This Viral Reddit Fan Theory About the Grinch Totally Checks Out

The most relatable Dr. Seuss character is without a doubt, the Grinch. If you take away the hardcore theft and property destruction, his basic complaint is one that parents understand: Noise pollution blows. In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the biggest issue the Grinch has with all the Who’s down in Whoville is the noise, noise noise. And now, one Reddit theory suggests there’s a damn good reason for that.

As I’ve been saying for years, this particular Reddit thread suggests that Whoville in The Grinch is located on the same Who-planet from Horton Hears a Who! This concept makes perfect sense, and it also means that when Horton stood up for that speck of dust, he was, in fact, standing up for little Cindy Lou Who, who is (still) not more than two.

Anyway, as the Reddit theory goes: in Horton Hears a Who! all the Who’s have to make a shitload of noise to prevent themselves from being burned in oil. Clearly, this noise-making became a tradition planet-wide, which means the ceremonial noise made by the Who’s on Christmas morning is much louder than reasonable. This totally checks out. The Who’s were saved from utter planetary destruction thanks to making a giant racket. And then, that concept became a part of everyday life. This means that How the Grinch Stole Christmas is likely set in a distant future well beyond Horton Hears a Who. (Who knows where the speck of dust is located at this point? Is Horton even alive? Does time work the same way on the Who planet relative to our own?)

So, if you already have sympathy for the Grinch (the Cumberbatch version f*cks, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise) now you have an extra good reason. The Grinch was wrong to steal Christmas. But the Who’s are too damn loud.

Read Next: Here’s Why the Seuss Estate Un-published Six Racist Books — and Why It’s Good.