Before I die I want to...

[ALXfoo]

In response to d_r words: "Will I get downvoted if I squeak out that this isn't Reddit or Digg -- that posts like these ruin HN? I found HackerNews just a few months ago with excitement that I can read about entrepreneurs, startups, VC drama, latest frameworks, math problems, and all other goodness. I devoured each link with the thrill of learning something new, in short breaks from coding. I didn't feel like I was wasting productive time. Now I feel guilty looking at the front page. (By the way, this is not meant in any way to put down the amazing project depicted here.)"

"and all other goodness" is what this is. It is an art to exist as a whole and actually live. Hacker news is more than "vc drama," and "startups," it is about taking control of your universe because it is all you have and all you make it.

Take my advice when the inevitable awakening hits you and take longer breaks and look, really look. The world is way more fun than "feeling like you are wasting productive time."

What do you want to _____ before you die?

I am doing it.

[endtime]

I'm sorry to be uncivil, but this is melodramatic nonsense. This article is not HN material and my relief at seeing it killed has been replaced by distress that it was resurrected. Perhaps the mod/pg who rezzed it could explain why?

[chunkyslink]

Its interesting to note the differences between the USA and India.

People from the USA have much bigger aspirations such as to travel, run companies and dance on Broadway.

People from India want to go to school or own a shop / car.

Note: I know this is a generalisation but from a 5 minutes on each this is the general feel I get.

EDIT: Actually on further examination the wishes of the people from different regions in India vary massively.

[dbz]

It is expected that one who has something would want more or nothing, and one who has nothing would want something.

What I found interesting was the level of how achievable most of the yearnings were.

[ryanjmo]

So, have you noticed that a large number of people on this site say they want to go to X country/place before they die. I imagine they pick this as a goal, because it is actually really easy to achieve and you can't really fail at it if you actually try. All you need to do is get on a plane...

People seem really scared to set goals for themselves they may not be able to achieve (to bad those are all the really valuable goals).

[GFischer]

I agree that it isn't -that- difficult to travel, but I also assume you're from a 1st world country.

For those of us in the 3rd world (Uruguay in my case), it's not "really easy" - it represents possibly a year or several years worth of earnings, plus a lot of diplomatic hassles (haven't been able to visit the US yet because of visa requirements, for example), and the fear of being turned back at the border after all that.

For many people in my country, traveling (possibly on the wedding trip) is the high point in their lives.

[corruption]

I want to invent something that seems impossible and cause disruptive change.

[pavs]

From: http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

On-Topic: Anything that good hackers would find interesting. That includes more than hacking and startups. If you had to reduce it to a sentence, the answer might be: anything that gratifies one's intellectual curiosity.

[puredemo]

You realize this site would be considered a startup, right? One that has already lead into a book deal?

[megaduck]

...achieve ramen profitability.

[char]

Me too! I'm so close!

[bombs]

Be okay with dying.

[novum]

...find a companion with whom I will spend the rest of my life.

[noonespecial]

"Know half of you half as well as I should like, and like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."

And deliver that line straight-faced, without errors, at conversational speed.

[char]

Before putting on your ring and leaving them forever, of course.

[puredemo]

Own a hundred acres. With a barn.

[lhorie]

The about page has a lot more of the background story of this project and is a nice read:

http://www.beforeidieiwantto.org/about.html

[markbao]

Somewhat off topic: I have a beautiful Polaroid Spectra E camera (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbao/4513815836/) which came with an empty film canister (but the dry cell battery inside still worked! http://vimeo.com/10859532). Anyone know where to find film? I know The Impossible Project has a bunch of them since their takeover of the Polaroid factory in the Netherlands, but they're $22 a pop (for 10 exposures.)

[highplains]

... be a douchy pretentious hipster.

[blizkreeg]

...go back in time.

[exit]

Before I die I want to convince the rest of you to die with me.

[pavs]

... know myself.