Apart from the fact that it is actually fun for the people who choose to participate, it is a variation on thought experiment. One of the ways to explore why something in the world is the way it is is to imagine what the world would be like if that something were different. A large proportion of fiction is essentially that in narrative form. What we can then do is extrapolate further and explore the consequences of those differences.
And seriously, if this were a book club and we were discussing a novel, there would be far fewer of these ridiculous objections to the topic of discussion that no one has been forced to participate in.
And to those who would anyway: fuck off, you unimaginative little pricks. Do you really think learning occurs best in a vacuum alone, or with context and a point of interest to start from? I've learned a good deal and sorted out ideas in my head by answering questions like this here and elsewhere. I don't just saunter on-line and grandstand my booksmarts. I research and think, and I take it elsewhere.
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