So, let's see: I have a 'great idea'. One pill taken once that will cure any cancer. World shaking idea! This example clarifies this whole thread: The need

So, let's see: I have a 'great idea'. One pill taken once that will cure any cancer. World shaking idea! This example clarifies this whole thread: The need to cure cancer is obvious. So is the desirability of such a one pill. Now let's set aside the obvious. The challenge is how to make that pill. The 'idea' with meaning, then, is how to make this pill. If someone does know how to make the pill, then they definitely should not tell anyone about it without good legal advice, rock solid NDAs, etc. But part of what makes this thread a mess is that at present the HN context of information technology entrepreneurship just assumes that, with current computing, the part analogous to finding the pill is trivial and the only challenge is identifying that people would like to have such a pill. This situation won't last very long!