If you really were on the web since before gnu/Linux you would never have expressed it that way...

You'd say you were around when you dialed into BBSes.... Like those who actually were on the "web" before gnu/Linux.... Do you actually understand what you claimed with that?

Quick edit: just in case it's not clear enough

"First released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds"

"By Christmas 1990, Berners-Lee had built all the tools necessary for a working Web"..."In 1991 the Commercial Internet eXchange was founded"

Unless you were friends with Tim it's literally impossible....