When I started gaming, prior to my MMO days, I started as a Newb or Newbie. This was a term of endearment, generally given by more experienced gamers to someone who needed to be looked after, shown the ropes, and helped to learn the game. I didnt mind being called a Newb as it was what I was.

15 Years on the term Newb has been bastardized to Noob and then to Nub. Today the term Nub is used as derogatory term and even an insult, generally for someone who doesnt have L337 5Kill20R5 or who makes a mistake . Whatever I play I hear the same outbursts of ‘F%$kin Nub’ or ‘U R teh Nub’.

When did Newb become Nub and when did people stop caring?

For those of you who dont remember, idiots were called llamas, a corruption of the term lamer - someone who is lame. Players who used ‘teh’ instead of ‘the’ were assumed to have poor keyboard skills, or were dyslexic and ‘pwned’, well WTF is that? Meh !