We've had stories about what if the axis powers had won ww2, what if the USSR beat us to the moon and in the arms race, what if the US had an all power radiation man to win the Vietnam War and Nixon stayed president. I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot. Do you think in 30-50 years we'll see stories about what if 9/11 was prevented? Like superman diverting the planes or something?
Alternate Histories in Media
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Last: 2 yr ago by superunknown
To me, 9/11 isn't a moment that could have happened differently. That is, before 9/11 there was no willingness by the American public to accept the kind of airport security measures that might have prevented 9/11.
If anything could have prevented 9/11, maybe go back to 1979, and when the Soviets roll their tanks into Afghanistan, tell the CIA that religiously radicalizing the local population against the 'godless commies' could come back to bite us in the ass.
If anything could have prevented 9/11, maybe go back to 1979, and when the Soviets roll their tanks into Afghanistan, tell the CIA that religiously radicalizing the local population against the 'godless commies' could come back to bite us in the ass.
What if Sumlin just ran the ball when up 30 points at UCLA?
We'd have had 6 more seasons of disappointment. So, no difference really...NoahAg said:
What if Sumlin just ran the ball when up 30 points at UCLA?
dabo man said:
To me, 9/11 isn't a moment that could have happened differently. That is, before 9/11 there was no willingness by the American public to accept the kind of airport security measures that might have prevented 9/11.
If anything could have prevented 9/11, maybe go back to 1979, and when the Soviets roll their tanks into Afghanistan, tell the CIA that religiously radicalizing the local population against the 'godless commies' could come back to bite us in the ass.
My brother in Christ, all the examples I gave were from graphic novels, video games, scifi/fantasy novels. You're looking at this too seriously.
I'm not asking "what could have prevented 9/11" I'm asking if it is the type of event that will get the same fictional treatment that WWII and the cold war have gotten
My 12 year old son is currently writing a creative writing story about how the US let Canada and Mexico vote to join the US after the war of 1812 and the Mexican American war in 1845 and how that made the US join WWI earlier before Russia was over thrown, therefore WWI was over quicker and Nazi Germany never came to be because Germany basically ceased to exist and the Space Race never happened and we are behind in the future (2400) when aliens show up to conquer us, we are still stuck with 1950's tech because the need to develop it never came to be because we never had to fight the communists or radical Islam. He said the kicker is going to be that good aliens show up and have a way to transport us to another dimension (the one we are currently in) and obtain the technology to beat the aliens.
I don't want to crap on him and ask why the good aliens just don't give us the tech to defeat the bad aliens.
I don't want to crap on him and ask why the good aliens just don't give us the tech to defeat the bad aliens.
Ginormus Ag said:
My 12 year old son is currently writing a creative writing story about how the US let Canada and Mexico vote to join the US after the war of 1812 and the Mexican American war in 1845 and how that made the US join WWI earlier before Russia was over thrown, therefore WWI was over quicker and Nazi Germany never came to be because Germany basically ceased to exist and the Space Race never happened and we are behind in the future (2400) when aliens show up to conquer us, we are still stuck with 1950's tech because the need to develop it never came to be because we never had to fight the communists or radical Islam. He said the kicker is going to be that good aliens show up and have a way to transport us to another dimension (the one we are currently in) and obtain the technology to beat the aliens.
I don't want to crap on him and ask why the good aliens just don't give us the tech to defeat the bad aliens.
That's pretty neat
What if Lennon isn't shot and the Beatles reunite for the first time at Winstar in Oklahoma?
Like the GOP's version of the 2020 election? That simulation has been going on almost 3 years.G.I.Bro said:dabo man said:
To me, 9/11 isn't a moment that could have happened differently. That is, before 9/11 there was no willingness by the American public to accept the kind of airport security measures that might have prevented 9/11.
If anything could have prevented 9/11, maybe go back to 1979, and when the Soviets roll their tanks into Afghanistan, tell the CIA that religiously radicalizing the local population against the 'godless commies' could come back to bite us in the ass.
My brother in Christ, all the examples I gave were from graphic novels, video games, scifi/fantasy novels. You're looking at this too seriously.
I'm not asking "what could have prevented 9/11" I'm asking if it is the type of event that will get the same fictional treatment that WWII and the cold war have gotten
Username checks out.
Ginormus Ag said:
My 12 year old son is currently writing a creative writing story about how the US let Canada and Mexico vote to join the US after the war of 1812 and the Mexican American war in 1845 and how that made the US join WWI earlier before Russia was over thrown, therefore WWI was over quicker and Nazi Germany never came to be because Germany basically ceased to exist and the Space Race never happened and we are behind in the future (2400) when aliens show up to conquer us, we are still stuck with 1950's tech because the need to develop it never came to be because we never had to fight the communists or radical Islam. He said the kicker is going to be that good aliens show up and have a way to transport us to another dimension (the one we are currently in) and obtain the technology to beat the aliens.
I don't want to crap on him and ask why the good aliens just don't give us the tech to defeat the bad aliens.
Dude, spoiler alert next time.
Also, your 12 year old sounds smarter than me.
Sounds somewhat like Harry Turtledove's World War books, which get progressively more and more insane as the series goes on.DargelSkout said:Ginormus Ag said:
My 12 year old son is currently writing a creative writing story about how the US let Canada and Mexico vote to join the US after the war of 1812 and the Mexican American war in 1845 and how that made the US join WWI earlier before Russia was over thrown, therefore WWI was over quicker and Nazi Germany never came to be because Germany basically ceased to exist and the Space Race never happened and we are behind in the future (2400) when aliens show up to conquer us, we are still stuck with 1950's tech because the need to develop it never came to be because we never had to fight the communists or radical Islam. He said the kicker is going to be that good aliens show up and have a way to transport us to another dimension (the one we are currently in) and obtain the technology to beat the aliens.
I don't want to crap on him and ask why the good aliens just don't give us the tech to defeat the bad aliens.
Dude, spoiler alert next time.
Also, your 12 year old sounds smarter than me.
Long story short - It's World War II and aliens arrive to conquer the Earth. But the probe they sent to scout out Earth came during the Middle Ages, and they are a species that develops very slowly. They are somewhat surprised to find how far along we've come technology wise, and although their weapons are still superior, they thought they were going to be fighting swords and shields, not Panzer tanks and battleships.
The second series is set in the 1960s and has some really weird stuff, which my mom made me stop reading when I was a teenager and she picked one of them up - notably ginger making the aliens act like deviant freaks.
The eighth book is set in the future and has Earthlings going to the alien planet to throw down.
He ended up writing 8 books and the series spans from the 1940s into the 2030s or something
He loves reading history and has been obsessed with WW2, Pearl Harbor, and D-Day. I hope to be able to take him to Pointe Du Hoc before he graduates HS. He found a person that was killed on the Arizona with our last name and has been trying to research if we are related. The person is from Oklahoma and our family comes from Arkansas. We are probably not, but I want him to find out on his own by doing research. I think he wants to major in History in college, but he wont tell me that because he thinks I will disown him. I would like to show him Band of Brothers, The Pacific and Saving Private Ryan, but my wife will freak out. I may show him The Longest Day, soon. I watched that when I was 10. If I can find a DVD of it.
But, yeah we discussed the creative writing thing for a good 30 minutes yesterday. It was one of those discussions that blew my mind and I was just amazed at what he knows. Also, he has a new friend in school this year that likes history as well and they discuss a lot of history things.
The bad thing though. He told he thinks Texas History is boring.
But, yeah we discussed the creative writing thing for a good 30 minutes yesterday. It was one of those discussions that blew my mind and I was just amazed at what he knows. Also, he has a new friend in school this year that likes history as well and they discuss a lot of history things.
The bad thing though. He told he thinks Texas History is boring.
You should have him watch the Final Countdown with Martin SHeen when they go back in time on the modern battleship to the Pearl Harbor attack day.Ginormus Ag said:
He loves reading history and has been obsessed with WW2, Pearl Harbor, and D-Day. I hope to be able to take him to Pointe Du Hoc before he graduates HS. He found a person that was killed on the Arizona with our last name and has been trying to research if we are related. The person is from Oklahoma and our family comes from Arkansas. We are probably not, but I want him to find out on his own by doing research. I think he wants to major in History in college, but he wont tell me that because he thinks I will disown him. I would like to show him Band of Brothers, The Pacific and Saving Private Ryan, but my wife will freak out. I may show him The Longest Day, soon. I watched that when I was 10. If I can find a DVD of it.
But, yeah we discussed the creative writing thing for a good 30 minutes yesterday. It was one of those discussions that blew my mind and I was just amazed at what he knows. Also, he has a new friend in school this year that likes history as well and they discuss a lot of history things.
The bad thing though. He told he thinks Texas History is boring.
That is another good one. I remember watching it as a kid.
Ultimately a big tease, but I love the part where they talk down the Japanese pilot by telling him in Japanese exactly what their fleet is doing that day with all the code words, etc.Ginormus Ag said:
That is another good one. I remember watching it as a kid.
If he thinks Texas history is boring, give him a copy of Empire of the Summer Moon, and maybe he'll read it and change his mind.
What if God was one of Us?
Great WWII movies were made within a decade of Pearl Harbor.Quote:
I'm asking if it is the type of event that will get the same fictional treatment that WWII and the cold war have gotten
DustysLineup said:Great WWII movies were made within a decade of Pearl Harbor.Quote:
I'm asking if it is the type of event that will get the same fictional treatment that WWII and the cold war have gotten
Once again, I'm talking about alternative history media, like the man in the high castle, Watchmen, etc
Ragoo said:
What if God was one of Us?
What if Jesus just left Chicago?
Sounds exactly like how I grew up. I was and am obsessed with history, particularly military history. It is legitimately one of my favorite thought experiments to think of "What-Ifs". I spend my free time thinking and discussing it and have a great time.Ginormus Ag said:
He loves reading history and has been obsessed with WW2, Pearl Harbor, and D-Day. I hope to be able to take him to Pointe Du Hoc before he graduates HS. He found a person that was killed on the Arizona with our last name and has been trying to research if we are related. The person is from Oklahoma and our family comes from Arkansas. We are probably not, but I want him to find out on his own by doing research. I think he wants to major in History in college, but he wont tell me that because he thinks I will disown him. I would like to show him Band of Brothers, The Pacific and Saving Private Ryan, but my wife will freak out. I may show him The Longest Day, soon. I watched that when I was 10. If I can find a DVD of it.
But, yeah we discussed the creative writing thing for a good 30 minutes yesterday. It was one of those discussions that blew my mind and I was just amazed at what he knows. Also, he has a new friend in school this year that likes history as well and they discuss a lot of history things.
The bad thing though. He told he thinks Texas History is boring.
I also think Texas history is pretty boring though.
If you are bold enough to let him have an account here, I started a thread about this very stuff some time ago on the History board. Have him jump on in! Or anyone else for that matter.
The first post of that thread is this for context:
Quote:
Bored and I love thought experiments like this. Only rule is consequences must stay within timeframe of said conflict to keep from getting too abstract, i.e. Alexander conquers Afghanistan and the Twin Towers don't fall sorta thing.
The one I ponder on most is Dunkirk. Briefly put. Germans capture or kill all Brit and Canadian ground forces at Dunkirk. Germans risk a ground invasion despite lack of air superiority knowing Brit ground forces would be few and inexperienced. Germany succeeds and sues for peace with America. Resources are allocated back to Eastern Front and hold off Russians indefinitely. Third Reich becomes a reality.
Feasible?
https://texags.com/forums/49/topics/2822226
I gotcha. If we haven't had a great sandbox movie by now, the prospects for alternative fiction kind of go along.G.I.Bro said:DustysLineup said:Great WWII movies were made within a decade of Pearl Harbor.Quote:
I'm asking if it is the type of event that will get the same fictional treatment that WWII and the cold war have gotten
Once again, I'm talking about alternative history media, like the man in the high castle, Watchmen, etc
There might be reasons for that.
There's a great arc in Star Trek Enterprise when Aliens go back in time to help the Nazis win WW 2 to try and prevent the Federation from ever forming. The Enterprise goes back in time to a Nazi-occupied America and at one point the damn spaceship fights some Nazi planes in broad daylight over New York City, sort of ignoring the prime directive.G.I.Bro said:DustysLineup said:Great WWII movies were made within a decade of Pearl Harbor.Quote:
I'm asking if it is the type of event that will get the same fictional treatment that WWII and the cold war have gotten
Once again, I'm talking about alternative history media, like the man in the high castle, Watchmen, etc
https://www.amazon.com/Lone-Star-Rising-Voyage-Wasp/dp/1611792355
I have no idea if this book is any good, but I recall seeing the premise and being intrigued.
I have no idea if this book is any good, but I recall seeing the premise and being intrigued.
Years ago I bought the book, "What If?" for my brother who's a history buff.
"Essays by respected military historians, including Stephen Ambrose, David McCullough, James McPherson, and John Keegan, consider the consequences if history had turned out differently, such as if the weather on D-Day had been worse or if Washington had not escaped from Long Island."
Apparently there are three of them now.
https://a.co/d/filAbu9
"Essays by respected military historians, including Stephen Ambrose, David McCullough, James McPherson, and John Keegan, consider the consequences if history had turned out differently, such as if the weather on D-Day had been worse or if Washington had not escaped from Long Island."
Apparently there are three of them now.
https://a.co/d/filAbu9
Ragoo said:
What if God was one of Us?
Yeah… that's going to be a big no on him ever having a an account on here, before he graduates college. Although he would fit in well in the zoo watching Aggie football games.
Teslag said:
What if Lennon isn't shot and the Beatles reunite for the first time at Winstar in Oklahoma?
Lennon & Harrison are decomposing.
Holy crap. Have not heard that classic in many, many decades.
I'm honestly a little surprised that Ringo hasn't had a residency stint at the Winstar (or maybe the Horseshoe in Tunica).Teslag said:
What if Lennon isn't shot and the Beatles reunite for the first time at Winstar in Oklahoma?
G.I.Bro said:
Once again, I'm talking about alternative history media, like the man in the high castle, Watchmen, etc
How about 11/23/63?
Quote:
How about 11/23/63?
The day after JFK was assassinated. Is that the day Lee Harvey Oswald was shot?
I have all of them - good reads.
TriAg2010 said:G.I.Bro said:
Once again, I'm talking about alternative history media, like the man in the high castle, Watchmen, etc
How about 11/22/63?
Yes, we can add that to the list of examples, but no ones really answered my original question