Is making clones bad?
iamelgringo: I think that making clones is a great idea.  My current project is making a reddit clone on top of Django.  I'm planning on setting up social news sites focused on niche markets.I know that there's already sub-reddits, Digg, etc.. but I'm pretty convinced that your average person in Peoria/Des Moines/Kansas City isn't going to get past the first page of reddit or Digg without running away screaming because of the trolls.Think about it this way.  How many web forums are out there that are devoted to niche markets?  How many magazines are there?  How many local newspapers are there?  How many sitcoms are there?  How many movies are there?  The web is media.There's nothing wrong with taking a format or platform, and targeting it at a niche market.  You don't have to reinvent the wheel every time you make a consumer facing web application.The problem of "What do people want" has already been solved repeatedly.  As long as you're not infringing on IP, if you can take an idea and focus it on a specific market, you're one step closer to making money.