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Revision as of 01:32, 11 April 2005 by Lupin (talk | contribs) (na - revert)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)In the South Park episode titled "Gnomes (Underpants Gnomes)", the Underpants Gnomes are a community of underground gnomes who steal underpants, notably from Tweek.
The Underpants Gnomes have a three-phase business plan, consisting of:
- Collect underpants
- ???
- Profit!
None of the gnomes actually know what the second phase is, and all of them assume that someone else within the organization does. A similar business model is also found in one episode of Arthur, where an organization of pets form the Sock Exchange. The gnomes specifically satirize dot-com businesses with poorly devised business models, although the satire also lends itself to any ill-conceived business plan. The three-step business plan has become a recurring joke on websites like Slashdot, Fark, MetaFilter, and other sites, with various things substituted for the first step (See also Slashdot subculture).