I have always had strict rules against making fun of someone because they are new at something like calling them newbies and n00bs. It hurts someones feelings and is like ganging up on people IMO. I am so strict about it, I will ban first and ask questions later. What do you think about this type of activity? Do you have rules against it or do you allow it?
Now this is a big debate on one forum I've worked on - N00bs is an insulting referring to somebody who doesn't know what they are doing or acting childishly etc. However, I don't think Newbie is a bad term - referring to a member who has just signed up, is new to a site or to a community. Not neccessarily acting N00bishly
In this day and age, I can honestly say that both words are insults. Newbie used to be the same meaning as N00b then someone decided to change it to N00b. So now Newbie means the same as N00b. The way I see it, no one is considered a newbie anywhere. They have experienced it in some way or another at one point in their life.
Whereas I see it in a different way The term N00b is an insult - and one you hear all the time on XBox live :nuhuh: But newbie - well, everyone is new at something at some point in their lives, be it new to a forum, to a job, to even learning something. So to me, newbie is an affectionate reminder of when I was back in that position!
I agree completley. I see the term newbie used affectionately so much these days, way more than insultingly.
I play World of Warcraft and let me tell you I never see Newbie or N00b used affectionately in that game. I think its to the point that online MMO games are deciding what words are a good use and what words are not.
newbie is okay as long as its not used to taunt someone I suppose but some people even get offended by that...
