Splinter's use of punishments
 

I'm sort of stealing this from another thread from the general section about the use of spanking of children as a form of punishment and whether it is right or not. And some how the turtles got dragged into it. So I thought I'd bring it over here. Splinter is very much the authoritarian and he doesn't think twice about wacking the turtles when they step out of line, so he is definately old school. But when the turtles where just kids do you think he used corporal punishmnet on them, like whacking them in the head with his cane or do you think he spanked them instead when they got out of line, if he did spank them at what age do think he stopped spankings as punishment and switched over to uses his cane on their head? In the episode the Lesson he seemed much stricter and tough when dealing with the boys. D

Do you guys even agree that he still uses his cane to to hit them to punish them as teens.

He may used the cane as they got older, but I think as kids he might have just spanked them or hit their hand.

Somehow, I do not think Splinter is the kind of parent who would hit or punish harshly for the smallest transgression. He would use time outs and withdrawal of privileges. He is strict, but not unreasonably so. It's not like the Turtles walk around on eggshells afraid of him.

Which leads me to wonder- which Turtle would be likeliest to run away (or try to run away) because he thought a punishment was too harsh? I think it would be Donatello. He would be likely to think "fine, if you do not like me as I am, then you will have to deal without me". He may not even cry- he would just leave a note stating calmly that he has left.

I think this sort of reaction is something I would see coming from Raph first. When the Turtles first came out, he was already the one that would go out to the top side to get some fresh air when things got to hostel or he felt too pinned up. I'm assuming this is a trait he started long ago, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that he was the first to go topside alone out of the four either. The comics and cartoons never really touched on too much what their tyke years were like. If handled right, it could actually be a nice spin off of the current Turtles toon.

But I think Raphael would be likelier to storm off in anger. On the other hand, Donatello would appear to be calm- and a few hours later, a letter is left in his bedroom and his belongings are missing.

I've actually addressed this kinda stuff in my fan-fiction, and in the many RPs I participate in. But this is also from my own experiences... kinda...

The way I see it, Splinter would use more light punishments, time outs, corner time, chores, writing exercises and the ever popular backflip. I can imagine Leo and Don being the easier of the four to punish... it wouldn't take much to get their attention.

Now, where spankings (or in BAD cases, the cane), my guidelines for my stories is if they do the big sins: Lying, stealing when it's NOT important for survival, cheating, and finally Knowingly putting yourself in danger. That is what usually warrants a spanking. The cane would be for something like... well, when Leo disobeyed Splinter and dragged his brothers into the whole battle in "City at War". Something that puts the clan in danger.

I...probably sound like I've thought this stuff through to much.. :P


AS for which turtle tot would run away, I would think Mike would be the one to run away cuz 'Papa' doesn't love him anymore...

Well isn't that issue 'the passing' during their kiddy years? I think Splinter kept bopping Mikey and telling him to stop goofing around.

But again, I disagree. In your first statement, you were asking what Turtle would run away because he thought a punishment is too harsh, and his running away is kind of like he is throwing it into Splinter's face that if he cant accept him for the way he is, then he's leaving, this is a trait Raphael would do way before the others. Donny, Mikey and Leo would try to be a bit more suave and actually come up with ways around the punishment. It's Raph that takes his emotions and actions to extremes, such as flipping the finger and running off. The second Turtle I see pulling this stunt would be Mikey.

From what I know, I think that Mikey is the one who got the most spankings and punishments as a kid :P

reply revised....

Splinter is defeninately old school in his disipline methods and uses corporal punishment, but some how I don't see him useing spankings as a way to punish the turtles even as little itty biddie kids. If for no other reason than because the turtles really don't have much in the posterior area. Seriously I don't think the turtles have butts, that area is covered by their shell and plastron. It sort of looks like they have plastron panties on LOL :lol:

Perhaps Raphael may be the first one to scream out loud that he is running away. And Mikey would do so saying "you don't love me". But while Donnie may have a bit more tolerance, he would just march to his room and write out a note- he would leave quietly. Leo is more mature, so he is likelier to understand why Splinter is disciplining him. And Leo is more likely to want to talk things out.

I do think Mikey and Raph got equal amounts of punishments when they were young.

Now which kinds of punishments work best on each Turtle? I can imagine that for Donnie it would be withdrawal of privileges.

I don't see Donny misbehaving that often. Mikey would act out because he was bored and Raph would because he was frustrated and Leo might disobey if he thought his Honour demanded it. Donny would probably only be punished for getting carried away with what he was doing and forgetting his obligations.

Splinter seems to be a strict but fair father and teacher. There is obviously a mutual bond of love between him and the turtles and if he had to punish them they would probably accept it with good grace (some of the time). I don’t think splinter would actually hit the turtles (training not withstanding). He might give them a quick tap to make sure they’re paying attention but nothing with intent to harm. He mostly seems to give them chores or training to do and explains why what they did was wrong.

I doubt that splinter gave the turtles spankings when they where kids, i think he got stricter when they got older. As far as i remember, the only corporal punishment i've seen splinter use is throwing his stick on michaelangelo.

in TMNT1 I thought throwing a book at Mikey was pretty violent LOL

Like a said earlier I don't think Splinter employed spankings as a form of punishment/disipline on the turtles when they where younger, because for some reason I just don't see Splinter throwing one of the turtles over his lap and letting them have it in that manner. I think Splinter was more of a extra chores and heavy work outs and sever scoldings/intimidation sort of parent when it came to disipline. Maybe he wacked them on the head or the hand when warranted but I don't think he used his cane. But if Splinter did emply spankings I think he would only do the quick single swat on the butt when they got out of line.

If he did use spankings I think he stopped that form of punishment by the time the turtles where the age in the episode The Lesson, so maybe my age six/seven, because I think by that time the turtles would be old enough to feel embarrassed by a spanking and probably where at an age where getting their freedoms and priviledges taken away where more effective. I think the use of his cane to whack the turtles in the head is a fairly recent thing that probably developed when they hit puberty. Since by this point I think the turtles are old enough to handle it.

I have a question do you which turtle would most likely get made fun of if they got a spanking from Splinter?

To be honest...yes and no. :| I'm all for Splinter keeping the turtles in line, they could get killed if they get out of control so a quick whap in the head is possiably the best way of doing it; but sometimes...well I think he is to quick to go for the cane. it gets annoying after a while.

Good question. Are we talking as they are now or when they where kids? I think Splinter generally being confined to the lair and having their freedom restricted probably the worst punishment at this point. I also think being made to do something unpleasant or really hard probably does for the turtles at this point. But as kids I think being made to do really long tiring training sessions like how it was implyed they had to do when they disobeyed Splinter was the worst for them. Individually...I would have to think about.

That's what i'd bet on, they mentioned in The Lesson, Splinter made them work out for practicaly 72 hours, I'd say that's his most proficient, and in my opinion most sensible, form of discipline. And now when they're teens, I'd think that probably hasn't changed...individually speaking for each turtle, I think it'd work for any of them.

Raph would make fun of Mikey, and vice-versa. Donnie and Leo would be too busy minding their own business. Plus they are more mature and understand that they would not want to be made fun of themselves.

wow reading all these responces has made me realize that Splinter can be a bit violent sometimes :o LOL

I know and that form of punishment has worked so well on Mikey over the years hasn't it? :roll: I think Mikey from the time he was little got the most physical punishment out of the rest, and it still doesn't seem to have much effect on his behavior. You think Splinter would have figured that out by now and tried something else. :-?

I have a question do you think Splinters attitude toward the turtles change between family setting and training setting? Like do you think that Splinter is a stricter parent or teacher? Do you think Splinter is more likely to let some behavior slide in a family setting than he would in a training setting? Like do punishments and displine vary in severity and frequenty when Splinter is acting as teacher and when he is acting as father? Or do you think he doesn't seperate the two and punishs and disiplines the turtles in the same way when they need it no matter the setting?

I think he is relatively consistent. He may not be as quick to remind them to pay attention if they are not training or in a mission at the moment. But otherwise he is pretty much the same- it benefits the Turtles.