce has some pretty intelligent folk and we send those who didn't get their educations over to AOL where they beong.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Actually... I kind of am that big. I kind of went crazy at the gym every day for the past year and a half, and i play sports non-stop.
I think you all have great points, but I haven't been called a noob... yet. But I have seen others insulted in that way. It just bugs me when people do it just to overshadow someone's point or kill a thread.
I get your point Ultima, but still... the majority of the incidents are against fairly intelligent individuals who are just trying to put in their two cents.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

You must be new here...

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by J-Man

You must be new here...

What in the hell is that supposed to mean? j/k. NO seriously though what are you talking about? Yes i am new(sort of) but why are you saying that?

How ya doing, buddy?

Well why do people pick on freshmen in high school? Same concept, really.

What pisses me off is when the term is used in real life. Anyone ever heard that before? Not as a reference, but as an actual insult. Oooh he called me a NOOB! Guess I better just sit down and fold because now it's OVER.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I've heard "newbie" used in real life. Since, well, it originated in it... >___> Noob is only when internetters are yanking eachother's chains.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Wikipedia says "newbie" dates back to Vietnam in the Army, but I swear I remember them using the term in Band of Brothers when I was watching it on the History Channel a few weeks back.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I like the word noob, it's funny and makes me laugh

I'm simple

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by RacinReaver

I swear I remember them using the term in Band of Brothers when I was watching it on the History Channel a few weeks back.

It seems that history itself becomes a blur to directors when they are trying to make a movie or television show, so we can't trust em. Yeah I have actually heard it in real life, again I wasn't called that but i witnessed it. I think Soldiers used the term in Vietnam because they feared for their lives. So we should use the term in no less of a situation.lol.

I was speaking idiomatically.

When I use the term I use it to frustrate people. For example, I'll be playing Counter Strike which I'm not very good at, I'll start griefing (Team Killing, Team Flashing, being generally annoying) and scream on the mic or talk trash, Including calling people noobs.


You call someone a noob you're insulting them. When someone takes an insult to heart they become flustered and can't think strait, making whatever it is you're trying to do easier.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I like to call myself noob in every online game I play, and at every oppurtunity. It throws people off if everyone in a server is getting pwned by some guy called "Major Noob".

In terms of this thread, some people are just natural elitists and assholes, and ignore the fact that they were noobs at some point themselves. That's all there is to it.

FELIPE NO

Yes you are right Rasputin. But I think that is really low. For example, I am currently in an argument with A Lurker(she doesn't like me very much). I think I'm right and of course she thinks she is(I am conservative whereas she seems to be liberal), therefore it seems she is trying to impose her... rank? experience? upon me to make me break. It works on the same principle as the noob thing. If you call someone a noob it's just taking the easy way out of something, it's not a fair fight.
Master Thief, I can't certainly agree with you on that, but so far noone has been an asshole on THIS thread. I thought there would be some roughousing going on.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Aramaethe

Master Thief, I can't certainly agree with you on that, but so far noone has been an asshole on THIS thread. I thought there would be some roughousing going on.

lol, I think you misunderstood me... I probably worded it wrong.

I meant in general in the context of your last couple of questions. Sorry for the confusion.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Oh i see. Sorry I misunderstood.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Aramaethe

It seems that history itself becomes a blur to directors when they are trying to make a movie or television show, so we can't trust em.

Usually I'd agree, but Band of Brothers was made with historical accuracy really high in mind. The beginning of every episode was started with an interview with a few of the men the series followed, so I'm a little more willing to consider the show closer to a primary source than Wikipedia.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Aramaethe

When people use that term I can't help but think that they are 26 years old and they live in their mother's basement looking at cartoon porn. I also think that the person has no friends and the only place where he has a seat of power is on this website.

So why don't you tell it to them?

Or are you too mature for that?

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

noob originated from mortal kombat. i think it wuz the 2nd one they had that character who was secret, was named noob saibot. these were names of 2 makers who reversed their name. there was a period when popular forums took on aboard all these MK fans, like 257 of them and then they were referred to as noobs. it soundz funny cuz it rhymes with boob yeh. obviously SF rules over mk so the meaning became ambiguous yeh?

What the hell let's analyze the word 'noob'. That camera is covering your face. Real amateur work.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Umm. The camera is covering my face because i don't want anyone to see it. Is that okay with you? Your avatar isn't much to write home about either electric_eye.
BigBlah if i told them that they would start bitching about how i'm going off topic and all that bullshit.
RacinReaver I don't watch much tv so i've never seen that show. I guess if it's fairly accurate more power to em tho.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

You're using a picture of your face as your avatar, but you're covering your face with the camera because you don't want anyone to see your face.

Makes perfect sense.

FELIPE NO

doesn't it tho? I'm not a friggin photographer. Why does everyone have to complain about the smallest things?

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

As far as noob is concerned... when used in forums, its almost always used when someone can't sociably reply to someone not confirming their own opinion.

Sorry to follow this sidetrack, but it cant be helped.

Originally Posted by electric_eye

What the hell let's analyze the word 'noob'. That camera is covering your face. Real amateur work.

Do you actually think that wasn't intentional?

Furthermore, most people arn't profesionals when it comes to photography, and as such don't give a shit.

Originally Posted by Lord Styphon

You're using a picture of your face as your avatar, but you're covering your face with the camera because you don't want anyone to see your face.

Makes perfect sense.

Wrong. If he was using a picture of his face for his avatar, with a camera covering it, the whole avatar would basically just be a camera. The camera is taking up less than 10% of the shot. You may consider it the focus, but that does not mean thats what the picutre is of.

Jam it back in, in the dark.