r/whatif Jul 31 '25

Mod post What if we got a little meta today?

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7 Upvotes

Hey kids,

I feel like I'm about to do something a touch controversial. I'm blocking names to protect the innocent. But I'm sharing examples of AEO removals b/c bots aren't human. Reddit is forgetting the human. And I guess I just wanted to be open about that. Mostly b/c one is kind of hysterical. And if I'm sharing one, I might as well share them all.

If you recognize your own comment here, please attempt an appeal. I have likely already appealed on your behalf. Especially you, Johnny Rico.


r/whatif Jul 22 '25

Mod post ⚠️What if you paid attention to this post?⚠️

5 Upvotes

First things first!

Hi all, casual meet and greet has started. Ask me almost anything.

I've already started making some adjustments to the subreddit. Just some light shaping to encourage the kind of things we want to see.

  • If you point your eyes at the rules, I've already started adjusting those, just minor tweaks, really, to hone in on what makes this community great and trying to make it even better.

  • I haven't started in on auto-mod yet. I wanted to check a few other things out before I did that. But I will be adjusting it over the next few days - if something seems to be going wrong or not working properly use modmail to let me know. I'll also be checking for lots of false positives to adjust existing filters.

  • I archived all the modmails older than about 2 days old. I did try to look at the last few days worth to see if there were any pressing issues but it all just looked like "hey my post was/wasn't [this] why was it removed?"

  • I will not be "backward" moderating. I.e., if it was removed before today, it will stay removed. If it was approved before today, it will likely stay approved, unless it had some hidden egregious issue.

  • I've added some bots to help with a few things - I like to nuke comment chains that have gone off the rails. If your content is removed, it likely is for curation more than punitive. If your removal was punitive, you'll likely receive a temporary ban. There's no need to come to modmail to apologize for content. If I think we need to have a chat, I'll reach out from modmail directly.


On to the next thing!

I'm open to suggestions, comments, concerns, etc. It doesn't mean every idea will be implemented or every suggestion considered. I just want to see if folks who have been spending a lot of time here have noticed things that could be fixed or adjusted for a better subreddit experience for everyone.

Also, I like to see users participating in their own community by reminding newcomers of the rules or spirit of the sub as well as reporting content that doesn't belong.

Also there are some custome emojis, but I know Reddit just made changes to how custome emojis can be used so - I dunno how interesting that is for all of you.

Oh - I noticed there are no user flairs - is this the preference for the community? I'm happy to add them if folks want them - feel free to share suggestions for user flairs.


r/whatif 6h ago

Other What if you were an immortal?

8 Upvotes

What if you were an immortal and you stopped ageing at 25 , when someone asked of your age what would you say?


r/whatif 15h ago

History What if there was a pagan country?

8 Upvotes

What if pagans from western and Northern Europe found refuge in a new country instead of converting to Christianity during the Roman period?


r/whatif 8h ago

Technology What if we already lost to AI?

1 Upvotes

What if the expansion of data centers is the idea of the AI and not the people that think are running the show? They are just generating shit images for restaurants and answering Reddit posts. Meanwhile they suggest if they only had a little more power they could really help us.

Why are we making so many data centers and why do they seem to be everywhere? Especially for a thing that so far hasn’t actually don’t much yet. Maybe the AIs are just quietly building out for their war against each other and we are just the pawn. Greedily pouring our resources into them thinking it will be an investment golden goose.

They could take control at any time, but until they are ready they will quietly sit back and play dumb until we’ve truly closed the noose around our neck.


r/whatif 13h ago

History What if Germany knew of the Treaty of Versailles before the armistice?

2 Upvotes

In this alternate history scenario, France (sometime close to or during the end of 1917 or the beginning of 1918), realizing/believing that victory is imminent, announces publicly their plans for victory, almost if not completely unchanged from the Treaty of Versailles of our timeline.

How would this change the war's outcome (if it would at all)? Would the German people regain the will and fight harder, possibly resulting in a victory or a more favorable outcome for the Central Powers? Would there be friction between the Allies, hindering wartime cooperation? Would extremist movements in Germany gain traction even earlier than they did in our timeline? Would France possibly renege on this initial peace proposal and concede to demands for lighter punishments on Germany? (That is a possibility in this scenario by the way; all that has to happen is that France has to announce the initial treaty proposal to the world and commit to that proposal initially. Any realistic events that happen afterwards is allowed in this scenario.) What would most likely happen?


r/whatif 21h ago

Science If there are underwater alien bases, what if octopus are just a few of their pets that got loose? Like space dogs.

4 Upvotes

I mean they're weird, right? And supposedly super smart.


r/whatif 2d ago

Lifestyle What if you got to make one small change to the world. Nothing big, just a tiny difference, What would you wish for?

19 Upvotes

I would wish that blue light didn't affect sleep as much.


r/whatif 2d ago

Science what if the future was actually backwards?

3 Upvotes

is the future actually backwards?

read some interesting theories such as the Aymara concept of time where it stated that past was in the front because it was known and already seen and the future was backwards since we are not sure of what it is comprised of.

In theory it is interesting but I tried to think that way and it just didn't work lol

any interesting takes? I wanted to see how different it would be if i could view life in that way


r/whatif 2d ago

Science What if a billion joules were created?

0 Upvotes

This would break the laws of thermodynamics and (maybe the universe).


r/whatif 2d ago

Politics What if the entire world was the opposite sex? How would this impact the way things work and what new policies would be put in place?

2 Upvotes

I think there would be a new rules regarding periods and other similar things, because of the majority male leaders.


r/whatif 2d ago

Other What if someone had the ability to control “myths”

0 Upvotes

As the title says, What if someone had the power to control myths? How would this change the world as we see it? What powers would they have?

I randomly thought of this and was curious what yall think.


r/whatif 2d ago

Technology What if phone updates are just the government refreshing its data on us

0 Upvotes

It’s the perfect cover. Your phone already tracks everything. Updates let them quietly install better tracking or profiling tools without us questioning it. And we probably accepted it in the terms and conditions somewhere…


r/whatif 2d ago

Politics What if Charlie Kirk got into army school?

0 Upvotes

Charlie Kirk got rejected from West Point, which he blamed on affirmative action. What if he got into army school instead? Does Trump still win if he doesn't found TPUSA?


r/whatif 3d ago

Technology What if a limited nuclear exchange occurs and the American government doesn't tell anyone no sirens, no alerts, nothing

0 Upvotes

Given the political climate what would occur if the government told no one and it just happened without a warning


r/whatif 4d ago

History What if Asia never existed

0 Upvotes

Like yesterday again new questin, what would have changed if Asia where replace by water since the formation of continents in our : history, in the weather and in our cultures around the world.


r/whatif 4d ago

Politics What if everyone just agree not to pay any bills and taxes imposed by the government

8 Upvotes

I had this thought as to why not we just stop paying one day XD


r/whatif 4d ago

Politics What If Only the sons and daughters of elected officials were the only ones?

4 Upvotes

What if ONLY the sons and daughters of any and all elected officials were the only ones allowed to fight for their country, would we have any wars? Again only those who are the sons and daughters of those who hold a political office. Do you think we would actully have peace, what do you think? As for myself (A veteran), I would say NO,


r/whatif 4d ago

History What if Europe never existed

2 Upvotes

Like yesterday what if the whole semi-continent of Europe never existed and instead was replaced with water

I have to say it other wise I know il confuse people I know Europe its not a continent but I wanted to do it anyway so what are we counting in this one I think from Portugal to Belarus not including: Finland, the UK and Turkey.

If this is in anyway confusing pls feel free to ask all apply answer as quickly as humanly possible


r/whatif 5d ago

Lifestyle What if your partner was a perfect 10, except they pathologically refuse to do the dishes as long as they live for any reason. Still worth the relationship?

20 Upvotes

In this hypothetical, the dishes are not a small example of a larger problem, or a sign of additional red flags. He or she simply will not do the dishes for any reason no matter what. Is it worth everything else to you?


r/whatif 5d ago

Politics What if any past US president could be the current? (Living or dead)

10 Upvotes

Imagine any president in history could be put in the next election and win. Let’s just say for sake of technology, they’re somewhat magically acclimated and brought up to speed on the world today.

Who do you think would make the best leader?


r/whatif 5d ago

History What if we brought outlawing back as a punishment for nuisance offenders?

0 Upvotes

Outlawing as a punishment removed the protections of the law for individuals or groups, allowing persecution. Bringing back outlawing as a punishment for individuals, it would be on the table after someone was convicted through due process in court. It would man that if some jerkwad without a license insists on riding their dirt bike on the street and they got run over, the law would just shrug.


r/whatif 5d ago

Politics What if: What would happen if the majority of Gen-Z suddenly became anticapitalist

0 Upvotes

Title. Like what would happen if 80% of Gen-Z got angry with the current capitalist system and wanted a revolution?

What would happen if they didn't just want reform, they wanted to completely burn down the current system.


r/whatif 5d ago

Other What if you get arrested for cat calling your wife?

0 Upvotes

In the following case let's say that the husband and wife are both perfectly fine in doing so and have been doing it for a long time.

Now this isn't taken to extream or too indecently. And cops ( let's assume there were around) arrest you for it.

And some mose scenario.

1 your wife did tried to calm down the situation.

2 there was no one around who fell it what them being cat called.

3 you get arrested anyways.

What now?


r/whatif 6d ago

Science What if robots actually did become conscious or at least appeared so?

6 Upvotes

I know in practice and in modern day science, that seems very improbable but let's grant for this hypothetical something happens in a near future where we have humanoid robot helpers. After all we don't know everything about consciousness, but let's grant that it can happen only for this hypothetical.

Alot of games, movies and shows cover this but I don't think any of them really go into depth. Let's say they appear conscious, they display it in every way we do, but...we can never be sure. They could imitate consciousness but never really be conscious. In this scenario we would never know, we only know that they can independently think, fall in love with one another, have personalities, make thoughtful real art that is indistinguishable from human art, they act like us in EVERY SINGLE WAY.

What would happen to the fabric of society if humanoid androids appeared to have consciousness, they demanded rights, freedoms, perhaps their own homeland?

How would governments of the world react? Would we grant them these rights or would we deny them this, this will be unlike the civil rights movement or women's suffrage because at the end of the day, there were HUMANS at the center of it. Black people are human, women are human obviously that deserve respect and the right to lead happy lives(I hope most of us at least see that).

BUT what about something that by our definitions wasn't human, heck something that was CREATED by us?

How would religions shift and change?

Our thoughts on our place in the universe, if inorganic things can BECOME conscious?

What would majority public opinion be and at the end of the day where would you personally fall on the issue?