[Gatsky]

In general I don't agree. Maybe in a B2B setting you can do this. Do you have an example where this has worked? I can only think of many examples where it wouldn't have worked. Do I want a website where I can make friends with my real friends? No, what for, we'll just hang out in real life? Do I want a service where I can post 140 character messages to the world? Only 140 characters? What's the point of that? Do I want to be able to stay in other people's houses while they are away? No way, that's crazy, nobody would go for that over a hotel... (I happily use all these services now, of course).

[adamb]

There's always going to be a perspective that makes a business sound crazy before it's mainstream. That said, I used many of those products when they were very, very young and I did want what they were building. In many cases, those businesses came after others that lit the way but somehow came up short.

My point isn't that people should be asking for what you're building. My point is that you should think about how you'd know if people want it before you worry about making it.

That said, I regret adding that comment here, as it detracts from my larger point about encouraging YC to use more constructive ways to help their founders course correct.