Newbie

Synonyms:	n00b, neofan, babyfan, noob, neo, newby, Babyphile
See also:	regular, Bitter Old Fandom Hag, Bitter Old Fanfic Queen, Fanosaur, Newbieguide, Wirgin
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Newbie is a term most commonly used in online spaces for people who are new to a community such as a fandom or forum, and are unfamiliar with the community's standards of behavior.

One of its antonyms is (forum etc.) regular. Oldbie is sometimes used, and the terms Fanosaur or Bitter Old Fanfic Queen lie at the other end of the spectrum. Babyfan is a newer synonym.

The term is often used neutrally, but it can also be an insult. Some fans dislike it, feeling that its use discourages new fans from joining a fandom or participating. In Starsky & Hutch fandom, for example, Flamingo promotes the use of "new recruit" as a more positive alternative.

Some Anecdotes

From a Blake's 7 fan in 1998, a bit of encouragement, more than a bit of condescension:

I am entertained by the new fans. Their passion and enthusiasm is charming and energizing. Now, to old and jaded fans, these newbies can sometimes come on like overexcited puppies pissing on your foot. And one's impulse could be to smack them with a rolled up newspaper - much like what happened to Grace R recently (Grace, if you're still subbed, please lick your wounds and come back to play - we do bite, but not hard enough to break a thick skin). While I'm sometimes puzzled that sensitive people would even be attracted to a show like B7, some are; and they can be easily scared off. And then the list is only full of us old farts.