I was crouched down looking through the scope of my rifle with sweaty palms, while positioned so that I could cover one of the few access points of our base. Just and an enemy cautiously stepped around the corner, I squeezed my shot off right at the same moment one of my comrade ran in front of my gun. My perfect shot that would have terminated my opponent with extreme prejudiced, instead hit my teammate directly in the back. This wasted shot is accompanied by a barrage of common insults and colorful language, yet the term “Newbie” was shouted in a self-righteous voice. I scratched my head and pondered what this word was and why did it give the speaker so much gratification to say it to me? The first place I looked was the Merriam-Webster dictionary, which described “newbie” as a newcomer. Feeling a great sense of disappointment at the inadequacy of Mr. Webster to tell me what that word meant, I begin scouring the internet to find the answer. After extensive research, I found that the word originated long before I was born, means much more then just a newcomer, and has a broader application than just the gaming community.
The term “newbie” was first used in the US Military as a way of ridiculing fresh recruits, but over time has seen more widespread use in games and TV. The US Navy is the first to use a form of the term N.U.B., pronounced nube, or non-useful-body to describe newly stationed sailors with no qualifications or experience. (U.S. Navy slang) Later during the Vietnam War, “newbie” was adopted by the US Army to reference solders who had not seen active combat. (Newbie) There was a period of time that the word fell into disuse and how the word was reborn is somewhat of a mystery. Since that time the word has moved to the online gaming culture where a feeling of anonyms has encouraged the use of humiliating speech in order to distract and upset opponents. As online games gain in popularity, “newbie” has become prominent enough that sitcoms and comedy shows have begun to employ the word. An excellent example of this is in the sitcom “Scrubs” where Doctor Cox continuously refers to his protégé as “newbie” to breaking his spirits and constantly reminding him who's in charge. (Newbie) With such a unique history, newbie naturally has a variety of ways it can be used.
Webster’s dictionary describes “newbie” as a newcomer, yet there is much more to the word than that. There are multiple forms of the word newbie, like noob, nub, newb, and newber. How the word is used and the context defines the way the word is spelled. A newbie represents someone who has very basic skills or someone who has the skills but chooses to perform poorly. For example: I am an English Newbie so I did not write a long enough paper. A superb example of how to use it word is with the phrase “you were owned like a newb,” to demoralize and humiliate an opponent, when an especially nice move was made. Another way in which the word may be used is when a basic mistake such as a lapse of attention or judgment is made, which is called a “noob moment.” The ways in which the word is used is ever changing and growing as it becomes more widespread.
There is nothing more satisfying than to add insult to injury and “newbie” is an excellent example of this enjoyment. It is the modern replacement for idiot or moron. Few other words can be used not only to insult a person’s intelligence but ridicule their level of skill as well. With “newbie” originally exclusively used in the military and it not seeing much use for years, it has become a new word once more. Young people can use it in front of their parents and not be reprimanded for it, which helps to encourage the utilization of the term. Now “newbie” has gone through a major transfiguration in to a socially acceptable way to criticize others. As time goes on it may be used in more formal settings like dinners and business meetings. One day it may become a Presidential Slogan: “Vote for The Newbie.” Our culture and language is constantly changing and ‘newbie” is a classic example of this change.
"Newbie." Wikipedia. 8 Jun 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noob#_note-0>.
"U.S. Navy slang." Wikipedia. 8 Jun 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Navy_slang#N>.
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