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Comment by rtfa | Hacker News Reader

I just had an idea for how to turn the trolling phenomenon into potentially very lucrative profits for a startup. Anybody interested?

On the one hand, I don't want to give away my idea. On the other hand, implementing it might take several people working on it for a few months. What should I do?

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Give away the idea to several people in the hopes that they hear the idea and want to work on it.

I think there is value in the idea itself. If I just give it away for free, whoever implements it has no incentive to share the profits with me.

If I share the idea, I make no money from it. If I don't share, I might one day have enough time to implement it myself, or run into people I can trust 100%. If these are the only options, I HAVE TO choose the latter, and not share it for now :-(

But you have to ask yourself, what are you doing currently that is more valuable than the idea, and if that is the case, then how valuable is the idea to you at all?

If what you are doing right now isn't as valuable as the idea, then why not work on it (right now, with someone you trust) instead?

Good point. I'll try to explore how trolling can be converted into cash flow more closely. Thanks.

Troll? At least I thought at first. But the last commment was too reasonable.

Golf clap

Sounds odd, but potentially interesting. Anti-troll software?

I know a few trolls, but mostly small potatoes; I wouldn't associate with the ones who affect people's lives. Anyway, feel free to contact me at magus.pwnsen at gmail dot com

It's not as so much anti-troll as it is pro-money :-)

In any case, I'm interested. Let me know what your idea is and I'll provide feedback on whether or not I think it can succeed.

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