Chainik
Encyclopedia
Chainik is a term that implies both ignorance and a certain amount of willingness to learn (as well as a propensity to cause disaster), but does not necessarily imply as little experience or short exposure time as newbie
and is not as derogatory as luser
. Both a novice user and someone using a computer system for a long time without any understanding of the internals can be referred to as chainiks. Term can also apply to novice drivers, with such usage pre-dating the usage in computing context. It is a very widespread term in Russian hackish, often used in an English context by Russian-speaking hackers especially in Israel
(e.g. "Our new colleague is a complete chainik"). FidoNet
discussion groups often had a "chainik" subsection for newbies and old chainiks (e.g. SU.CHAINIK, RU.LINUX.CHAINIK). Public projects often have a chainik mailing list to keep the chainiks out the developers' and experienced users' discussions. Today, the word is slowly slipping into mainstream Russian
due to the Russian translation of the popular ...For Dummies
series which uses "chainik" for "dummy".
The term is derived from a Russian folk custom to make a gift of a hollow thing - a pitted pumpkin
, a kettle
, or a teapot
, for example - to unsuccessful matchmaker
s of an aspiring groom rejected by a bride. The unlucky groom was mockingly called chainik. Over time the term entered other usages for unlucky, inept, or newbie people.
In the modern colloquial Russian "chainik" may refer to novice car drivers. Rear window stickers with a picture of a kettle (chainik) mark a novice driver.
Newbie
Newbie or noob is a slang term for a novice or newcomer, or somebody inexperienced in any profession or activity. Contemporary use can particularly refer to a beginner or new user of computers, often concerning Internet activity, such as online gaming or Linux use...
and is not as derogatory as luser
Luser
In Internet slang, a luser is a painfully annoying, stupid, or irritating computer user.It is a portmanteau of "loser" and "user"....
. Both a novice user and someone using a computer system for a long time without any understanding of the internals can be referred to as chainiks. Term can also apply to novice drivers, with such usage pre-dating the usage in computing context. It is a very widespread term in Russian hackish, often used in an English context by Russian-speaking hackers especially in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
(e.g. "Our new colleague is a complete chainik"). FidoNet
FidoNet
FidoNet is a worldwide computer network that is used for communication between bulletin board systems. It was most popular in the early to mid 1990s, prior to the introduction of easy and affordable access to the Internet...
discussion groups often had a "chainik" subsection for newbies and old chainiks (e.g. SU.CHAINIK, RU.LINUX.CHAINIK). Public projects often have a chainik mailing list to keep the chainiks out the developers' and experienced users' discussions. Today, the word is slowly slipping into mainstream Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
due to the Russian translation of the popular ...For Dummies
...for Dummies
For Dummies is an extensive series of instructional / reference books which are intended to present non-intimidating guides for readers new to the various topics covered. Despite the title, their publisher has taken great pains to emphasize that the For Dummies books are not literally for dummies....
series which uses "chainik" for "dummy".
The term is derived from a Russian folk custom to make a gift of a hollow thing - a pitted pumpkin
Pumpkin
A pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae . It commonly refers to cultivars of any one of the species Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita mixta, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata, and is native to North America...
, a kettle
Kettle
A kettle, sometimes called a tea kettle or teakettle, is a small kitchen appliance used for boiling water. Kettles can be heated either by placing on a stove, or by their own electric heating element.- Stovetop kettles :...
, or a teapot
Teapot
A teapot is a vessel used for steeping tea leaves or a herbal mix in near-boiling water. Tea may be either in a tea bag or loose, in which case a tea strainer will be needed, either to hold the leaves as they steep or to catch the leaves inside the teapot when the tea is poured...
, for example - to unsuccessful matchmaker
Matchmaking
Matchmaking is any process of matching two people for the purpose of marriage or a sporting contest.-Practice:In some cultures, the role of the matchmaker was and is quite professionalized...
s of an aspiring groom rejected by a bride. The unlucky groom was mockingly called chainik. Over time the term entered other usages for unlucky, inept, or newbie people.
In the modern colloquial Russian "chainik" may refer to novice car drivers. Rear window stickers with a picture of a kettle (chainik) mark a novice driver.