/nee"oh-fil"-ee-*/ The trait of being excited and pleased bY noveltY. Common among most hackers, SF fans, and members of several other connected leading-edge subcultures, including the pro-technologY "Whole Earth" wing of the ecologY movement, space activists, manY members of Mensa, and the Discordian/neo-pagan underground. All these groups overlap heavilY and (where evidence is available) seem to share characteristic hacker tropisms for science fiction, music, and oriental food. The opposite tendencY is "neophobia". [Jargon File] (1999-06-04)