Tends to be a term that unusual groups (Asperger patients, people who are awkard but don't get diagnosed as anything, incels, etc.) use to refer to normal people that is somewhat pejorative.
My particular use is a bit ambiguous and ironic. I'd see both the crypto enthusiasts and HN users as not normal. In terms of hierarchy however, I'd say HN users are relatively more normal than crypto enthusiasts, but that's half my opinion and half being provocative. (e.g. it will cause some people to make unforced errors.)
Normies is a term that crypto enthusiasts use to refer to folks that don't know much about crypto. I guess it's pejorative, but I use it in jest. Maybe I should stop using it.
Well, if you did crypto around the time you joined here = 2019/06.
I can say that this normie predates your crypto experience with 3 years. A lot of people here way earlier.
My currently expired crypto magazine it's most popular article was "how to recover your Bitcoin password" ~ 2017. I've seen/experienced this 'movement' before ;).
Ps. Ethereum was already popular then because of it's "potential" of programmability.
It changes so fast that "when" is largely irrelevant. I started with crypto in 2013, just getting to play with Bitcoin a little bit. Was never a big holder, but waiting for the day it would see bigger adoption. I lost interest in BTC after the block size debate. My first exposure to ETH was shortly after they launched, but it took me a while to really understand how it works. These days I use ETH every single day, mainly via NFTs and side projects. I'm also interested in new and emerging chains with niche use cases, getting in early as a validator as a way of placing bets on potential future success... but I'm in no way a fanatic. I don't think crypto will "replace" fiat. I don't think NFTs will disrupt ownership, and I optimize my gains towards traditional investments. I find crypto fun, and I think it offers interesting ways for folks to interact with each other using programmable money. My gripe I suppose is how easily some folks dismiss it, but to each their own.