Talk:Tootle

Moral

I don't see a problem with the Tootle's moral. It represents following the rules and being a good child. Chaz 21:14, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Yes, however, some people today suggest that the moral is anti-individualist, specifically the part that talks about Tootle learning to "stay on the rails no matter what". It's a long story. I think you should read the article again.

Get rid of it perhaps?

I think you should get rid of the moral part. It is up to the reader of Tootle to decide whether it requires criticism. Tootle is not a scientific finding and to scientifically criticize, people should provide evidence. In short, let people decide for themselves so that Wikipedia stays as politically flexible as possible. Thanks.

Oh, and since this is a discussion page, here I go: run Tootle ruuun! In the meadows, against the horses! RUN!

"Many parents object..."

I removed this section from the article:

Many parents object to the message that little trains must "stay on the rails no matter what", considering it inflexible and authoritarian. They see the story as a tragedy in which Tootle, an individualist, is forced by the townspeople to leave his happy pasture and to return to his societally-approved role.

By lacking citations, it violates Wikipedia:No original research. By basing the claim on "Many parents", it violates Wikipedia:Avoid weasel words. If you want to put this paragraph back into the article, then please provide verifiable references to publications in which parents have objected. If, however, you simply want to raise the point that Tootle can be read as having anti-individualist messages, then post your own essay in your own blog. - Brian Kendig (talk) 16:56, 21 April 2008 (UTC)

Assessment

I have rated this as a high importance article based on the sales claim from 2001. It would be helpful if a more recent citation for its sales could be found.Barkeep49 (talk) 22:58, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Speed

According to Wikipedia Land speed record for rail vehicles there isn't really a steam/coal powered train that routinely reaches the "two minute mile" as is claimed in this story, but a "two minute mile" must have been common known vernacular, so it seems like there must have been, is this just poetic license in the story or was a 2 mile a minute (120Mph) common?Mrrealtime (talk) 18:00, 9 May 2015 (UTC)