Actually, let's go through more of what it says about Tim in the Batbible because I want to
So this is a version of a document from DC's Bat office written by Dennis O'Neil, chief editor from the 90's, and it was required for writers on Batman books at the time to read to get a basic unified understanding of characters, places and expected tone. Something you can definitely tell that people don't have anymore. Mmm.
It was a periodically updated document, and this particular version appears to be from the mid-90's.
So, after saying Tim is the third Robin, after the first one who became Nightwing, and the second who died,
"As for Tim: He is everyone's ideal younger (or older) brother."
The very first thing this document decides to tell writers is that Tim is brother-shaped, which is my absolute favorite part. Tim? Imagine someone who you'd want to be your brother. And you have it. Thank you for your time.
"He is intelligent--he is Robin because he deduced that Bruce was Batman and then made himself useful--but he is not a "brain." He is athletic without being a jock."
He's smart and athletic, but he's not a nerd or a jock exactly.
"He is respected by the macho kids in school, but he chooses to spend most of his time with the nerdier crowd, youngsters who'd rather punch keys than halfbacks."
But he'd rather hang out with the nerds. He's overall popular and he's not bullied, though.
"He is, unlike Bruce, an active and sincere dater; he has a steady girlfriend to whom he is as committed as a 14-year-old can be."
The contrast with Bruce is in reference to things written earlier about Bruce in regard to his civilian dating. It's not a comment on Bruce's feelings never being sincere (like with some of his more famous relationships), but rather that Tim's always are. Fuck-ups are intended to be age-appropriate realism, and he is otherwise intended to be seen as a committed and loyal person.
"And unlike his two predecessors, he does not consider himself a "laughing young daredevil.""
"he does not consider himself" is an interesting turn of phrase here. Commenting more on his view of himself than his action.
"Because he was trained by many of the same masters who trained Bruce himself, he is expert in combat and an excellent gymnast. But he never eagerly enters into confrontations and when he does, he makes the fullest use of the weapons and safeguards built into his costume."
He's extremely skilled, but he'd rather avoid a fight if he can. If he has to get into one, he's not the type to do a prideful holding back thing, he's going to use everything he has, including all his tools and resources.
"He is most useful to Batman in surveillance situations and as a computer hacker; he has a better understanding of computers than anyone in Gotham with the possible exception of Oracle (which see.)"
His non-combat skills have a stronger use as utility for Batman in particular. I'm going to ignore the word "possible" there with the exception of Oracle considering what this very same document says about Barbara and also in general what has been shown from the two of them - definite exception of Oracle, she's better than him. I still think him being the second-best "in Gotham" is a pretty bold claim, especially after it already said he wasn't a "brain". We'll go with that he's intended to be the second best after Babs among the Bat allies, and not necessarily, you know, everyone in the city. Pretty sure we could pull receipts for that.
"Tim is a wealthy version of a latch key kid. He was neglected by both his parents until a couple of years ago when his mother was killed and his father badly disabled by kidnappers."
First of all, everyone who keeps saying "the writers didn't intend to write Tim as neglected, it was just normal for the time period" - here's a document that officially told the writers he was neglected, so you can stop now.
I'd also like to highlight the phrase "wealthy version" which really is part of this. He's not just a latch key kid, he's a "wealthy version". Because most latch key kids in the 90's were in poor-to-middle-class families, who had to work long hours to keep food on the table. Tim's family had money. They chose to not spend much time with him. Let that sink in.
Also note this is not talking about criminal neglect. They did nothing illegal. You could not call child services on them. That's not what this is trying to convey.
"The father, Jack, has partially recovered, but still has only a perfunctory interest in his son."
Jack is sort of trying now, but his interest is minimal or without reflection or thinking about what Tim wants or likes or cares about or wants from him.
"Tim is largely left to his own devices, answering only to a housekeeper, Mrs. Macilvanie, which suits his activities as Robin. The Drake estate adjoins the Wayne property. Tim can access the Batcave from his father's ground through a gimmicked cistern. He also has a vehicle, a modification of Detroit iron he calls "the Redbird," which is stored in an unused shed on the Drake property. (As Tim, he has a valid driver's license because his father is impaired and a state law allows underage drivers in such situations.)"
And then a lot of this is just factual details from the time period. Which really allows me to date this particular document. They did move into that estate after Tim became Robin, just as a point of fact I like to point out. I think "adjoins" is an interesting word to use here. I know it can just mean "next to", but it also feeds into some headcanons I have, also related to the Drake's property being much smaller, but that's a tangent. And yes, he could access the Batcave from the basement, and I could point to a few comics where he does that. And this document would be after Bruce gave him Redbird, but before Jack forced him to sell it, since it's still on the property. Also, they are still living there, which would date it if Redbird's location didn't.
And a Detroit iron is definitely a manual transmission, so yes, y'all can be mad about current run retconning Redbird, at least to some extent. (Not that I ever said you couldn't, beyond reminding people that he still knew how to drive.) I actually kind of thought maybe there was panel proof somewhere that it was, but now I don't have to look for it. >>
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