3 ms·

True, but they could be a catalyst for someone who just needs a spark. Just talking about them here on your own time certainly isn't HURTING anyone.

SwellJoe 18y ago
Perhaps. I'm just advising folks to be careful about things they hear in the echo chamber that is our community (where communit==HN+blogs+web 2.0 industry+etc., I'm not singling out HN, in particular). Just because you hear a loud chorus doesn't mean there are actually a lot of people wishing for what the voices are suggesting--it could just be two or three really loud people who like the sound of their own voice (like me!). I suspect the better way to get ideas is to work in the real world. Maybe work as a contractor for a while, so you see how different businesses work, and more importantly, where and how they fail to work. Is the discussion hurting anyone? No, probably not. As I mentioned most of the folks here are smart and interesting. Talking to smart and interesting people is generally good for you. But, don't imagine that it's the real thing, or that you'll find your business plan via discussion here--it takes research, customer interactions, and a helluva a lot of work, to formulate a viable business plan. And, talking on the Internet has the pernicious ability to make you feel like you're accomplishing something, when in fact, you're not actually doing anything. And, honestly, I think that a big bunch of talent is currently being wasted on dumb ideas, and I suspect there is some sort of relationship with the kinds of things we reward in the Internet startup world with our validation, our blog posts, etc. That's not to say that executing on dumb ideas is time completely wasted...sometimes it can evolve into something wonderful (flickr from Game Neverending, or whatever it was called, for example). I think a lot of the dumbest ideas come from looking inward too much. "All the current todo lists can't remind me three times at randomized intervals throughout the day about important stuff, and I'm really bad at remembering to do stuff, so I will make a todo list that can totally do that!" Just be careful how much stock you put in ideas you read on the Internet (including this one).
- yesimahuman 18y ago
  Yea I agree with you, I just think that overzealous "ideas are worthless" people are annoying. Sure, if you are trying to start a business on an idea that hasn't been implemented at all, that's not a great idea. But if you are just going to talk about ideas who cares?

SwellJoe 18y ago

Perhaps. I'm just advising folks to be careful about things they hear in the echo chamber that is our community (where communit==HN+blogs+web 2.0 industry+etc., I'm not singling out HN, in particular). Just because you hear a loud chorus doesn't mean there are actually a lot of people wishing for what the voices are suggesting--it could just be two or three really loud people who like the sound of their own voice (like me!). I suspect the better way to get ideas is to work in the real world. Maybe work as a contractor for a while, so you see how different businesses work, and more importantly, where and how they fail to work. Is the discussion hurting anyone? No, probably not. As I mentioned most of the folks here are smart and interesting. Talking to smart and interesting people is generally good for you. But, don't imagine that it's the real thing, or that you'll find your business plan via discussion here--it takes research, customer interactions, and a helluva a lot of work, to formulate a viable business plan. And, talking on the Internet has the pernicious ability to make you feel like you're accomplishing something, when in fact, you're not actually doing anything. And, honestly, I think that a big bunch of talent is currently being wasted on dumb ideas, and I suspect there is some sort of relationship with the kinds of things we reward in the Internet startup world with our validation, our blog posts, etc. That's not to say that executing on dumb ideas is time completely wasted...sometimes it can evolve into something wonderful (flickr from Game Neverending, or whatever it was called, for example). I think a lot of the dumbest ideas come from looking inward too much. "All the current todo lists can't remind me three times at randomized intervals throughout the day about important stuff, and I'm really bad at remembering to do stuff, so I will make a todo list that can totally do that!" Just be careful how much stock you put in ideas you read on the Internet (including this one).

yesimahuman 18y ago
Yea I agree with you, I just think that overzealous "ideas are worthless" people are annoying. Sure, if you are trying to start a business on an idea that hasn't been implemented at all, that's not a great idea. But if you are just going to talk about ideas who cares?