Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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June 24, 2026

Toy

by David M Willis on February 29, 2012 at 12:01 am
  • 02 - Choosing My Religion
└ Tags: dorothy, joyce

Discussion (171) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Kamehapa
    Kamehapa
    February 29, 2012 at 12:01 am | #

    Boy is Joyce in for a surprise, lol.

    • phildog
      phildog
      February 29, 2012 at 1:02 am | #

      Teeheehee… IT BEGINS!

  2. Henry
    Henry
    February 29, 2012 at 12:01 am | #

    This is called dramatic irony, kiddies.

    • Zoey
      Zoey
      February 29, 2012 at 4:08 am | #

      is……is that a pony

      • James Rye
        James Rye
        February 29, 2012 at 4:47 am | #

        That´s not just ANY pony, Zoey. That is BEST PONY! 😀

        Actually, Twilight is best pony in my book, but since this is about Applejack i gonna let that slide. ^^

        • Tualha
          Tualha
          February 29, 2012 at 6:12 am | #

          Oh dear me no. This is the best pony:

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3qS0odekuU

          • Raidar
            Raidar
            February 29, 2012 at 4:18 pm | #

            Giving points to Tualha here. That is one of my favorite videos ever.

          • Mkvenner
            Mkvenner
            February 29, 2012 at 11:50 pm | #

            That is the best pony ever….. of all time.

            • Panda
              Panda
              March 1, 2012 at 1:33 am | #

              I vote Sodomuffin as the best pony.

        • AndrewFoose
          AndrewFoose
          February 29, 2012 at 6:21 am | #

          No, you were right the first time. Applejack is, indeed, best pony.

          • Hannover Fist
            Hannover Fist
            February 29, 2012 at 6:57 am | #

            Am I the only one who always reads Sal’s lines in Applejack’s voice?

            • Phillip Wilde
              Phillip Wilde
              February 29, 2012 at 10:53 am | #

              I read Sal’s lines in Patti Mayonnaise’s voice.

            • a99steaksauce
              a99steaksauce
              February 29, 2012 at 1:28 pm | #

              Funny thing, I tended to hear a voice while reading Sal’s line all to similar to Applejack’s before even knowing there was and Applejack. Or that people with a southern accent could distincly sound like that.

              • tappel
                tappel
                February 29, 2012 at 1:42 pm | #

                Incidentally, when I first saw Applejack in MLP:FiM I immediately thought of Sal.

                • Gallant Nerd
                  Gallant Nerd
                  March 1, 2012 at 10:06 am | #

                  Her voice in my head is closer to Rogues, lol.

            • SteveCharb
              SteveCharb
              February 29, 2012 at 4:59 pm | #

              Well, I will NOW, dammit!

          • Osaru Sensei
            Osaru Sensei
            February 29, 2012 at 9:29 am | #

            Appledash is best pony 😉

        • Jackson
          Jackson
          February 29, 2012 at 6:52 am | #

          Just spent half a minute scouring the comic for a pony.

          • Hannover Fist
            Hannover Fist
            February 29, 2012 at 7:00 am | #

            Run your curser over the trash can in the 3rd panel.

      • Osaru Sensei
        Osaru Sensei
        February 29, 2012 at 9:26 am | #

        SOUP’S ON, EVERYPONY!

        • Colin
          Colin
          March 4, 2014 at 10:31 pm | #

          Er… no effect.

      • Mkvenner
        Mkvenner
        February 29, 2012 at 11:51 pm | #

        They all look like glorified glue ingredents to me.

        *Dives behind the bar*

  3. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    February 29, 2012 at 12:02 am | #

    You’re thinking of Smithers, Joyce.

    • lawzlo
      lawzlo
      February 29, 2012 at 4:24 am | #

      Wait, if she was thinking of Smithers, wouldn’t she have said “Malibu Stacy,” not “Barbie”?

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        February 29, 2012 at 4:35 pm | #

        Well it has been a long time since I last saw that episode.

  4. Darth Shadow
    Darth Shadow
    February 29, 2012 at 12:03 am | #

    For the last time Joyce, they’re not toys, they’re COLLECTIBLE FIGURINES!

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      February 29, 2012 at 12:09 am | #

      I thought that only remains true as long as they stay inside the box they came in.

      • dchorror
        dchorror
        February 29, 2012 at 12:15 am | #

        If it stays in the box, you can’t pose it.

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          February 29, 2012 at 12:18 am | #

          Oh you’re talking about those models like you see in those hardcore otaku bedrooms.

          • dchorror
            dchorror
            February 29, 2012 at 12:23 am | #

            Don’t know what you’re talking about. I actually pose my action figures(when I still had room for them).

          • Aizat
            Aizat
            February 29, 2012 at 12:24 am | #

            You must be talking about Gunplas.

          • AndysDrawings
            AndysDrawings
            February 29, 2012 at 4:12 am | #

            Otaku is the one with the tentacles, right?

            • Plasma Mongoose
              Plasma Mongoose
              February 29, 2012 at 4:39 pm | #

              Not quite :P, the otaku (at least in western terms) are hardcore anime/manga fans who also collect all the extra merch like figurines, cards and other junk, it’s so expensive you cannot afford to do drugs.

        • Aizat
          Aizat
          February 29, 2012 at 12:20 am | #

          But if it’s out of the box, it will loses its value or so I’ve been told.

          • dchorror
            dchorror
            February 29, 2012 at 12:22 am | #

            If none of them leave the box, the value won’t increase. Ethan’s being considerate of the collectors looking for a payday.

            • Ancestral Hamster
              Ancestral Hamster
              February 29, 2012 at 1:55 am | #

              Hear hear!

    • Mkvenner
      Mkvenner
      February 29, 2012 at 11:53 pm | #

      Rrrrriiiiigggghhhhtttt and G.I. Joe is an action figure.

  5. Nexev
    Nexev
    February 29, 2012 at 12:04 am | #

    Um hello Joyce, Primal is like the barbie of transformers.

    Duh.

  6. Wonder Wig
    Wonder Wig
    February 29, 2012 at 12:06 am | #

    I don’t know Joyce he might have other reasons to want to go to church. Jesus is pretty fit

    • Wonder Wig
      Wonder Wig
      February 29, 2012 at 12:08 am | #

      Haha I commented before checking out Shortpacked

    • Dierna
      Dierna
      February 29, 2012 at 12:41 am | #

      Jews don’t believe in Jesus tho.

      • historyman68
        historyman68
        February 29, 2012 at 1:02 am | #

        We believe in him, just not in Him.

      • Atcote
        Atcote
        February 29, 2012 at 2:55 am | #

        I don’t believe in Kratos, Batman or your favourite fictional bad-ass but I still think they’re fit.

        • Usayasha
          Usayasha
          February 29, 2012 at 7:46 pm | #

          I believe in Batman.
          But I can’t believe that Lady Gaga married him, no matter what she names her albums.

  7. Vivvav
    Vivvav
    February 29, 2012 at 12:07 am | #

    I smell shenanigans!

    • mechaqua
      mechaqua
      February 29, 2012 at 12:12 am | #

      ” I swear to God I’m going to pistol whip the next guy who says, ‘Shenanigans.'”

      • LauraS
        LauraS
        February 29, 2012 at 12:17 am | #

        Shenanigans!

        • Aizat
          Aizat
          February 29, 2012 at 12:20 am | #

          Prepare to be pistol whipped.

      • Tomas
        Tomas
        February 29, 2012 at 1:05 am | #

        “Hey Farva! What’s the name of that restaurant you like with all the goofy shit on the walls and the mozzarella sticks?”

        • Kikon9
          Kikon9
          February 29, 2012 at 11:00 am | #

          You mean Shenanigans?

      • Batman1016
        Batman1016
        February 29, 2012 at 1:35 am | #

        Hey Farva . . . .

    • Mkvenner
      Mkvenner
      February 29, 2012 at 11:54 pm | #

      Evil shenanigans.

  8. Parismio
    Parismio
    February 29, 2012 at 12:07 am | #

    Hey remember the smiley face on the bottom left corner of the page?
    Yeah, course you do.

    • Layman
      Layman
      February 29, 2012 at 12:16 am | #

      Yeah, what about it?

    • historyman68
      historyman68
      February 29, 2012 at 12:24 am | #

      It’s Stephen Stills!

      • OhHayMike
        OhHayMike
        March 1, 2012 at 12:01 am | #

        Nope, Chuck Testa.

    • Tylertlat
      Tylertlat
      February 29, 2012 at 12:27 am | #

      I’ve never seen that before! I feel like I’m part of the club now….

    • Too paranoid to use my real name
      Too paranoid to use my real name
      February 29, 2012 at 1:01 am | #

      I think it’s counting pageviews. Now that I know this, I can’t stop thinking about how it just keeps watching me.

  9. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    February 29, 2012 at 12:07 am | #

    If Ethan was Japanese, his behaviour might indicate that he is one of those Herbivore men.

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      February 29, 2012 at 12:11 am | #

      Or that creepy middle aged men who’s obsessed with school girls. Don’t ask me how I know these things.

      • mechaqua
        mechaqua
        February 29, 2012 at 12:12 am | #

        How do you know these things?

        • Aizat
          Aizat
          February 29, 2012 at 12:13 am | #

          I said don’t ask me.

          • Jim
            Jim
            February 29, 2012 at 11:09 am | #

            As long as the girls remember where the bathroom is, I kinda like them!

            As for the herbavore, it may finally be time to reconsider Japan!
            It’s like Ball State for guys willing to put up with $10 food on the $1 menu.
            >>>Sōshoku danshi are often given as the primary cause of single women’s woes.

            • Plasma Mongoose
              Plasma Mongoose
              February 29, 2012 at 4:43 pm | #

              If so many Japanese Herivore men are not interested in Japanese women,that means that if you are a gajin (foreigner), you are more likely to score than ever before.

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          February 29, 2012 at 12:21 am | #

          You don’t want to know how he knows mechaqua, trust me on this. 😀

        • Kernanator
          Kernanator
          February 29, 2012 at 12:57 am | #

          Seriously, he’s pistol whipped people for asking.

      • Valdrax
        Valdrax
        February 29, 2012 at 1:21 am | #

        Why would anyone ask how you know about the shallowest, top layer of otaku stereotypes? Dig deeper, and we’ll talk.

        • Aizat
          Aizat
          February 29, 2012 at 3:20 am | #

          What? I thought the shallowest of otaku stereotypes are those twits who send death threats to Hideaki Anno because the ending of NGE and those losers in one of those harem anime.

          • a99steaksauce
            a99steaksauce
            February 29, 2012 at 1:36 pm | #

            Happy Days?

            • Aizat
              Aizat
              February 29, 2012 at 3:36 pm | #

              Huh?

              • a99steaksauce
                a99steaksauce
                February 29, 2012 at 4:17 pm | #

                It’s some graphic novel or other that turned to anime that was a harem genre. Apperently you could die a number of gruesome deaths in the novel and in the anime the guy dies. I thought it might have fit the bill for the second thing you were talking about.

    • Maycroft
      Maycroft
      February 29, 2012 at 12:41 am | #

      I’ve always thought he’s more like Korean.

      • Drunken Nordmann
        Drunken Nordmann
        February 29, 2012 at 12:57 am | #

        Wouldn’t being Korean be Faz’ job?

  10. OhHayMike
    OhHayMike
    February 29, 2012 at 12:08 am | #

    Silly Joyce, it would have been a G.I. Joe with the clothes ripped off…

  11. mechaqua
    mechaqua
    February 29, 2012 at 12:08 am | #

    Well usually if this were anyone else there would probably be a lot of outrage regarding the comments that Joyce made but i think regular readers are just use to this sort of dialogue coming from Joyce . Of course it doesn’t make right and if Joyce were real we just be enabling her, nut this is just entertaining comic strip so there no need for that. But if your willing and able to explain why Joyce is very very wrong by all means please do so and don’t let my comments stop you. I am going to scream into a pillow for undisclosed reason.

    • mechaqua
      mechaqua
      February 29, 2012 at 12:14 am | #

      not sure why i put nut in there.

      • historyman68
        historyman68
        February 29, 2012 at 12:26 am | #

        people usually aren’t.

    • a99steaksauce
      a99steaksauce
      February 29, 2012 at 1:42 pm | #

      Well you see, this, to most, is apperently passable. However, as soon as religion comes into play, nine times out of ten it will turn into a flame war with the reasonable and unreasonable. But it’s like one of those games where the winners are those that don’t play.
      Not actually sure if that was all a completely coherent and related thought.

  12. Aizat
    Aizat
    February 29, 2012 at 12:08 am | #

    I think Joyce is confusing gay with sissies.

    • johannhowitzer
      johannhowitzer
      February 29, 2012 at 6:02 am | #

      Because the measure of a man is his interests, not his honor or confidence or anything like that.

      • begbert2
        begbert2
        February 29, 2012 at 10:43 am | #

        Well, yeah, obviously.

        Personally I like to entertain the idea that football is a girly-man sport, just because of the entertaining images that brings to mind.

      • Jim
        Jim
        February 29, 2012 at 11:12 am | #

        You’re measuring it wrong.

        • Shade
          Shade
          February 29, 2012 at 3:48 pm | #

          I think he’s being facetious.

  13. Jimmy
    Jimmy
    February 29, 2012 at 12:12 am | #

    How long has it been since classes started?

    How many horrible experiences is Joyce going to go through before the semester is over?

    • Fauxlosopher
      Fauxlosopher
      February 29, 2012 at 12:50 am | #

      One week, I think. This is the first Sunday.

    • ryan
      ryan
      February 29, 2012 at 9:20 am | #

      i’d answer the second question, but they haven’t invented that number yet

  14. Romanticide
    Romanticide
    February 29, 2012 at 12:14 am | #

    Unless that Barbie is the Batgirl one… and that doesn’t have to do anything with his gayness… still so much to learn Joyce XD

  15. Wack'd
    Wack'd
    February 29, 2012 at 12:14 am | #

    …I’m getting the oddest feeling of déjà vu.

    I mean seriously, Dorothy and Amber are nearly identical physically and Joyce and Robin have similar hair styles. The only difference is Robin’s ignorance is willful whereas Joyce is just naïve.

  16. AliaPie
    AliaPie
    February 29, 2012 at 12:25 am | #

    Joyce, your sheltered home-schooling is showing!

    • Mkvenner
      Mkvenner
      February 29, 2012 at 11:58 pm | #

      Wait… Were her brothers homeschooled as well?

  17. Tristan J
    Tristan J
    February 29, 2012 at 12:35 am | #

    I love how Joyce can simultaneously be likable and considerate and horribly, horribly ignorant in the same strip.

    • f.p.
      f.p.
      February 29, 2012 at 1:59 am | #

      I believe that’s the form of ignorance we call “naivete.” This version of Joyce has been an excellent representation of honest, well-meaning conservative Christians in virtually all respects, as opposed to the other kind we usually see (or we get Flanders ). I don’t belong in that category myself, but people like Joyce are far from unusual in real life. It’s been nice to see an example that people from other walks of life can somewhat understand and identity with.

      • Jim
        Jim
        February 29, 2012 at 11:15 am | #

        >>an excellent representation of honest, well-meaning conservative Christians in virtually all respects

        Which is why that fantasy is part of a comic strip, also defined as fantasy!

        • f.p.
          f.p.
          February 29, 2012 at 1:18 pm | #

          Keep in mind that part of her is autobiographical of a stage in the author’s life. I would love to know where the strip is materialising from if Willisisn’t real.

  18. Confuzor
    Confuzor
    February 29, 2012 at 12:36 am | #

    C’mon, Dorothy, don’t you know ANYTHING!?

  19. DiDi
    DiDi
    February 29, 2012 at 12:40 am | #

    Oi… *laughs* It’s funny because it’s so stupid.

  20. Alain
    Alain
    February 29, 2012 at 12:41 am | #

    This is getting to be even more of a riot, from day to day. Talk about a progression in hilarity and foreshadowing!

  21. Fauxlosopher
    Fauxlosopher
    February 29, 2012 at 12:49 am | #

    Dotty’s gaydar has stolen all the power from Amber’s. She was able to pull a read off of someone else’s second meeting impression.

  22. Kernanator
    Kernanator
    February 29, 2012 at 12:55 am | #

    Oh Joyce. Your misfortune is our entertainment.

    As an aside; Dorothy know what up. She really is Mirror verse Amber.

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      February 29, 2012 at 3:32 am | #

      Shouldn’t she be evil, what with the Mirror verse and all?

      • Drunken Nordmann
        Drunken Nordmann
        February 29, 2012 at 7:52 am | #

        She has no goatee therefore she can’t be evil.

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          February 29, 2012 at 4:48 pm | #

          Unless she shaved her pubes into a goatee… 😛

          • Drunken Nordmann
            Drunken Nordmann
            February 29, 2012 at 6:47 pm | #

            Now you did it. I just sat there for a moment and said: “Was zur Hölle?”

            • Plasma Mongoose
              Plasma Mongoose
              February 29, 2012 at 7:54 pm | #

              Comments like yours makes me all warm inside. >:D

  23. Ter
    Ter
    February 29, 2012 at 1:03 am | #

    I dunno Joyce, I mean. I’m pretty sure I’m a chick and I have a bunch of Power Rangers toys in my room.

    Wait, what point was I trying to make?

    • Kernanator
      Kernanator
      February 29, 2012 at 1:25 am | #

      That you’re not a lesbian… I think.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      February 29, 2012 at 4:49 pm | #

      You’re PRETTY SURE you’re a chick, so you’re not certain then? :O

  24. Anthrax451
    Anthrax451
    February 29, 2012 at 1:29 am | #

    inb4 gays have ponies

  25. Hans
    Hans
    February 29, 2012 at 1:42 am | #

    I really don’t like this progression. Ethan is going to pretend to like a girl so he’ll feel better? That’s extremely selfish, and it’s putting Joyce in a situation where she might get really hurt

    • begbert2
      begbert2
      February 29, 2012 at 10:46 am | #

      Such is the effect of Mike interacting with the world. He leaves a trail of pain and chaos behind him where’ere he goes.

    • Shade
      Shade
      February 29, 2012 at 4:21 pm | #

      Hence why the closet is not a good thing, it’s just bad for everyone involved.

  26. justafriend
    justafriend
    February 29, 2012 at 1:43 am | #

    Joyce, honey, you tire me..

  27. Beachfox
    Beachfox
    February 29, 2012 at 1:43 am | #

    And he didn’t try to do something about my hair -once-!

  28. Dahlia
    Dahlia
    February 29, 2012 at 1:49 am | #

    *facepalm* Oh Joyce…you sweet summer child…. -_____-

  29. Kelvin
    Kelvin
    February 29, 2012 at 2:12 am | #

    Ah, Joyce. Still so naive in the ways of homosexuals like us. XD Maybe Ethan can teach her the joys of yaoi? ;D

  30. Aesir
    Aesir
    February 29, 2012 at 2:19 am | #

    Oh Joyce, when will you learn that stereotypes aren’t always true?

    • johannhowitzer
      johannhowitzer
      February 29, 2012 at 6:11 am | #

      In this case it’s even worse than that. It cripples men in the sense that they can’t even look at the doll aisle in a grocery store without feeling embarrassed. I used to be like that, now I’ll even stop and look at the dolls if I see something interesting or unusual. I’ve even seen people call men who have typically feminine interests pedophiles; it’s like these people don’t even have a cortex.

      There doesn’t seem to be a counterpart for women… at worst, if a woman likes masculine things, she’s a “tomboy.”

      • a99steaksauce
        a99steaksauce
        February 29, 2012 at 1:49 pm | #

        It’s called misandry and double standards.

        • Blue
          Blue
          February 29, 2012 at 5:31 pm | #

          I’d say it’s more likely a form of misogyny.
          Mainly since a woman/girl likes “crossgender” things, she is becoming more masculine, and society sees masculine as the “good” way to be.
          If a man/boy has crossgender” interests, he is becoming more feminine, which is viewed as a bad thing because society sees female-coded things as overall lesser or inferior to male-coded things. Going from feminine to masculine is a status rise under that, while going from masculine to feminine is a status fall.
          I do see your point in that it disproportionately affects guys, but I don’t think misandry is the root cause.

          And as RWJ said, when gender-nonconforming behavior reaches a certain point, the homophobia (based on stereotypes of sexuality) and transphobia kick in.

          • a99steaksauce
            a99steaksauce
            February 29, 2012 at 9:00 pm | #

            Well, I would say that misandry and misogyny go hand in hand. Males are looked down upon when they do anything that breaks the masculine character while women are encouraged to take on what society has deemed masculine roles. While it is encouraged for women to “go it alone” to define their individuality by new age feminist standards and frowned upon otherwise. Men are seen as needing to preserve their masculinity to have any kind of respect (think the term “man up”), but men also must show a kind of subserviance to women. Men are also expected to settle down and are deemed less masculine by new age feminist thought if they do not do so.
            This is all generally speaking of course and I might be off a little. But I have recently been reading articles involving these dilemmas.
            Misogyny does have a role to play in this, but I mentioned the misandry aspect because it is nearly completely overlooked in United States society and some fucked up laws have come about because of it.

            • a99steaksauce
              a99steaksauce
              February 29, 2012 at 10:14 pm | #

              I would really like to continue this discussion, though this sight may not be the place to continue since we will move on to related topics of the next comic. I really like seeing other points of view on the subject as to expand my knowledge on the subject. This is because most articles on the subject I have read try to show the misandric side of society, though one of them was very well sourced and helped show me how the misandry also helps to further misogyny.

              • David
                David M Willis
                February 29, 2012 at 11:04 pm | #

                If only there were a place in this world where dudes could talk unencumbered about how they were wronged.

                Other than, y’know, everywhere, all the time.

                • a99steaksauce
                  a99steaksauce
                  February 29, 2012 at 11:14 pm | #

                  ya, I know.

                • a99steaksauce
                  a99steaksauce
                  February 29, 2012 at 11:18 pm | #

                  Though I never really talk about being wrong. Just that this subject is largly ignored and tried giving some of the concepts involved that can be swapped almost hand in hand with the other side thats got the spotlight. Both are serious issues.

                • a99steaksauce
                  a99steaksauce
                  February 29, 2012 at 11:18 pm | #

                  *wronged*

              • Blue
                Blue
                March 1, 2012 at 3:23 am | #

                You see, I feel like we’re looking at this from slightly different perspectives. I agree that it leads to a disproportionate effect on the male-assigned-at-birth, which you could arguably call misandry.

                I see the terms as being more about the overall views of society. This is because we see things coded as male as “better” than things coded as female. I don’t see why it can’t be misogyny and still harm the male assigned and identified at all though.

                • a99steaksauce
                  a99steaksauce
                  March 5, 2012 at 2:11 am | #

                  Thank you so much for your response. I see where your coming from and I definitely agree.

      • Random Webcomics Junkie
        Random Webcomics Junkie
        February 29, 2012 at 2:15 pm | #

        No, at worst, she’s called butch and then a string of homophobic slurs.

  31. TemplarKnight
    TemplarKnight
    February 29, 2012 at 2:33 am | #

    “Woulda been a barbie doll”

    THAT’S RACIST!
    wait, no that’s not it. . .THAT’S SEXIST!

    No, not it either. . .what IST is it?

    • Originalslugboy
      Originalslugboy
      February 29, 2012 at 2:58 am | #

      …Toyist?

    • Aydr
      Aydr
      February 29, 2012 at 4:06 am | #

      …homophobic? There, uh, is kind of a word for that kind of prejudice…

      • g127
        g127
        February 29, 2012 at 5:44 am | #

        I don’t think it’s the right term; homophobic links to an irrational fear of gay people. Joyce thinks in stupid stereotypes in this strip, but she hardly can be called homophobic.

        • gangler
          gangler
          February 29, 2012 at 10:30 am | #

          The first definition I ever encountered for that was an irrational fear of people who share your gender. So boys who are afraid of other boys and such. Pretty sure that was an outdated text I was reading though.

        • Blue
          Blue
          February 29, 2012 at 5:37 pm | #

          It’s sort of odd. It’s based on a stereotyped view of sexuality that’s associated with homophobia in general, but I’m not sure what I’d say.

          There’s also the issue of whether homophobia and the related terms are technical phobias, which i’d say they aren’t. Most of the time it’s more associate with a strong dislike/hatred of people/a group because of the characteristic mentioned.

          (technically, homophobia means “fear of the same,” so gangler’s definition seems accurate in that sense)

          • Aydr
            Aydr
            March 2, 2012 at 12:12 am | #

            Homophobia has strayed pretty far from its etymological origin. The proper word here is definitely homophobic, at least as much as if she was saying “girl” instead of “gay” it would be sexist.

    • Jim
      Jim
      February 29, 2012 at 11:18 am | #

      Plasticist

  32. Cheredarenee
    Cheredarenee
    February 29, 2012 at 3:20 am | #

    smh Joyce, bless her heart

  33. nekobawt
    nekobawt
    February 29, 2012 at 4:15 am | #

    joyce’s gaydar: fully functional, although we’ve got a serious case of operator error here…

  34. LiC
    LiC
    February 29, 2012 at 4:48 am | #

    If Joyce assumed gay guys play with Barbies, what does she assume lesbian play with?

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      February 29, 2012 at 5:07 am | #

      Themselves *hears boos from the crowd*

      • g127
        g127
        February 29, 2012 at 5:45 am | #

        Wait: so, heterosexual women don’t play with themselves???

        • gangler
          gangler
          February 29, 2012 at 6:02 am | #

          Not good God-fearing heterosexual women anyway. Starts with the masterbation, then the premarital hanky panky, and then Bam! Gay! Slippery slope don’tcha know?

          • Tristan J
            Tristan J
            February 29, 2012 at 7:01 am | #

            Ah, the ol’ masturbation leading to premarital sex trick.

            Or as they call it in Australia, hanky wanky.

            • a99steaksauce
              a99steaksauce
              February 29, 2012 at 1:52 pm | #

              I only heard of the hairy hands and blindness for masterbation.

              • Drunken Nordmann
                Drunken Nordmann
                February 29, 2012 at 6:51 pm | #

                You forgot Tenosynovitis.

                • a99steaksauce
                  a99steaksauce
                  February 29, 2012 at 10:15 pm | #

                  Nope, never heard of it.

  35. Faeyas
    Faeyas
    February 29, 2012 at 7:09 am | #

    I know many straight men who love and obsess over ponies… I don’t think the toy matters.

  36. Jack Faire
    Jack Faire
    February 29, 2012 at 7:50 am | #

    She is just a girl starting to experience the real world who was raised in the sheltered life her parents created where everyone fits certain stereotypes.

    When she says things like this I want to smack her parents.

    • Tom T.
      Tom T.
      February 29, 2012 at 8:47 am | #

      I’ll bet we can all still find some stereotypes in our heads if we look hard enough.

  37. Cherry
    Cherry
    February 29, 2012 at 8:48 am | #

    Every time I grow to tolerate Joyce, I remember she’s… Joyce.

  38. begbert2
    begbert2
    February 29, 2012 at 10:50 am | #

    Wait a minute – Dorothy was going to go back to church with Joyce next week, until Ethan showed up to take her place? Why? Did her promise to go to church with Joyce mean she had to go to church with her forever?

    • gangler
      gangler
      February 29, 2012 at 11:35 am | #

      It’s basically one of those pacts where you take up the job for eternity until some hapless rube can be tricked into taking your place. Like Finn with the meteor after learning all that magic. Dorothy got lucky. Ethan will be less so.

  39. aaron_bourque
    aaron_bourque
    February 29, 2012 at 12:02 pm | #

    Wouldn’t it have been a Ken doll?

  40. Arkadi
    Arkadi
    February 29, 2012 at 12:35 pm | #

    Joyce, you need to brush up your gay. Ms Bean would probably be willing to give you some private lessons.

  41. Random Webcomics Junkie
    Random Webcomics Junkie
    February 29, 2012 at 2:13 pm | #

    After I got over Joyce’s should-have-been-expected ignorance, I found myself immediately offended by Dorothy’s assumption that any man who doesn’t leer is gay.

    I’m tired of the widespread belief that no straight guy can have a nonsexual interest in a woman – that we’re either a sexual interest or we don’t register as friends at all.

    I genuinely believe that a heterosexual man can be friends with a female human being without it being about sex at all. Case in point: brothers. But even without the inoculation of growing up in the same family, it’s possible. I have to believe that.

    Why do people insist it’s not?

    • a99steaksauce
      a99steaksauce
      February 29, 2012 at 2:35 pm | #

      Cus people started believing the few (and very loud) feminazis that are in no way a representation to true feminist values. That’s what I’ve come to believe anyway.

    • Arkadi
      Arkadi
      February 29, 2012 at 4:40 pm | #

      Well, gotta give Dorothy some slack. All she knows about Ethan is Joyce’s description, and she probably concludes that “gay” is more likely than “asexual”.

      • Random Webcomics Junkie
        Random Webcomics Junkie
        March 1, 2012 at 10:39 am | #

        Why does a guy have to be gay or asexual to not leer at a woman though? That’s what bugs me. A guy can be into ladies and not want to bang everything with a vagina. >.<

        • Random Webcomics Junkie
          Random Webcomics Junkie
          March 1, 2012 at 10:40 am | #

          And yes, I am aware of how that sounds coming from my gravatar.

        • Arkadi
          Arkadi
          March 4, 2012 at 8:01 am | #

          I don’t know; you probably should ask Dorothy, since she’s the one who obviously assumes so ;3

  42. ShadowofU
    ShadowofU
    February 29, 2012 at 4:55 pm | #

    ….you see. It’s things like that, that lead to so many misunderstandings. So many “christians”, and others believe that if you are gay you play with girly stuff. *facepalm* This is why as a christian I would love to hit Joyce slightly on the head. Oh Joyce, so naive, and Dorothy’s look is the same as my own. 😀

  43. chumpersonable
    chumpersonable
    February 29, 2012 at 7:03 pm | #

    Nonsense, Joyce.
    Heck, if I’m anything to go by any Barbie doll in my hand would be headless or soon-to-be-headless.

    • Usayasha
      Usayasha
      February 29, 2012 at 7:52 pm | #

      A Barbie doll in my hand would be a lesbian.
      And I’m a gay guy, so I don’t know what that says about me.
      Lesbians are just nifty.

  44. Uniqueantique
    Uniqueantique
    February 29, 2012 at 11:51 pm | #

    Is there a full moon tonight?

  45. Rex Hondo
    Rex Hondo
    March 1, 2012 at 12:01 am | #

    Slutt, not Munky!!

  46. ConnorElzaim
    ConnorElzaim
    March 12, 2012 at 3:26 pm | #

    As a gay man who…coincidentally played with barbies just as much as legos as a kid…no comment.

  47. Wack'd
    Wack'd
    April 15, 2012 at 10:28 pm | #

    Joyce mentions he seems to have no interest in hanky-panky and Dorothy’s first assumption is “gay” rather than “asexual”. I am disappointed.

  48. newllend
    newllend
    August 14, 2013 at 6:38 pm | #

    At this rate, joyce Is better of not dateing tilll she’s 22

  49. SgtNumnum
    SgtNumnum
    October 11, 2013 at 10:04 pm | #

    FACEPALM!

  50. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    April 13, 2015 at 8:52 pm | #

    *snerk*

  51. Onion
    Onion
    April 27, 2016 at 12:51 am | #

    I hope that in gender studies Joyce learns the difference between gay and transgender.

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