""Newbie" can be used as an endearing term to identify newcomers to a game, place, or organization. The variant spellings of "newbie" are also used, especially in online games, as a catch-all insult regardless of the recipient's actual skill or experience. Even a person who has spent hours and hours perfecting an activity, achieving the maximum possible level, and clearing every stage on the hardest difficulty setting will often be called a "newbie" despite these accomplishments. The variant "noob" has become common in spoken English in parts of New York City and New Jersey as a substitute for the word dude." (wikipedia numerous authors) i like the "noob is being used as dude" :D