What If we didn't have so many What If threads?

Wow! I took along time too make my post and just now read allot of new posts here! This is actually looking like everyone is thinking along the same lines; IE, clean up and organize the whole 'what-if' portion. I especially like:

I have too agree with you there 100%.

T.A.Gardner had a good what-if that suffered that exact fate.

I believe that your frustrations and distaste are well deserved with the current collection of endless what if's. I have a plan...

One additional thing that might be able to be done... Take off from the point of the what-if, but include links to info that deal with the subject at hand, as well.

If the what-if could be overhauled, too include a kind of 'learning curve' built in, then perhaps we could see what-if's that didn't continue with the same objectionable 'wild' speculations and lack of research (My first three what-if's make me as guilty of this as any). Just an idea, but perhaps after consolidating some of the previous WI's, there could be something like a side by side comparison. Something like: "unstructured WI thread" vs. "structured, well researched and links too data backing up views thread". Including, perhaps books too read, movies to watch, websites to visit.
Another possibility is too make WI threads 'temporary' unless they include enough valuable content to warrant them 'sticking around'. SeaLion 101 started jan 1, blah blah blah...(which doesn't contain value not already in a previous SeaLion post) Feb 1 SeaLion 101 goes into trashcan. SeaLion 200 (which picks up from where the best SeaLion threads leave off and goes upward and onward from there) becomes a permanent reasource (and possibly {dare I say it} required reading) for any future SeaLion thread.

Well said.

My belief also. People can participate in the forums discussion right off the bat. I'm still learning how much i don't know about WW2 (and loving it).

All to true.

So, are you guys into trying to fix this problem? I have too say, this is probably the single best WI i have read to date. It gives a really good look at just what is wrong with the WI portion and even takes the first step in fixing it:discussion.

I love this.

 

What if's are fun but you need a team of moderators and Administrators to keep it civilised, and need be either suspend or ban if folks get out of hand.

We all can argue about this and that but keep it civil, and not personal.

 

It would be a much better forum, richer, more informative and better frequented.

I'm sooo tired of these ever recurring Reich Victory Dreams (wet dreams for some). In any case the Wet Dream ended like this, and there is nothing w*ankers can do about it.

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I personally really enjoy well constructed what ifs and learn a lot from them. The key here may be in what I consider a well constructed what if. To me it should have a clear point of departure and that should be something reasonable (aliens handing over death rays to the SS in 41 is right out). From there the impacts should be assest in a rational way based on understanding from what happened and what was possible historically. An exploratory variant where one looks at "Is there any way this could happen?" is also reasonable.

An example taken from an ongoing thread. Instead of saying what happens if Germany focuses on taking out Britain a well constucted what if would start with something like: What if Hitler decided in 1938 that Britain was likely to be an important enemy? What does he do to either defeat them or keep them out of the war?
The exploratory version might be: Is there a point in time where Hitler has the resources to put into building up the Wehrmacht to the point where it can reasonably defeat Britain?

Please don't attempt answer these questions in this thread.

 

A very fine picture. Just imagine all of the agony, horror, struggle, honor and bravery that it took to make that picture possible.

 

I think anyone who has a problem with What If threads has an exaggerated sense of the importance of internet forums. Stop reading them if you don't like them.

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

ifwe look at german tecnology during the war mainly at the end dont you think properly comandeered not by hitler ;they would have won

 

---NO---

 

...all in all, a classic demonstration of the 'problem' I have with 'what ifs'.....

 

as well as demostrating why the axis history forum has some very reasonable rules for their what ifs. Does make one wonder though given where and when the question was asked. Agent provocateur (sp?)???

 

Was this posted on as a joke?

My friend I do believe that you are in the wrong thread

 

What do the rules say?

 

Here's a link:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=77436
Some excerpts:

The moderators are fairly ruthless about killing threads that don't measure up or merging similar ones.

 

Thats pretty much the suggestion I made in the Command Post (OKF Only part of the Forum as we are discussing what to do with the What Ifs). Basically no more 'One Liners' without some thought and description put into them.

 

I agree that these what if's are fun as i said before, but Emperor has hit on a very good point and that is if folks don't like what if's and imply a probable German victory then there other section on this site that deals with reality.

It is kinda nice to see so many with their opinions about the war and had one thing changed that could effect the outcome of the war like.

A successful Operation Seelowe, or that the Germans managed to take both Stalingrad or Caucasus oilfields, or that the Americans were kept out of the war. I also think that because someone makes a thread that again implies that Germany could have won aren't wet dreamers or w*nkers, thats getting personal, they have the right to express their opinions just as those who show support for the Allies. If this is not the case then may i suggest that the "What If" part of WW2F be taken off the site.

 

I don't think anyone is suggesting we completely get rid of them. Just have a rule-set for how they should be started. One-line thread openers are rather unintelligent and a good deal of the other What Ifs end in arguments more then discussions.

From a Moderator point of view, more people recently have been banned or been given Infractions for posts made in the What Ifs sections then any other section. If people want to post in What-Ifs, they need to stay on topic and keep things civil.

 

Maybe if....there was a "What if", and a "Sci-Fi/Fantasy What if".
which kinda looks like the problem in comprehension.
A possible....What if,
and a Unreal/Fantastic....What if.

If it was under Fantasy, then no one would feel obligated to correct someone about, the obvious logistics, manufacturing, training, manpower, or comment on their heritage, education, looks, etc. ?

I dunno

 

What if the Germans had flying saucers?

 

We'd all be speaking "saucer".