I got to admit this is pretty darned funny.

1. Potential employee wants to apply for an entry level network administrator position.

2. Potential employee is given a really, really basic Linux questionnaire for this type of position.

3. Potential employee doesn’t bother answering questions and instead posts it to the Ubuntu Linux forums.

4. Ubuntu Linux forum’ers instantly peg this guy as an idiot because he didn’t provide his answers in the first place and was looking for a free ride.

5. THE EMPLOYER finds the thread later, announces said potential employee won’t get the job and then says (in essence) "Hey if anyone else wants the job, e-mail me!"

This is a de facto example of what we call an epic fail (for the guy that started the thread obviously).

Jane: Hey, I heard about this thing called “Linux”, do you know anything about it?

Jack: Sure! I’ll tell you anything you want to know. Ask away.

Jane: It’s free, right?

Jack: Yes, absolutely!

Jane: Cool! So they give it away for free at the computer store?

Jack: Well, no..

Jane: How do you get it then?

Jack: You have to download an ISO it and burn it to a CD or DVD and install it that way.

Jane: What the f@^k is an eye-soh?

Jack: Uh.. forget that. You can buy a copy of it at Borders or something.

Jane: But you said it was free!

Jack: It is.

Jane: Then why do I have to pay for it?!

Jack: …

Jane: Oh, never mind, I’ll ask something else. So what can I do in Linux?

Jack: Anything you can do in Windows.

Jane: Cool! So any software I buy from Circuit City will work in it?

Jack: Well, maybe..

Jane: Maybe?

Jack: Yeah, there’s the thing called WINE in Linux, and –

Jane: Wine? What’s that?

Jack: It’s used to emulate Windows so you can run Windows stuff.

Jane: Any Windows stuff?

Jack: Well, most Windows stuff.

Jane: What won’t it run?

Jack: Well, um…

Jane: Okay, let me ask this: If I go to the Circuit City, buy some software from there, come home, then pop in the CD I bought into my computer, will it install the program?

Jack: No.

Jane: Oh…

Jack: But WINE is good! It works!

Jane: You said maybe..

Jack: Um.. yeah.

Jane: What about all the software I already have? Will any of that work?

Jack: Maybe.

Jane: Okay, okay.. can I plug in my all-in-one print/scan/fax printer to Linux and have it work?

Jack: Uh.. that’s another “maybe”.

Jane: Let me get this straight. This Linux thing is something that’s free yet if I want it in a box from a store, I have to pay for it. Most of my Windows programs won’t work with it and neither will my printer most likely.

Jack: …

Jane: (sigh..) Will there at least be a phone number I can call if I need help with it?

Jack: No. You’ll have to spend hours combing thru forums on the internet with bits and pieces of poorly written documentation and Linux users that tell you RTFM even though there’s no manual.

Jane: …

Jack: Um.. forget Linux. Buy a Mac.

Jane: But the software I already have won’t run on a Mac..

Jack: (sigh..) Buy a Dell.

Jane: Thanks! I will!