I was thinking (yes, yes, dangerous I know but, I was drunk so it can be excused) that maybe a good thing for this board would be to put up a series of "stickies" for some of the more perinnial subjects that come up and link or load previous threads on those subject to them to prevent the odd newcomer from rehashing old ground. Some suggested items: The Battle of Britain Seelöwe North Africa with sub categories for Malta and Turkey Kursk (possibly) Pearl Harbor Midway Well, that's a start. With a sticky on these more popular threads in things like "What-if" we avoid having new threads started that rehash old ground. ?
What if/How could Germany win the war, also. One of these rears it's head everytime the moon phase changes.
Scowl down to the bottom and your see Similar Threads that's a start. The search option is always a good idea.
I personally never read "What If" threads. As far as I am concerned they have no relevancy. "What If" threads should be deleted by the moderators and the forum devoted to facts.
Well, David I would disagree. I could post up whole books worth of historical fact much already hashed beyond recognition. But, it is when someone comes up with a plausable... and I do mean plausable (none of this Me 262 in 1940 stuff) alternative for World War 2 that I actually do put up some of the best researched fact and analysis on this, and other, board(s). Limiting a board to just dry factual constructs would remove much of the flavor, discussion, and learning that actually takes place here. It would be a very boring world without "What-ifs."
The What ifs are interesting if they discuss tactical changes, weapons development, flow of battles in a well stated manner. Hypothetical supported analysis beats memorized regurgitation. Interest and enjoyment results from differing opinions and as David pointed out, if they are silly don't read them.
I have to side with T.A. on this one. It's a good suggestion to have the "old" popular threads seperate but doing so might intimidate a newbie from posting or responding to the thread because of there are so many posts. That's what I feel sometimes when I look at a very popular "old" thread. So many good points and views have been raised and posted that newbies rarely never have a chance to add their two cents worth.
Another two-cents worth.... I find them interesting (especially the German 4-engine bomber one)(and others), I found myself reading the whole thing, learning much, and not being able to post a thing, without interfering with the sound suggestions/complaints/problems/possibilities...a regular enduser/sub contractor bi-weekly meeting...(blessing and a curse) There is/was always choice, and these explore alternative results. The only way to turn back time (fun). Both sides..., repeats are tiring, "but not to new people", (like being repeatedly cross-examined), yet there may be a new twist. On the other hand, everything (in the past) had many choices, and this is (sorta like) a war game being played by/against different opponents...a learning experience.
Good point. I guess I never looked at it from that point of view. We all learn something new everyday. Thanks.
There is a reason why we created some new rules in the What If... section, in order to make them more instructive and not simple one-liners. Since the implementation of these rules, there have only been a small number of new What If's... In regards to getting rid of them, like already said in this thread, they do contribute in their own way to the site.
