Breakfast Topic: The N-word
by Jennie Lees 
May 26th 2006 at 9:00AM
There's one word that gets my goat in WoW: "noob". With spellings as diverse as "nub", "n00b" and "nubcakes", dropping the N-bomb is seen by many players as a way to enhance their own social standing -- often with the opposite effect.I'm tired of "noob" being the default insult -- of Trade, General, LFG and local channels filling up with the word time and again. Of being called a "nub" for reasons as diverse as refusing a duel, wanting to find a group and capturing the flag in WSG. Of course, sometimes we do behave in ways that deserve reprimand -- but can't anyone come up with a more original insult? Perhaps that should be the next Blizzard competition.
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, WoW Social Conventions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
PodMonkeys May 26th 2006 9:14AM
You want some cheese with that whine? n00b! :P
I tend not to use the word unless either jokingly as above, or when using it as newbie to refer to a new person to the game, and usually not in a derogatory way. More in a way that newbie is a lot shorter than "He just pickedup the game and doesn't know quite what to do."
Flura May 26th 2006 9:19AM
pwned
srammij May 26th 2006 9:49AM
"asshat" has been a favorite of mine...not sure what it means... but sounds funny nonetheless.
Dave M. May 26th 2006 10:08AM
I'll tell ya what. If one more person walks through an area that I cleared so that I can harvest a set of quest items, and takes the items themselves, then has the gall to call me a "n00b" when I reprimand them on it. Blizzard will be loosing a player.
Sure, that sounds like a noob, and maybe compared to a lot of other players, I still am. However, I don't really appreciate risking my characters neck (even when that risk is really not much of one, thanks to dying not being all that bad) just so that some opportunistic bastard can waltz in and take what I worked so hard to acquire myself.
Oh sure, the items are out there for anyone to take. However, a little common courtesy goes a long way. There are times when I really wish I had the ability to tag a player as a putz so that either all the mobs in a very large radius will attack him or at the very least other players will laugh at him. You know, like a dunce cap or something.
I'm just thankful that I have a game like Oblivion that I can fall back on when stuff like the above happens.
egress May 26th 2006 10:18AM
let the double entendre begin. i'll start
your all a bunch of noob lovers
Tryst May 26th 2006 10:53AM
I
Snapdragon May 26th 2006 11:05AM
Forget "noob". If one more person uses "your" instead of "you're", I'm going postal.
Iduna May 26th 2006 11:15AM
What I find to be even more interesting is the fact that “noob” has become a word used in my everyday vocabulary. However it’s not really used as a derogatory term, it is normally used (at least in my circle of friends and family) in jest and with good will. For example: whenever I see my brother, we always exchange the statement “Look it’s a nubcake.” We also use the word “Reroll” a lot in everyday talk, whenever anyone performs a stupid act we reply with “Reroll.” What is difficult in game and on the internet in general is the fact that you can not determine emotion by simply reading a word. So while I may be typing to someone that they are a noob, it is normally in jest and not meant to be hurtful, although the recipient may not perceive it as such.
Hexar May 26th 2006 11:30AM
I'll second that, Snapdragon. Also, it bothers me greatly that people spell it "nub". I'm sorry, but nub is already a valid English word with an established meaning, and alternate pronunciation. I can accept "noob" or "newb" or even "n00b", but "nub"? Come on. Not knowing the difference between "a small lump or protuberance" and a "newcomer to a skill or activity", in my opinion, makes you a noob to the English language. Congratulations, your [sic] illiterate.
Trip May 26th 2006 11:44AM
Complain, Complain Complain. Cry me a river. I hear this junk all over, noob this noob that, “Hey I’m not a nub ur teh noob, lolz” , yes it annoying and yes its avoidable, but the truth you don't want to avoid it, you like it and want more of it.
/ignore ... was that so hard? No it's not, and if you are asinine enough to argue with the proverbial noob you just as much a noob as he or she is, do me a favor and L2type/ignore and get back to pwning the Alliance!
-Trip
"Please don't hit the sheep!"
Trip May 26th 2006 12:07PM
Wow, I really should proof read my posts, sorry for the lack of grammar :(
obo May 26th 2006 1:35PM
/ignore Trip
"Your ignore list is full."
rst May 26th 2006 1:51PM
NARB!
Lori May 26th 2006 4:20PM
WHAT? Now we are having an insult competetion?
Brinstar May 26th 2006 5:17PM
It's better than calling someone "gay" or "fag". :-/
mk May 26th 2006 5:36PM
I can deal with "noob" and "pwned" and the like, and I've received therapy to the point where the constant mangling of the English language no longer makes me cry like a little girl. However, I still find the "l(ea)rn2" phrases highly offensive. To my ear, the phrase tags the speaker as arrogant and displays a complete lack of respect for the original poster. That doesn't even touch the laziness inherent in dropping "lrn2play" instead of helping out, or at least pointing the poor soul in the right direction.
Badge May 27th 2006 1:08AM
I hate that "noob" is used in a negative way, as I always thought it meant that someone was new to the game. Nothing wrong with that at all. I also hate the terrrrrible grammar used everywhere in WoW. The best response I heard to some bad grammar was
"ENGLISH CRITS YOU FOR 2000"
"YOU DIE"
That made me laugh.
robb May 29th 2006 11:31AM
like when me and my freind are talking we call each other noobs alot but its mearly a jest not actually an insult when somone calls me a noob or nub or nubcackes i laugh at them and my respons is either " of that one cut strait to the heart" or "wow just simply wow" and ive found out if you reply in some totally random way like "looks like somone slipped on the dance dance revolutions pad this morning" they will shut up trying to figure out what the hell was just said about them and personly i feel like jesus when some littel kid just has that blank look on your face but this is always on allince im sad to say im allince i took it with my freinds and it was my mistacke but most of the allince is 18-13 and the horde is 19-ect and they did a tes and they found the ratio so obviously im saying this to immiture kids and if you were horde i expect a diffrent respons but i9 say we al make a new derogitroy term i either like asshat cause it sounds hilarious or im think we should go with jackass is also good but whatever
-robb
p.s. for the horde
Nex May 29th 2006 10:07PM
"Noob", and the even more idiotic "nub", are insults that make me assume the insulter is a 16 year old basement dwelling wretch. It's not even the sort of insult that you can use ironically, thusly challenging that idea.
The moral of the story: Swears are always best.
Mile May 30th 2006 10:13AM
I hate this game, and old related things, because my frineds discuss it every minute of their free time.