# What's the dumbest/worst "Next Million Dollar Idea" someone has shared with you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447 "2023-11-01T23:19:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/121 "2023-11-03T18:15:01Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > True. But IME / IMO the supply of volunteer female labor is far short of the demand for same by the drunk male customers. It’s not so much an issue of supply and demand, as it is ease of access. Even the most willing of volunteers still have standards that must be met, and so effort must be made on the part of the victims customers . With my plan, the professional will have much fewer qualms about banging an otherwise repulsive troll, and they’ll take the initiative with regards to said troll. That’s what’s going to make this legendary! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/122 "2023-11-03T18:18:11Z")
Believe me, I think you’re on to a great idea. In a suitably enlightened, or bribed, regulatory environment. Which ain’t in the Baptist States of Americaduh. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/123 "2023-11-03T18:19:23Z")
Every now and then, a hobbyist idea that is reminiscent of the stuff this thread is about, actually turns out to be successful and develops into a major business. In the 1970s, British inventor James Dyson came up with the concept of a vacuum cleaner that uses cyclonic separation to remove particles from air; his company, named after himself, is now a maor manufacturer of vacuum cleaners, hand dryers and air filters. A major German readymade food company, Coppenrath & Wiese, was built on the idea of two guys who developed a way to freeze cream pies, something that hadn’t been done before. But yeah, the number of dumb ideas that fail for sure eclipses that of such success stories, you just don’t hear about the failures ever again. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/124 "2023-11-03T18:21:41Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > And now that I think about it, it’s pretty much the same as the Pizza Hut Express and similar places you often see in airports and food courts and the like, where you just grab a pizza from the warmer and go pay for it, except with a drive through. I’m honestly surprised Pizza Hut didn’t add something like a drive through until quite recently, since they already had the Express concept for decades. Yep. I used to work at Pizza Hut. Our ovens had conveyor belts that took exactly 7 minutes and 45 seconds to cook a pizza. We also had a “Five minutes” guarantee for our personal pan pizzas at lunch. What we did was, keep an eye on how many people were coming into the restaurant, and put pizzas in the oven in anticipation of an order coming in about 4 or 5 minutes. We’d put in a mix of the three options we had based on their usual popularity. We didn’t often miss. We also had a warming table where we could hold cooked pizzas for a short time, so if we had an extra couple, we were just really far ahead for the next order. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/125 "2023-11-03T18:59:34Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Along the way, they have slowly but unwittingly morphed their model of the world until the world is compatible with the idea. Rather than recognizing, as newbies instantly do, that the idea is badly incompatible with the world as it really is. Not the world the idea-man naively and obsessively mischaracterizes. That is a very real possibility, it is also a very real possibility. that someone has taken something to a different level that is worthy of further investigation. I see talent in people all the time where others see nothing but a wasted life. Maybe I will start a different thread on it as not to hijack this one. That way you can point out one by one my shortcomings. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/126 "2023-11-03T20:40:59Z")
I think I’ve shared this before, so please forgive me. My father worked for a large tire company and often had to reply to inquiries and suggestions from the public. At least a few times a year, he had to respond to people who were convinced that manufacturing smooth tires and grooving the roads was an idea worth billions. Some people just asked about the feasibility of the idea, but others genuinely wanted lots of money for the idea and the details necessary to make it happen. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/127 "2023-11-03T20:46:00Z")
I remember talking to someone working in a similar position in a large company and they did NOT respond at all to unsolicited requests because if someone stumbled on an idea they were working on and they responded the individual might try sue them saying that they stole his idea. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/128 "2023-11-03T21:12:53Z")
> [@DorkVader](#): > > Ah, I missed that. > Are/were they tropically themed in their signage? > > My story is probably related to yours. > Not _Pacific_ Northwest, just Northwest.(Boise is just a little too far to the east) I don’t recall any tropical one… The big ones (heh) around me are Hillbilly Hotties and Lady Bugs. Down around Olympia the chain is…Pink Panthers? I think that’s what its called. A lot of them look and are named like tiny strip clubs honestly. There’s one in Everett that shares a parking lot with a Shell station and they have to put a big curtain up between the drive-thru window and the gas pumps—you dont want the regular folks getting a free show. To give everyone an idea of how common they are–a lot of the independent drive-thrus have to put “FAMILY FRIENDLY” on their sign so you know. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/129 "2023-11-03T21:20:35Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > My plan was to open a bar catering to the young drunk male demographic, but every once in a while, hire a bunch of prostitutes to come in, pick up a random guy, and have sex with him. Those guys will come back every week for the next decade, and bring their friends, telling them tales of how awesome this place is, how this hot girl just banged him with no effort! He’ll chase that white whale forever, and every horny guy in the area will eventually hear the stories, and come to my bar. What you described is a successful social experience, this time involving sex. You are absolutely right; they will be coming back for decades hoping for a repeat. Providing good odds of a successful social experience can be a powerful customer building tool in many different types of business. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/130 "2023-11-03T21:33:06Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > I remember talking to someone working in a similar position in a large company and they did NOT respond at all to unsolicited requests because if someone stumbled on an idea they were working on and they responded the individual might try sue them saying that they stole his idea. Similar for writers for episodic tv. They don’t want to hear it because if they have a show already written along the same lines as your idea they don’t want someone to claim that they had the idea first. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/131 "2023-11-03T21:50:19Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Drive-Thru Pizza. My million dollar idea is a cold pizza and coffee drive thru for the breakfast crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/132 "2023-11-03T22:01:33Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Maybe I will start a different thread on it as not to hijack this one. That way you can point out one by one my shortcomings. Don’t be _too_ pessimistic. But if you could do it in your Pit thread it might be more convenient. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/133 "2023-11-03T22:02:14Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > My million dollar idea is a cold pizza and coffee drive thru for the breakfast crowd Mine is grinding one-a-day multivitamins into alcohol. Are you drinking a Coke? Make it a Rum And Coke, it could save your life. Is that V-8? If you care about your health, make it a Bloody Mary. I’m not saying this is why doctors mention getting a vitamin shot, but I’m not _not_ saying it. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/134 "2023-11-03T22:06:44Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Mine is grinding one-a-day multivitamins into alcohol. I was initially a bit confused (even in a dumbest idea thread) about how you could grind up vitamin tablets to _make_ alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/135 "2023-11-03T22:28:18Z")
Okay, so now I have _two_ ideas. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/136 "2023-11-03T22:30:34Z")
Interestingly enough the person I talked to actually worked in Hollywood and was talking about unsolicited scripts/storyline ideas. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/137 "2023-11-03T23:08:20Z")
That might have been a good idea, had not thousands of other people had the same one around the same time. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/138 "2023-11-03T23:10:06Z")
“Cheeseburger In A Can” is a real thing. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/139 "2023-11-03T23:11:28Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Mine is grinding one-a-day multivitamins into alcohol. When I was a little kid, I sucked the coating off a One-A-Day. I hope to never taste anything that bad again. Of course, as bad as most drinks taste, it might be an improvement 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447/140 "2023-11-03T23:12:52Z")
At least he wasn’t trying to pitch Amway, or was he? I have long wondered who decides when a new product is sold via MLM, and how and when. Is it because other methods have failed? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dumbest-worst-next-million-dollar-idea-someone-has-shared-with-you/992447.md?page=8)