neats vs. scruffies
= N =
neophilia
neep-neep /neep neep/ n.
[onomatopoeic, widely spread
through SF fandom but reported to have originated at Caltech in the
1970s] One who is fascinated by computers. Less specific than
hacker, as it need not imply more skill than is required to
play games on a PC. The derived noun `neeping' applies
specifically to the long conversations about computers that tend to
develop in the corners at most SF-convention parties (the term
`neepery' is also in wide use). Fandom has a related proverb to
the effect that "Hacking is a conversational black hole!".
--The Jargon File version 4.3.1, ed. ESR, autonoded by rescdsk.