How did Splinter know how to read?

*Xav* · 08-26-2010, 12:10 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?

Nelson · 08-26-2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xav

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrVenkman

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.

**Kali** · 08-26-2010, 01:13 PM

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.

*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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali

Assuming Mirage Splinter has told the truth, or the entire truth, as to the backstory, but then, I love a good conspiracy theory.

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plastroncoffee

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.

Nelson · 08-26-2010, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

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.

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

**Kali** · 08-26-2010, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelson

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrVenkman

how did the turtles get human teeth?

Or why do the Turtles only have three fingers and two toes?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelson

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.

bridgegrn · 08-26-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelson

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venom

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

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.

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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*Xav* · 08-27-2010, 04:49 PM

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali

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)

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelson

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!

08-26-2010, 12:10 PM	#1
Xav Foot Elite Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3,037	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?

08-27-2010, 03:02 PM	#17
azrael Mad Scientist Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: loganville, ga Posts: 1,362	well no one said he named them immediately. He could have studied then named them ________ Live Sex Last edited by azrael; 08-12-2011 at 09:31 PM.

08-26-2010, 12:52 PM	#3
DrVenkman Foot Soldier Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 233	how did the turtles get human teeth?

08-26-2010, 01:13 PM	#5
Kali Inactive Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California! Posts: 11,101	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.

08-27-2010, 04:49 PM	#18
Xav Foot Elite Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3,037	Good point that Splinter's story may not have been true. Maybe Saki really was the good guy and Yoshi was the bad guy?