If the point of these forums is to help each other enjoy the books more by understanding them better, I think it's probably NORMALLY good when the community filters out the implausible theories.

I stumbled across a very well-written and convincing post that proposed Tormund and Jon switched places just before Jon got stabbed. I was excited until I went back and read the chapter again, and I couldn't see any indication that was the author's intent. I don't think that thread added anything to my enjoyment of the books. By all means, that person should propose the theory, but if most people read that chapter the way I did, I think it's probably a good thing if it got downvoted.

I don't know why this one doesn't get much attention though. When I go back and read Jon's chapters again with the possibility in my mind that Rhaegar is hiding out as Mance, it adds a lot to the story for me. It's hard to find an exchange between them that doesn't have the subtext of, "hey, dummy, I'm the king and you're my son. Wanna hear the song I wrote about it?" Like RLJ, to me it feels like a hidden storyline you're supposed to pick up on the second time through.

If you read the ASOIAF forums, especially in the earlier days, it actually was discussed more often and seriously before the series gained a larger following.

My personal hang up, and I assume where most pushback comes from, is that it's hard to imagine the revelation in a way that doesn't feel contrived.

If you're early on your Rhaegar is Mance trip may I suggest researching:

Bael the Bard = RLJ Mance wrote the Pink Letter Qhorin is Arthur Dane It's super weird that House Mormont would have a Valyrian sword, that it would be in the hands of the not-head-of-the-house, that Jeor would give it to some impulsive kid he just met, and that Jorah for all his laments never reflects on it once, right?