Alternative history

[rockyraccoon]

Anyone here a fan of alternate history? Its the imagining of history and what it would be like had a single point or event was different then what it was.

For example, what would it be like had US actually accepted the support of Iran post 9/11.

My guess would be a more stable afghanistan albeit one with less western-leaning views and the Iraq war would possibly not occur.

[Ozzy Wrong]

What would the world be like if I hadn't posted this?

[promethium3000]

What would the world be like if I hadn't posted this?

Some random person out there after not seeing any new posts on forumfall takes a step back from his computer trips on something, falls over and cracks his head. Congratulations you just saved a life.

[Ozzy Wrong]

Some random person out there after not seeing any new posts on forumfall takes a step back from his computer trips on something, falls over and cracks his head. Congratulations you just saved a life.
Do I get a key to Forumfall now?

[promethium3000]

Do I get a key to Forumfall now?

Do you really want a key to this place? It's like the poor house on the corner that leaves its door open since there's nothing worth stealing.

[Ozzy Wrong]

Do you really want a key to this place? It's like the poor house on the corner that leaves its door open since there's nothing worth stealing.

How would you know? You've only been here a little over half a year, young'n.

[Beeblebrox]

The Butterfly Effect: a butterfly flap it's wings in eastern china >>> I don't give a crap about it in Brazil.

[rockyraccoon]

The Butterfly Effect: a butterfly flap it's wings in eastern china >>> I don't give a crap about it in Brazil.

You'd give a crap if that butterfly mutated into a mothra-like beast and rampaged through Rio De Janeiro during Carnaval.

[sindas]

What would the world be like if I hadn't posted this?

I would have .5 seconds of my life back, and would have skipped directly to the second post, which would be the first post.

I would probably not survive another day, without your post.

[Beeblebrox]

You'd give a crap if that butterfly mutated into a mothra-like beast and rampaged through Rio De Janeiro during Carnaval.

That's Hollywood material right there.

[Strangia]

What if the South had AK-47s during the Civil War. GO!

[LordTenacious]

Someone already wrote a novel about that, you uncreative twit.

[Dyrrn]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Red

Ring of Red is set in the 1960s in the aftermath of World War II. According to the alternate timeline, Japan did not surrender in 1945, and the United States of America did not deploy the atomic bomb, although it was still produced and the plans stolen by the USSR. Instead, Japan was captured after a daring invasion costing many lives on both sides in Operation Downfall by the Allied Forces. With the Cold War looming over the horizon, Hokkaidō was ceded to the Soviet Union, and north part of Japan was partitioned into Communist North Japan and Democratic South Japan, with both fighting each other in the Great Asian War. North Japan was supported by the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, while the United States supported the democratic South while Germany made engineering contributions to both sides.

In 1950, a terrible war occurred in Japan, which lasted three years and killed half the population when Soviet-backed North Japan invaded the South. The Japanese War ended with a strategic victory for South Japan and its Western allies.

A significant development in this timeline is the design and deployment of Armoured Fighting Walkers, or AFWs. AFWs are mechanised self-propelled artillery with high mobility and durability. They were used with negligible effect in the European theatre of war, but in the rugged Japanese terrain, AFWs were used with devastating effect, acting as the backbone of military forces of both sides.

The game begins in 1964, 14 years after the Japan War has ended, with players assuming control of the protagonist, half-Japanese, half-German pilot named Masami von Weizegger, as the leader of a team of AFW pilots in a mission to retrieve a prototype AFW, stolen by a North Japanese agent. As the game progresses, Weizegger and his team must overcome North Japanese reinforcements and deal with the possibility of all-out war as they try to prevent the cutting-edge AFW from falling into the wrong hands.

[Rathynas]

What if Darkfall was never thought up? :ohno:

[Top Hat]

What if Darkfall was never thought up? :ohno:

We'd actually get sunlight.

[palo god]

What if Darkfall was never thought up? :ohno:

You wouldn’t have the chance to pretend to be a women on their game forums.

[Gloomrender]

That's Hollywood material right there.

Sci Fi original material.

[LordTenacious]

We'd actually get sunlight.

Don't be re-dick-you-lus.

[Top Hat]

Don't be re-dick-you-lus.

Don't be ten-a-shus.

[Rathynas]

You wouldn’t have the chance to pretend to be a women on their game forums.

Serious mindfuck! :eek:

[Vesp]

Alternative history can be lots of fun to think and talk about. Today in my Ottoman History class we hijacked the class from the Professor and started a discussion on the topic of a stronger Ottoman Empire before the start of WWI.

If the Ottomans had industrialized at the same time as Europe and had better rulers throughout the 1700s and 1800s they probably would have been able to hold onto there territory's in the Balkans. If that happens Austria–Hungary never comes into power in the area and the Black Hand never assassinates Franz Ferdinand. Austria–Hungary never declares war on Serbia. Russian never comes to the add of there Slavic brothers. and the rest of the European country's never have to act on there mutual military alliances.

Then who can say what happens at that point. I would think at some point Germany would attack someone. (France) and Austria–Hungary may have gone after the Ottomans (for the Balkans) with German support. (or the Ottomans attack Austria–Hungary. Maybe with the badass Ataturk leading them?)

Another interesting thing is if WWI never happens do the Russians have a Communist revolution? (probably) and what about the USA? Will "Black Jack" Pershing lead the USA in a War if it happens some years later (he retires in 1923 i think)? and if not are any of the others even ready without the things they learn from Pershing and fighting in WWI (Pershing was a major mentor to many of the Generals we have in the WWII)

[Aragoni]

What if Charles XII didn't get shot in the foot and could participate in the Battle of Poltava (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Poltava)? Those Russians would've been beated back to Siberia! :sly:

[Drool111]

Once I pissed on a flower and then trod on it vigorously. I wonder, if I hadn't done that, would a bee come by and get the pollen from it and create honey thus making an extra jar of honey which would've been bought by someone who was sick and then the honey made them well again and they go on a date they were gonna have to cancel because they were sick and then they like each other and get married and have a family and then live happily ever after until they get to 90 years old and both die from chronic constipation.

[Badem]

profound foo my young one

In quantum physics every action has a reaction, every possible choice you could make is done or not done in a parallel dimension

so in one I did get to fuck that hot chick I stripped naked with in the toilets of that bar (instead of standing there covering my ever growing hard on until i went and hid in the toilet

life is full of what ifs and maybes, fuck the past plan the future

[Kusghuul]

What if Charles XII didn't get shot in the foot and could participate in the Battle of Poltava (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Poltava)? Those Russians would've been beated back to Siberia! :sly:

Or if Karl Xii didn't get shot by his own;p

[dinkfall]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R6xCWcf_VU

[Drool111]

In all seriousness though, a parallel universe just wouldn't work. If we believed there was one for example, you wouldn't be alive there because you wouldn't have ever been born, neither would've your parents, or their parents etc, now also assuming the big bang occurred, in this parallel universe, it would've been a more like completely big implosion, or like a big black hole sucking it all in. and the whole universe would disappear/cease to exist.

Thus, there's no parallel universe.

[Titus Ultor]

In all seriousness though, a parallel universe just wouldn't work. If we believed there was one for example, you wouldn't be alive there because you wouldn't have ever been born, neither would've your parents, or their parents etc, now also assuming the big bang occurred, in this parallel universe, it would've been a more like completely big implosion, or like a big black hole sucking it all in. and the whole universe would disappear/cease to exist.

Thus, there's no parallel universe.

Not necessarily. Assuming that there is one parallel universe, there is likely an infinite amount of universes (or at least an enormous multiverse) which may mirror slight permutations in the development of the universe.

Curiously enough, disregarding fundamentally different laws of nature, the universes would likely be all almost exactly the same, with deviations along quantum lines. Given that events only appear "random" due to our lack of precise knowledge regarding the antecedents and complete circumstances of any event, the only question is how close a mean all the quantum deviations would create.

On-topic, alternate history is an interesting affair. I'm sort of with Tolstoy and his "things happen because they were going to happen" semi-determinism, but there have been a few tipping points in history where a different outcome could've at least forestalled the inevitable for decades or even centuries and thereby changed the face of history as we know it.

The Crusades are really interesting for alternate histories, simply because so many random and crazy things happened along the way and in the Holy Land that it could have turned out very different (at least for a while).

[DreadNaught]

Oddly enough, I was thinking about this just last night. And I'm pretty sure the defining moment in the world's history were the events of 1066. If they had never occured, or if someone else came out victorious the world would be a COMPLETELY different place.

[Aacevedo]

Anyone here a fan of alternate history? Its the imagining of history and what it would be like had a single point or event was different then what it was.

For example, what would it be like had US actually accepted the support of Iran post 9/11.

My guess would be a more stable afghanistan albeit one with less western-leaning views and the Iraq war would possibly not occur.

Visit the Hearts of Iron 2 AAR forum , you will find lots of alternative history threads with ingame footage , it's really nice

[Adraedan]

I honestly think we'd be more scientifically and socially advanced if Hitler had won the war. I mean, yes, being a non Aryan would suck balls and you'd be a second class citizen but I happen to think of things from my own perspective, and I'm so white I glow, my hair is blond and my eyes are blue.

[Xandar464]

What if that apple missed Newton's head ? :eek:

[Vessol]

Oddly enough, I was thinking about this just last night. And I'm pretty sure the defining moment in the world's history were the events of 1066. If they had never occured, or if someone else came out victorious the world would be a COMPLETELY different place.

The invasion of Britain by William? Maybe.

Personally I think Christainity not existing would change the modern world the most. Or perhaps if the Roman Republic lost the Punic Wars.

What if that apple missed Newton's head ? :eek:

Stupid fucking 09er. An apple never fell on his head in real life.

[Milo Hobgoblin]

One where Karl Marx is killed well before he wrote that idiocy..

[Jack_Daniel]

Anyone here a fan of alternate history? Its the imagining of history and what it would be like had a single point or event was different then what it was.

For example, what would it be like had US actually accepted the support of Iran post 9/11.

My guess would be a more stable afghanistan albeit one with less western-leaning views and the Iraq war would possibly not occur.

The Iraq war would not have happened? Iran and Iraq despise each other. It would have happened sooner, although it would probably have been Iran who started it with U.S. weaponry.

[Vessol]

One where Karl Marx is killed well before he wrote that idiocy..

Karl Marx was not the sole philosopher and developer of Communism, he was just at the head of it.

[Milo Hobgoblin]

Karl Marx was not the sole philosopher and developer of Communism, he was just at the head of it.

cut the head off the snake....

[Adraedan]

cut the head off the snake....

I still find it funny that all 14 countries with a higher HDI score than the US are socialist but apparently socialism doesn't work.

[rockyraccoon]

I honestly think we'd be more scientifically and socially advanced if Hitler had won the war. I mean, yes, being a non Aryan would suck balls and you'd be a second class citizen but I happen to think of things from my own perspective, and I'm so white I glow, my hair is blond and my eyes are blue.

More socially advanced? nothing says more socially advanced then a whole society and country believing certain groups of people should die for having undesirable traits.

As for science, pretty sure america could easily kick the shit out of them in that department.

[Jack_Daniel]

More socially advanced? nothing says more socially advanced then a whole society and country believing certain groups of people should die for having undesirable traits.

As for science, pretty sure america could easily kick the shit out of them in that department.

Nazi science sneers at America kicking the shit out of them in that department!

[Adraedan]

More socially advanced? nothing says more socially advanced then a whole society and country believing certain groups of people should die for having undesirable traits.

As for science, pretty sure america could easily kick the shit out of them in that department.

NASA was built on the back of German science. Ever heard of operation paperclip? It's where Americans hid the history of a good chunk of Nazi scientists to bring them over after the war to use their rocket tech.

German science was kicking everyone's ass at that time and with the combined resources of all of europe they would have surpassed just about everyone.

You can thank everything we know about hypothermia on the Germans shoving Russians and Jews in bathtubs full of water and ice with a thermometer in their ass and then seeing how long it took them to die.

Also; how many people born in the USA have won nobel prizes in scientific fields in the last 60 years?

[[O]_Fawkes]

What would the world be like if I hadn't posted this?

Much better off.

[Xandar464]

Stupid fucking 09er. An apple never fell on his head in real life.

Ok, maybe it wasn't apple, but something must have felt on his head sometime during his life !

[Milo Hobgoblin]

I still find it funny that all 14 countries with a higher HDI score than the US are socialist but apparently socialism doesn't work.

I can promise you, beyond a shadow of a doubt that I live a much better life, have a better house, more disposable income and much nicer toys than my peers in ANY of those 14 countries.

[Aacevedo]

I can promise you, beyond a shadow of a doubt that I live a much better life, have a better house, more disposable income and much nicer toys than my peers in ANY of those 14 countries.

I bet that 14 countries are full of hot socialist horny blondes :sly:

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/123/thepicdr9.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2972422236_ffc3db1029.jpg

[Killuminati]

I bet that 14 countries are full of hot socialist horny blondes :sly:

you want blondes, when you live in Chile? wow

[Aacevedo]

of course man , here it's a rare and valuable resource.

Edit: grass is greener in the nieghbors house.

[Adraedan]

I can promise you, beyond a shadow of a doubt that I live a much better life, have a better house, more disposable income and much nicer toys than my peers in ANY of those 14 countries.

And I can bet most of those people who live in those countries would consider 90% of your toys as worthless, your giant house as a waste of space and square footage and what exactly do you need to spend that income on?

I bet you have an expensive car and think that's worth something too. I live in a socialist country and I am happy, healthy and have more than enough of everything I need.

Americans seem to think because they own assloads of junk that it means their system is better. If you own a car and can walk to work, you own a worthless thing. If you have a family of four but own a house that can hold 16, you own worthless space. If you have fancy clothing when you could have simple clothing, you own worthless clothing.

I live in Canada and could easily move to the states and get work if I wanted to... hell, I live a mere hour drive from the boarder and you couldn't pay me to enter your country or live there.

Silly Americans thinking money and ownership actually matters, you guys crack me up.

[Jangang]

Do I get a key to Forumfall now?

What if said forumfaller turns out to be the next Hitler? You just killed millions of people jackass!

[Weeking]

What would it be if the Vikings never gave up their religion and never stopped doing their raids?

[Ozzy Wrong]

And I can bet most of those people who live in those countries would consider 90% of your toys as worthless, your giant house as a waste of space and square footage and what exactly do you need to spend that income on?

I bet you have an expensive car and think that's worth something too. I live in a socialist country and I am happy, healthy and have more than enough of everything I need.

Americans seem to think because they own assloads of junk that it means their system is better. If you own a car and can walk to work, you own a worthless thing. If you have a family of four but own a house that can hold 16, you own worthless space. If you have fancy clothing when you could have simple clothing, you own worthless clothing.

I live in Canada and could easily move to the states and get work if I wanted to... hell, I live a mere hour drive from the boarder and you couldn't pay me to enter your country or live there.

Silly Americans thinking money and ownership actually matters, you guys crack me up.
I wish there were more people who thought this way.

My mother, step-dad, step-brother and myself live in a 3-bedroom house in the middle of town, even though we make a combined income of around 200,000 a year (My mother is a college professor and step-dad is an architect), simply because we find anything bigger a waste of space.

We have two cars and multiple bikes, but both cars are used and many of the bikes we built from scratch (as in welding the frames scratch, not buying the parts and assembling). Sure, we have a ton of excess money, but most of that goes toward charities, college fund, marijuana, or more often traveling.

I'm not being pretentious when I say this- you can spend your money on whatever want, I'm not saying our way is better than yours. I'm not going to tell you that having multiple "Toys" doesn't make you happy, or that you're hollow on the inside. My point is that you can be just as happy, if not more so, without them, and at the same time allowing more people to share this happiness. It's a realistic goal, as is any goal as long as there is enough people that believe in it.

[I Eat Children]

What if said forumfaller turns out to be the next Hitler? You just killed millions of people jackass!

Well we were planning on invading Iceland for a while.....

[GFH_Spike]

What if this?

[Rathynas]

What if this?

I would not be sniffing my mango-smelling finger right now. Mmm...

[Adraedan]

I wish there were more people who thought this way.

My mother, step-dad, step-brother and myself live in a 3-bedroom house in the middle of town, even though we make a combined income of around 200,000 a year (My mother is a college professor and step-dad is an architect), simply because we find anything bigger a waste of space.

We have two cars and multiple bikes, but both cars are used and many of the bikes we built from scratch (as in welding the frames scratch, not buying the parts and assembling). Sure, we have a ton of excess money, but most of that goes toward charities, college fund, marijuana, or more often traveling.

I'm not being pretentious when I say this- you can spend your money on whatever want, I'm not saying our way is better than yours. I'm not going to tell you that having multiple "Toys" doesn't make you happy, or that you're hollow on the inside. My point is that you can be just as happy, if not more so, without them, and at the same time allowing more people to share this happiness. It's a realistic goal, as is any goal as long as there is enough people that believe in it.

Exactly it. I make around 30k a year and I can't remember the last time I went "man, I wish I had more money". I live a 5 minute walk from work, so I need no car. I live by myself while my girlfriend is in university, so I have a very small apartment (easy to clean). I despise bars/clubs and all that, so I don't need money for that. I pirate everything possible, don't need money for that. At the end of the month I pretty much break even, I've developed what I consider to be the perfect system.

[Poacher]

What if Chuck Norris hadn't travelled back in time to ejaculate into the primordial soup? Would humanity be top of the food chain?

(Sorry, but SOMEONE had to make a Norris joke in this thread at some point)

[DarkLily]

What if Chuck Norris hadn't travelled back in time to ejaculate into the primordial soup? Would humanity be top of the food chain?

(Sorry, but SOMEONE had to make a Norris joke in this thread at some point)

Really? They did? Sorry, but I beg to differ.

[swiftbuster]

Do you really want a key to this place? It's like the poor house on the corner that leaves its door open since there's nothing worth stealing.

Theres not even a door,considering it would be the only thing worth stealing.

[Erkki]

of course man , here it's a rare and valuable resource.

Edit: grass is greener in the nieghbors house.

plus in chile the "woman" are prolly infested with diseases the condom would melt inside her

[Aacevedo]

plus in chile the "woman" are prolly infested with diseases the condom would melt inside her

Yeah , sure (http://megagalerias.terra.cl/megagalerias/sesion/index.cfm?pagina=fotos&idmg=37126&idsmg=39899) dude....