And that much should be expected, since they are both in the same Unix family tree (even if Linux was "grafted in").

Why do I see so much of this snide needling from FreeBSD proponents? Small dog syndrome?

It matters when you don't want to hire someone to learn a system, and someone who can land a job with their Linux skills does not necessarily want to learn a different system (one that's in a lot less demand). It's a valid concern even if not an insurmountable problem.

But in regards to your point... I guess what I'm saying is for most cases, the knowledge gap will be very small, and "hiring them to learn" is a huge overstatement.

Within that you will find niches where there's more of a gap. Eg. Practical knowledge of kernel development will not be super transferrable (though some of it will)

That's the needling. And I'm sure it's considered absolutely hilarious among the people engaging in it.

But what it comes down to is someone raises a valid concern and you dismiss it and question the competence of others.

You could have said something actually helpful and constructive without being bitter and dismissive, for example that you don't believe it is as big a problem as might be first thought because of the similarities between the systems, and the good FreeBSD documentation available.

Sorry but I see this attitude every time FreeBSD vs Linux topics come up. Not saying all FreeBSD proponents do it or no Linux ones do similar, mind you.

The actual point I'm making beyond that, and I think I make it reasonably well if I can say so myself, is that most of your Linux knowledge is transferrable to FreeBSD, and vice versa. It therefore makes me skeptical when people suggest that it isn't so.