when did "neo" become "newbie" or "noob" i wonder

I don't know when it happened to the Sci-fi Fandom, but (from The Jargon File entry for "newbie") it came to Usenet (in talk.bizarre) via British public-school and military slang "new boy", and from there went into Hacker jargon, with which Sci-Fi has a huge overlap (and influenced the internet at large).

It's good to remember that everyone was new once, and so new people are to be greeted with warmth and welcome. No matter what group it is. I like to keep XKCD - Ten Thousand in mind whenever someone expresses ignorance about something. After all, it can be scary to open oneself to the ridicule they might be expecting, so they should be rewarded with taking that brave step, instead of punished. I wouldn't have liked it if I was laughed at and shut out when I first dipped my toes into the furry fandom socially, after all. So I don't like seeing someone else get that reaction. (As long as they're asking questions respectfully, and not in bad faith or in a belligerent manner, etc.)

Probably when the influx of new fans grew so overwhelming that they no longer learned things from the older generation, and had to re-invent everything. Let's say around 2000.

It's super cool seeing all of these archived pictures, glad you are showcasing them!

I've also been showing them on DeviantArt and FaceBook.

"It is good to remind oneself that maybe a few years are not really enough to make one as experienced and wise as one thinks."

Those few years do one thing I remember with importance:

"It's meant to be a hobby. Don't put all your chips in it, that you don't have any for a proper career to keep the lights on, the water running and the fridge packed and well stocked."

As long an one doesn't get carried away and conclude that life has no purpose or rules
at all...

Also, the best hobbies are the ones that can be monetized, both inside and outside fandoms. If only the technical trades were more sought after by the dumb suckers in furry fandom.

I used to do pretty well with furries as an artist, but it got harder and harder to make a decent profit over time -- travel expenses grew out of hand, but also the number of artists who were willing to work for $20 meant that the artist had to produce work in minutes, and in volume. When I was still working the dealers table, the competition for sales was enormous, and I had the impression that a lot of the dealers and artists were local, amateur artists who were mainly trying to earn enough for a couple of hamburgers and fries at the end of the day.

The art style you use doesn't help either, everyone wants a cutesy anime style like what  miupix uses huh? I remember the recent comic convention in Singapore I went to last year. The new and fresh anime/manga styles were all the rage there. Though there was plenty of western/European drawing styles there too.

It's the same in industry, the more cartoon-leaning a drawing style was, the more likely a successful job interview. Being a freelance private illustrator/animator is a better choice now.

Hence, why it's better to keep it a hobby. And I'm trying to go back into it myself. I just wish the resources and support available now, was available years ago.

I used to make jokes about how there were only a small number of furry styles, but I never sat down to list them systematically. Essentially, there was a manga or anime style (not exactly the same, and actually several styles but all derived from Japanese comics). There was a Terrie Smith style that embodies western independent comics like Elf Quest, and emphasized the overwhelming cuteness factor. (My Little Pony definitely fits that category). Not so often noticed, there were furry artists who were into superheroes or those sort of pin-head muscle guys. And there was Disney, and also Warner Brothers. In addition there were certain artists who inspired a small amount of imitators, such as Steve Gallacci. I might fit into that category, but I'm not sure. I don't know anyone who I had adopted my way of drawing -- though some have done it as a one-off spoof -- but I do know of a small number of furry artists who have found inspiration in my work, even though they don't *imitate* me. Which is probably better for everyone. I never wanted a lot of imitators.