r/whatif
Ponder the potential! A sub where asking "what if?" is everything.
How to think about r/whatif
This community is dedicated to exploring hypothetical scenarios and pondering the implications of 'what if' questions across various topics, including history, science, and philosophy. Members engage in creative thinking, often presenting imaginative and plausible possibilities that stimulate discussion and debate. The distinctiveness of this community lies in its focus on speculative thinking, encouraging members to stretch their imaginations while grounding their ideas in reality.
Confidence 4/5
Audience
Participants in this community are typically curious individuals who enjoy intellectual discussions and creative speculation. They range from students to professionals, often with interests in science, history, and philosophy. The vibe is generally inquisitive and open-minded, with members eager to explore unconventional ideas and engage in thoughtful discourse. They value creativity and logical reasoning in discussions.
Posting culture
Content that thrives includes well-thought-out hypothetical scenarios, creative narratives, and engaging questions that invite discussion. Posts that lack depth or are overly simplistic tend to be downvoted. The community encourages a respectful and constructive dialogue, with members often elaborating on each other's ideas. Posting frequency varies, but active discussions can lead to multiple daily contributions, especially when a particularly intriguing question is posed.
Brand engagement notes
Brands should approach this community with caution, as overt promotion is likely to be met with skepticism or hostility. Instead, they can engage by contributing to discussions with thoughtful insights or by posing their own 'what if' scenarios relevant to their industry. Sharing knowledge or facilitating discussions around hypothetical situations that align with the brand's expertise can foster goodwill. Authenticity and a genuine interest in the community's focus are key to successful engagement.
Top keywords
What r/whatif talks about
Weighted by how often each term appears in posts and comments, relative to baseline frequency. The largest words are the strongest signals of community focus.
Top contributors
Who shapes the conversation
The most active and most-upvoted posters and commenters in this community. Useful when planning outreach or studying a community's tastemakers.
Top posters
By post count
- u/Pikaverse69
- u/Captainmanic
- u/[deleted]
- u/David-Diron
- u/LadyBrittany209
- u/Bernache_du_Canada
- u/Ozem_son_of_Jesse
- u/Arowx
- u/uniqueilliloque
- u/VoidgamesYT
- u/das_cthulu
- u/ShadowIslesShuriman
- u/CatholicRevert
- u/nshopping95
- u/ItWasGoodonPaper
- u/TalonEye53
- u/Active-Heron-8898
- u/The_Big_Bad_Wolf_64
- u/Stretch_R_mstrong
- u/Collective1985
- u/Independent_Gap_845
- u/madcapmunchkin
- u/Playful-Donut9625
- u/Loose-Mastodon4816
- u/wingman666
- u/RamenLuvsDado
- u/Cyber_Ghost_1997
- u/QueenElsaArrendelle
- u/ExplanationKey6000
- u/dull_storyteller
- u/Q_D_V_F
- u/blitzboi114
- u/FandomPhantom123
- u/eureka_yess
- u/pizzashizz6991
- u/Zealousideal_Joke441
- u/TopGrowa
- u/MysteriousShadow__
- u/Lumpy-Job4827
- u/Repulsive-Finger-954
- u/meltedplasticarmyguy
- u/Alarmed_Ad1946
- u/Elduderino_047371
- u/Weeding33
- u/Born-Dimension6705
- u/77gamerman
- u/Sorry_Barracuda_84
- u/idioticbozo
- u/MillenniumRiver
- u/amentaleffect
- u/Odd_craving
- u/Hoppothetically
- u/Mental-Fun-1031
- u/rayonette67
- u/spiros26
- u/MajorasGod
- u/Urbenmyth
- u/FoxtrotFoxtrotZulu2
- u/Daxyl86
- u/InfernoFireStyle
- u/historylad1
- u/ace-spider
- u/Character-Watch5463
- u/USAFAN20
- u/dingus182
- u/Live-Ad3828
- u/tutunka
- u/Adventurous-Art-1161
- u/00crashtest
- u/edwardisstillagod
- u/ApprehensiveSense519
- u/mr-logician
- u/Administrative-Pie18
- u/scepticcal_believer
- u/Burlingtonfilms
- u/Educational_Sort8110
- u/activeFactory
- u/A_Genuine_Turtle
- u/shayner5
- u/Madfaction
- u/dawitfikadu3
- u/odjobo
- u/AfroNinja1126
- u/BeKindReWind99
- u/myselfwho
- u/ashmeetsworld
- u/littlelittlebirdee
- u/theosamabahama
- u/Competitive-Baker-55
- u/industrial_athlete
- u/Dance_With_Me123
- u/Wetpickle998_wap
- u/Frf20
- u/jmhgn27
- u/shaktimaanlannister
- u/Pleural_Mesothelioma
- u/roostermako
- u/badboyfriend111
- u/Ok-Amphibian-6394
- u/patates_sogan
By votes
- u/Pikaverse69
- u/David-Diron
- u/[deleted]
- u/Captainmanic
- u/LadyBrittany209
- u/Bernache_du_Canada
- u/ShadowIslesShuriman
- u/Ozem_son_of_Jesse
- u/CatholicRevert
- u/Alarmed_Ad1946
- u/shayner5
- u/VoidgamesYT
- u/A_Genuine_Turtle
- u/QueenElsaArrendelle
- u/Collective1985
- u/dull_storyteller
- u/Arowx
- u/Madfaction
- u/Elduderino_047371
- u/dawitfikadu3
- u/ExplanationKey6000
- u/uniqueilliloque
- u/77gamerman
- u/Stretch_R_mstrong
- u/odjobo
- u/AfroNinja1126
- u/littlelittlebirdee
- u/Sorry_Barracuda_84
- u/nshopping95
- u/Playful-Donut9625
- u/BeKindReWind99
- u/myselfwho
- u/ashmeetsworld
- u/Weeding33
- u/Independent_Gap_845
- u/ItWasGoodonPaper
- u/das_cthulu
- u/theosamabahama
- u/Wetpickle998_wap
- u/Competitive-Baker-55
- u/industrial_athlete
- u/Dance_With_Me123
- u/Born-Dimension6705
- u/Frf20
- u/jmhgn27
- u/shaktimaanlannister
- u/patates_sogan
- u/Mysterious_Cable4613
- u/MillenniumRiver
- u/roostermako
- u/badboyfriend111
- u/idioticbozo
- u/The-Names-Matt
- u/amentaleffect
- u/Q_D_V_F
- u/The_Big_Bad_Wolf_64
- u/Ok-Amphibian-6394
- u/FluidPlate
- u/JawadEmad
- u/SomeWeirdFreak
- u/Lyn-nyx
- u/3ngineer4Liyfe
- u/Loose-Mastodon4816
- u/wingman666
- u/Mental-Fun-1031
- u/Pleural_Mesothelioma
- u/fordsmt
- u/TheZekeIsMad
- u/mikebalsaricci
- u/HoofdletterF
- u/118803032424
- u/Ok-Goose-6320
- u/k1410407
- u/Pekkahk
- u/madcapmunchkin
- u/TalonEye53
- u/I-watch-dif-fandoms
- u/AkJackster
- u/meltedplasticarmyguy
- u/haialyy
- u/Loa_Ex_Machina
- u/TheTherapistmoss49
- u/Comfortable_Force_87
- u/paulcheeba
- u/bravadough
- u/NewMicroTheTitan
- u/anuj121342
- u/Lokkuri
- u/Odd_craving
- u/blitzboi114
- u/Hoppothetically
- u/spiros26
- u/Repulsive-Finger-954
- u/Yoghurt-Negative
- u/le_bouffon
- u/Poch1212
- u/BrittStuart
- u/Advanced-Peach-8547
- u/Individual_Profile_9
- u/UnrealPownament
Top commenters
By comment count
- u/[deleted]
- u/GodKingChrist
- u/GhostCheese
- u/boomdart
- u/wwwhistler
- u/David-Diron
- u/PlsChickenMyNugget
- u/Scooter_McAwesome
- u/recipriversexcluson
- u/Alexandre_Man
- u/Blakethesnake727
- u/GarlicGuitar
- u/TheKhaos121
- u/Moe-Mux-Hagi
- u/No_Emotion1993
- u/Dontgiveaclam
- u/LopsidedStaff1795
- u/CapitalG888
- u/Weeding33
- u/TopGrowa
- u/syamgamelover
- u/CoolDudeNike1
- u/houseitems
- u/JadeChroma
- u/fordsmt
- u/yoteyote3000
- u/ryt8
- u/Lokkuri
- u/Cabbiecar1001
- u/W_AS-SA_W
- u/Q_D_V_F
- u/Playful-Donut9625
- u/Fabulous-Pause4154
- u/DisciplineFancy4290
- u/--var
- u/WirrkopfP
- u/JonathanPhillipFox
- u/Digomr
- u/Abs73
- u/blinkybillrinkydink
- u/Responsible-Brush-72
- u/TallahasseeTerror
- u/HoneyGrassOnSunday
- u/hesays-
- u/Fik_of_borg
- u/Redscream667
- u/arthurjeremypearson
- u/Same-Twist-3122
- u/pSilver68932
- u/wenoc
- u/Vibe_Line
- u/mitaswelsby
- u/TheBlueJacket1
- u/Atlas1nChains
- u/suedejacke
- u/Gyposcvm
- u/83AD
- u/spaceguyy
- u/desrevermi
- u/RawMint
- u/nskvts
- u/shreks_cum_bucket
- u/MadeByMeny
- u/Legionx1985
- u/SpuddiBuddi
- u/yelbesed
- u/Charlie_Fang
- u/Autumn_indiana
- u/Dead_Home_owner
- u/Sorry_Barracuda_84
- u/Samurai_Rachaek
- u/4445414442454546
- u/Adam-Many82
- u/ktkatq
- u/GanSaves
- u/Qazzie
- u/mczmczmcz
- u/oneeyemimic
- u/Ryzasu
- u/therealMrsZ
- u/Arkhamkong
- u/VowXhing
- u/wg_nexline
- u/LeadGem354
- u/number3rob
- u/Rougarou1999
- u/Bee_castle
- u/Naebany
- u/Flame-Inferno
- u/Loose-Mastodon4816
- u/Unfixingstorm7
- u/HugoCaldeira19902
- u/Truposzyk
- u/cangero0
- u/the1ian
- u/dingus182
- u/FINISHER1063
- u/xXBlackbloodedXx
- u/michaelphenom
- u/SeasonsGone
By votes
- u/[deleted]
- u/GodKingChrist
- u/wwwhistler
- u/Blakethesnake727
- u/Scooter_McAwesome
- u/DisciplineFancy4290
- u/WirrkopfP
- u/fluffy_lulu
- u/TopGrowa
- u/TheKhaos121
- u/GhostCheese
- u/boomdart
- u/Responsible-Brush-72
- u/boardgamejoe
- u/JesusWasATexan
- u/Sorry_Barracuda_84
- u/W_AS-SA_W
- u/David-Diron
- u/Luigi_deathglare
- u/PopTarts02
- u/Bee_castle
- u/Playful-Donut9625
- u/tjarod11
- u/GanSaves
- u/LopsidedStaff1795
- u/xXBlackbloodedXx
- u/oneeyemimic
- u/wg_nexline
- u/CapitalG888
- u/syamgamelover
- u/yoteyote3000
- u/Cabbiecar1001
- u/--var
- u/Ichoro
- u/Diseased-Jackass
- u/phant0my_89
- u/Johnsonisbored
- u/pSilver68932
- u/Gyposcvm
- u/houseitems
- u/michaelphenom
- u/MrRokhead
- u/Ralfslapins
- u/Lokkuri
- u/lionheadeddakini
- u/Q_D_V_F
- u/Fabulous-Pause4154
- u/Steec
- u/tsullivan815
- u/Braden_Survivor
- u/HomelandersHairgel
- u/Puzzled_Formal942
- u/CannFarmre
- u/Independent_Gap_845
- u/HoneyGrassOnSunday
- u/Samurai_Rachaek
- u/4445414442454546
- u/Qazzie
- u/JadeChroma
- u/dingus182
- u/FINISHER1063
- u/ryt8
- u/SophireInspire
- u/ImaginaryFantasy09
- u/FearMeOnReddit
- u/TallahasseeTerror
- u/hesays-
- u/PlsChickenMyNugget
- u/MadeByMeny
- u/Ryzasu
- u/recipriversexcluson
- u/Flame-Inferno
- u/CoolDudeNike1
- u/fordsmt
- u/SeasonsGone
- u/Giocri
- u/reiper_
- u/Styl3Music
- u/Kaysie
- u/JamesTheMannequin
- u/Public_Giraffe_4412
- u/LineusCorn
- u/Digomr
- u/theradomeaser
- u/Abs73
- u/mirrorspirit
- u/blinkybillrinkydink
- u/Moe-Mux-Hagi
- u/83AD
- u/spaceguyy
- u/Legionx1985
- u/SpuddiBuddi
- u/Adam-Many82
- u/ktkatq
- u/Dontgiveaclam
- u/therealMrsZ
- u/Arkhamkong
- u/Weeding33
- u/Rougarou1999
- u/Loose-Mastodon4816
Similar communities
Where this audience also spends time
Topic-adjacent communities surfaced from Reddit's own related subreddit signal.
FAQ
r/whatif — frequently asked questions
Quick facts about this subreddit's size, history, focus, and related communities.
How many subscribers does r/whatif have?
r/whatif has approximately 46,422 subscribers as of May 27, 2026.
When was r/whatif created?
r/whatif was created on May 21, 2009 (17 years ago).
What is r/whatif about?
This community is dedicated to exploring hypothetical scenarios and pondering the implications of 'what if' questions across various topics, including history, science, and philosophy. Members engage in creative thinking, often presenting imaginative and plausible possibilities that stimulate discussion and debate. The distinctiveness of this community lies in its focus on s…
What subreddits are similar to r/whatif?
Communities similar to r/whatif include r/futurewhatif, r/historywhatif, r/historicalwhatif, r/whatiffiction.
Who are the most active posters on r/whatif?
The most frequent posters on r/whatif include u/Pikaverse69, u/Captainmanic, u/[deleted].
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