Everything is always "stupid" until it's not. Another search engine? Pffft.....dumbest. idea. ever.

Another ad network based on keywords...pssshhh....that'll never get anywhere.

A file storage service to allow you to share files between computers? Ugghh...been there...done that.

You can see where I am going.

I'm sure you know where you're going, but I'd like you to continue.

Entering a crowded space with no perceivable differentiators means one of two things:

1. You intend to grind it out on volume and compete on price.

2. You intend to differentiate yourself in a meaningful way that the vast majority of the world does not understand yet.

I put forward that option 1 is much more likely than option 2.

You may be right....1 is much more likely than option 2, however in the high-growth startup space, most people tend to try and go for #2. That's where the returns are. That's where they are usually most misunderstood initially, and that's where they tend to make the biggest impact on the world.

Everything you've described is pretty stupid. I hope nobody is working on the next Google killer or yeah another Facebook alternative. All the big names were purely by accident and luck. Tell this to the graveyard of all the smart ideas that never took off because the market didn't need them.

How naive is this reply.

An idea can be smart all day, if the market doesn't need it - it's just an idea. It will never be a successful product.

It's that simple.

Turns out, the hard thing...is not coming up with "ideas"...it is building successful products.