View Full Version : How did Splinter know how to read?
I mean he used a Rennaissance art book to name them. How could he read it? Did the ooze give him the ability to read?
Nelson
08-26-2010, 12:42 PM
I mean he used a Rennaissance art book to name them. How could he read it? Did the ooze give him the ability to read?
Hahaha! What a great question!
I don't think there's an answer for that, other than "Oops!"
I guess we are supposed to assume that he saw Yoshi reading back in the day and Splinter... mimicked him. LOL.
One more reason to go with the "Splinter is Yoshi" version.
DrVenkman
08-26-2010, 12:52 PM
how did the turtles get human teeth?
Nelson
08-26-2010, 01:00 PM
how did the turtles get human teeth?
That is easier to explain (or fanwank.) Mutagen gives animals human propierties... and human theeth is one of them.
I don't think that is comparable with learning how to read.
If the point was that the whole TMNT universe is ridiculous and thus we shouldn't be asking this kind of questions then... It's okay to think that, but for some of us, these kind of thoughts are amusing, as it is having a discussion about them. Just let us be.
I still go with my reasoning for how he learned martial arts, after all, reading is also a learned ability. Rats are very intelligent, they can recognize objects, and written words are just visual symbols for ideas. Could pre-mutated Splinter read? No. But maybe the mutation gave him an epiphany of sorts, as to what he'd read in the past, connecting it with context.
And, there's very little reference as to when exactly he named them (at least, to my knowledge, which I admit is iffy.) If he named them a week into the mutation, that's hard to swallow. But if it was a year or two or five? I'll buy he could teach himself to speak and read from trips to the surface for supplies by then.
Assuming Mirage Splinter has told the truth, or the entire truth, as to the backstory, but then, I love a good conspiracy theory. :D
plastroncafe
08-26-2010, 01:24 PM
I always assumed it worked much the same way it did for the Rats of NIHM. One day the symbols meant nothing, and then the next...held meaning.
Nelson
08-26-2010, 01:30 PM
Assuming Mirage Splinter has told the truth, or the entire truth, as to the backstory, but then, I love a good conspiracy theory. :D
We have good reason to doubt the rat. Using your kids to take care of your problems is kind of a dickish thing to do, you know. He might as well be a liar, too.
It was nice when the turtles opened their eyes to their situation in City at War. "He used us!" they said. Or something to that effect. Wouldn't it have been cool if the writers followed up on that? Like at least one of the turtles had a real hard time overlooking that part of their past, couldn't forgive Splinter for training them to be his soldiers. At the same time, Splinter honestly doesn't think what he think is wrong. Their relationship would never be the same again. But the turtle's tormented, you see. How can I hate my father if, after all, he raised, me? DRAMA.
But Jesus, man. "Go kill my enemy!" Screw you, Splinter.
Sorry for going off-topic.
I like your theory, Kali.
NIHM
?
plastroncafe
08-26-2010, 01:36 PM
My bad on the acronym. It should be NIMH, not NIHM. Don Bluth made an animated movie of this book in the early 1980s.
Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Frisby_and_the_Rats_of_NIMH)
Nelson
08-26-2010, 01:44 PM
My bad on the acronym. It should be NIMH, not NIHM. Don Bluth made an animated movie of this book in the early 1980s.
Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Frisby_and_the_Rats_of_NIMH)
Oh, I wasn't familiar with that story. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
I thought you were referencing a TMNT arc. :S
We have good reason to doubt the rat. Using your kids to take care of your problems is kind of a dickish thing to do, you know. He might as well be a liar, too.
It was nice when the turtles opened their eyes to their situation in City at War. "He used us!" they said. Or something to that effect. Wouldn't it have been cool if the writers followed up on that? Like at least one of the turtles had a real hard time overlooking that part of their past, couldn't forgive Splinter for training them to be his soldiers. At the same time, Splinter honestly doesn't think what he think is wrong. Their relationship would never be the same again. But the turtle's tormented, you see. How can I hate my father if, after all, he raised, me? DRAMA.
But Jesus, man. "Go kill my enemy!" Screw you, Splinter.
Sorry for going off-topic.
I like your theory, Kali.
Off-topic or not, it brings up the subject of whether Splinter is truly a reliable narrator. Some things are confirmed by other characters, others not so much. I think pretty much every version of Splinter did keep information from his sons, even if to sincerely protect them. (Of course, the first issue wasn't really made with much in mind other than "Let's have fun!" so most of that is "Oops, now we gotta make it up as we go!" but reverse engineering characters isn't the worst writing technique.)
Heck, for all we know, some human did take Splinter and the turtles in at first and taught them but Splinter killed him at some point and the turtles were too young to remember.
Venom
08-26-2010, 08:03 PM
how did the turtles get human teeth?
Or why do the Turtles only have three fingers and two toes? :trazz:
Oh, I wasn't familiar with that story. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
I thought you were referencing a TMNT arc. :S
Nah, that would be Mr. Hamato and the Turtles of TCRI (http://www.miragelicensing.com).
bridgegrn
08-26-2010, 08:54 PM
We have good reason to doubt the rat. Using your kids to take care of your problems is kind of a dickish thing to do, you know. He might as well be a liar, too.
It was nice when the turtles opened their eyes to their situation in City at War. "He used us!" they said. Or something to that effect. Wouldn't it have been cool if the writers followed up on that? Like at least one of the turtles had a real hard time overlooking that part of their past, couldn't forgive Splinter for training them to be his soldiers. At the same time, Splinter honestly doesn't think what he think is wrong. Their relationship would never be the same again. But the turtle's tormented, you see. How can I hate my father if, after all, he raised, me? DRAMA.
But Jesus, man. "Go kill my enemy!" Screw you, Splinter.
That's one of the best aspects of the turtles story IMO. They were pretty much born into a war and turned into Splinter's soldiers. Its not far off from what the Foot did to The Shredder when they took him in to strengthen their numbers. The big difference is that Splinter obviously loves the turtles. He trained them for a task but they are his sons and he taught them to look out for each other and to survive. Looking at it from that point of view-as a father knowingly grooming his sons for war out of revenge and his 4 sons gradually realizing this would be amazing to see fold out on the big screen-especially considering it revolves around the lives of 5 foot tall mutated turtles and their 4 foot tall rat father..
oldmanwinters
08-26-2010, 09:01 PM
Off-topic or not, it brings up the subject of whether Splinter is truly a reliable narrator. . .
Heck, for all we know, some human did take Splinter and the turtles in at first and taught them but Splinter killed him at some point and the turtles were too young to remember.
Hmm... never thought about that concept before... Now that would be a creepy twist on the mythos!
Venom
08-26-2010, 09:13 PM
Hmm... never thought about that concept before... Now that would be a creepy twist on the mythos!
Well...look at your sig. Really look at Splinter. Look into his eyes. Those bright ghoulish eyes. Now ponder, if you will, how it would feel realizing his ulterior motives...damn, I lost my train of thought.
oldmanwinters
08-26-2010, 09:54 PM
Well...look at your sig. Really look at Splinter. Look into his eyes. Those bright ghoulish eyes. Now ponder, if you will, how it would feel realizing his ulterior motives...damn, I lost my train of thought.
NES Splinter is veeeeery creepy! That's probably because they based that character art straight off the early Mirage issues, where he pretty much looked the same way. Come to think of it, Splinter's first action figure was just about as creepy, since he also lacked pupils in the eyes. Somebody ought to play up Splinter's dark side in a fan comic or something.
shuriken
08-26-2010, 10:00 PM
My bad on the acronym. It should be NIMH, not NIHM. Don Bluth made an animated movie of this book in the early 1980s.
Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Frisby_and_the_Rats_of_NIMH)
I like that book, I read it in Grammar school. I think he learned gradually over time. As for the whole do my bidding thing that is a pretty a$$hole-tastic thing to do isn't it?
azrael
08-27-2010, 03:02 PM
well no one said he named them immediately. He could have studied then named them
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Good point that Splinter's story may not have been true. Maybe Saki really was the good guy and Yoshi was the bad guy?
Nelson
08-27-2010, 06:45 PM
Heck, for all we know, some human did take Splinter and the turtles in at first and taught them but Splinter killed him at some point and the turtles were too young to remember.
Hmmm... I like it... I like it... (we need a pensive emoticon)
Somebody ought to play up Splinter's dark side in a fan comic or something
A foresee a kick-ass comic by the team of Kali/oldmanwinters!
oldmanwinters
08-27-2010, 06:52 PM
A foresee a kick-ass comic by the team of Kali/oldmanwinters!
Man, that would be hilarious! I doubt I have the discipline for something as ambitious as that though!
Venom
08-27-2010, 06:52 PM
I mean he used a Rennaissance art book to name them. How could he read it? Did the ooze give him the ability to read?
He's a radical rat. /thread :tlol:
NES Splinter is veeeeery creepy! That's probably because they based that character art straight off the early Mirage issues, where he pretty much looked the same way...
I actually really love Splinter's early look for some reason. I guess because he still seems to retain some youthfulness about him in a way the later depictions did not, but then again he getting older each time we saw him so it could have been a natural progression.
Gyt Kaliba
08-27-2010, 07:34 PM
Somebody ought to play up Splinter's dark side in a fan comic or something.
That's actually an awesome idea. If I ever get around to writing this story that's floated around in my head for a bit, I need to incorporate that.:D
*picks up the plot bunny that just starting gnawing on her ankle*
Damn it. Better deal with this before it breeds.
Kendamu
08-28-2010, 02:43 AM
The theory I think Mirage was running with before Viacom stepped in was that Splinter was a bit special to begin with even before he mutated. Apparently there was gonna be some comic or something worked into whatever movie draft was being worked on at the time that explained this in more detail.
As for Splinter raising his sons to be soldiers and such, the whole idea was taken right out of old Asian movies involving rival clans/schools/whatever. According to that set-up, it's a perfectly reasonable thing to do! LOL
At least in the OT the idea of vengeance and finding a cure for Splinter was something actually reasonable the Turtles seemed to be completely dedicated to.
bridgegrn
08-28-2010, 09:57 AM
I do remember reading that someone (Tristan perhaps) had heard the new film's explanation as to how Splinter learned how to fight and that it was a clever idea that had never been used before.
Candy Kappa
08-29-2010, 05:13 PM
the plot said so. That's why splinter could read
shuriken
08-30-2010, 08:45 PM
Because the story called for it? LOL
Raph's Girl
08-31-2010, 01:16 AM
I mean he used a Rennaissance art book to name them. How could he read it? Did the ooze give him the ability to read?
The Ancient one taught him? :P
Candy Kappa
09-10-2010, 04:56 AM
I could use the same explanation as I did in the other splinter thread.
Splinter, being in a cage high up, watched Yoshi read a book. After being Mutated the ooze gave him a sudden instant knowledge about letters as well as the power of speaking. What Splinter had experienced or witnessed as a pet became something he could do.
Scandia
09-20-2010, 07:34 PM
Maybe the ooze did give him the ability to read indeed. And he may have observed his human masters reading as well, so he knew what to expect.
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