The cursor flashes at me expectantly. Over 14,000 people have divulged their greatest wishes, resolutions and ambitions at the latest social networking hub, www.43things.com The question is - why can't I?

Maybe I'm not very ambitious, or maybe I don't buy into the idea that posting a "to do" list to a website for like-minded people to read is going to get me or them any closer to achieving our goals in life.

The whole online social networking craze perplexes me. The only thing propping it up is an insidious form of advertising that probes our insecurities and dreams to tailor what online ads will be fired at us. Some of these websites have millions of active members who must be getting something in return.

At 43things.com, which has a relatively modest membership but has been going only three months, members get to see what other people want and how they plan to get there. It's almost like therapy.

The aspirations listed range from trivial to life-changing: "de-clutter", "keep my car clean" on the lighter side, through to "live instead of exist" and "beat my depression".

I typed in: "Sell a screenplay" and hit return. On the right side of the page a list of adverts instantly appeared.

"Screenplay secrets course: New course guarantees script in 1 month, working 1 hour/day [US]$49.95."

To think I gave up full-time work and am spending thousands of dollars to do a masters degree on the subject. I need only have visited www.writequickly.com.

43things.com also tells me there are nine other people who confess to want to sell screenplays.

Sometimes it's actually depressing knowing a lot of people want the same thing as you. There you were thinking that climbing Mt Kilimanjaro would be a deeply unique and individual experience, bound to change your life. Well, only 50 other people share the same idea.

At 43things.com I feel like I'm telling the genie my three wishes - well, 43 wishes, actually. I run out of steam at No 4: "be a millionaire by 30". The ads instantly appear: "Date hundreds of thousands of sexy, rich singles and friends".

Who said anything about dating my way into money?

Trizey from Seattle has some noble aims on her list: drink less alcohol, eat more fruit, live in a house and get a dog and call him "Woofers". And at No 17 on her list - go to New Zealand.

She's one of 140 people on the website who have stated their desire to head our way. They all have different reasons for wanting to make the pilgrimage.