F*cking n00b!!!!!!!!!!!

            Language is one of the primary parts that make up a culture, and like culture it can change and evolve over time; this is also very true in subcultures. The chosen word to focus on in this blog post was the term “noob”, also commonly spelled “n00b”. This term is likely understood by many of the younger generations that have some experience with the gaming community of the US, and has had its own development over the last fifty some years.

Taken From http://www.hark.com/collections/gggdtwhwrx-noob

            The meaning of this term has is widely understood and has been developed among the gamer subculture in Internet based computer games over the last decade. It has largely been derived from the term “newbie”, which originated in the mid twentieth century to describe a “newcomer, new person to an existing situation”. The term noob is similar to newbie in meaning, but often implies a larger degree of incompetence or stupidity. The development and change of this term over time is reflective of what Daniel Moynihan put forward as “American society has increased beyond the levels the community can “afford to recognize” and that, accordingly, we have been redefining deviancy” (Thio et al. pg. 15). A newbie is a person that would be able to advance and become well versed in whichever task they are new to. A noob is largely considered a person that is stupid/ incompetent, and unwilling to put in the time and effort to becomebetter or more proficient. It has however been difficult to be able to find a single indication for a noob’s ability to improve.

           
             The term has moved more into the mainstream through mass media. One of the most prominent examples of mainstream used of noob was from a comerical about Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It featured Sam Worthington teaching the noob (Jonah Hill) how to play the game properly. From the research that was conducted on how the gaming community responds to the use of noob, those called noob will often admit to being new to the game and needing help at times, or falsely accused and respond in a very defensive manner. The more experienced people within the video game community often are just frustrated by those that they feel are not up to their level, but it can also be seen that many acknowledge “everyone is a noob at one point”.

           
            In relating the use of noob to in class reading, the most obvious theory that comes to mind would be Howard Becker’s “Labeling Theory”. A person that has been labeled as a noob may cause the person to accept that label and turn to illegitimate ways or cheats to become better at the game. This creates the self-fulfiling prophecy that Becker was hinting towards.

           This also relates to John Braithwaite’s Shaming Theory. In the gaming community a noob may encounter some negative sanctions. While in “normal” society it can take the shape of disapproving looks and gestures, or being the subject of gossip. In the gaming community people tend to take advantage of the anonymity of online gaming, where one is often only known to others as their gamer tag; they unleash verbal tirades full of poor grammar, misspellings, and profanity. What can often assist a noob is the fact that it is often not obvious if one is one at the start of a game/match, but is often identified by a mistake that is believed would not be made by a more experienced player. A noob can also lose the status of noob in a game by pulling of a game changing or impressive move/maneuver. Then the community of player in the game may praise the gamer, and through this praise returns him/her as part of the collective properly playing the game.

            Many different groups and subgroups have language and insults that are specific to their community. Noon or n00b are perfect examples of how this is true within the gaming community. It has evolved from having a different meaning when it was in the form of newbie, to what it means today. It is destined to eventually fade or transform into a different word as the gaming culture, as well as mainstream society, continues to change and evolve.

Works Cited

1.    Moynihan, D. (1993). Defining Deviancy Down. “Readings in Deviant Behavior: Sixth Edition.” (Pgs 15-17). Pearson Education Inc.

2.    Becker, H. (1963). Labeling Theory. “Readings in Deviant Behavior: Sixth Edition.” (Pgs 39-41). Pearson Education Inc.

3.    Braithwaite, J (1989). Shaming Theory. “Reading in Deviant Behavior: Sixth Edition.” (Pgs 33-35). Person Education Inc.

 


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