Dumbing of Age Book Eleven

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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September 20, 2023

Protection

by David M Willis on January 29, 2013 at 12:01 am
  • 01 - If the Shoe Splits

└ Tags: ethan, joyce, ruth

Discussion (104) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. redraine
    redraine
    January 29, 2013 at 12:01 am | #

    Don’t worry Ruth. Billie understands. She’ll always understand.

    • Resne
      Resne
      January 29, 2013 at 4:58 am | #

      I sense a future full of beer and sadness.

      • Josh
        Josh
        January 30, 2013 at 7:42 am | #

        And pie.

        • Darren
          Darren
          December 21, 2013 at 4:48 pm | #

          Josh’s picture is the definition of appropriate.

        • That guy
          That guy
          August 17, 2014 at 11:34 am | #

          Pie in your FAAAAACE?

  2. Rebeccafp
    Rebeccafp
    January 29, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

    Virginity was such a happy time… Full of free meals, and cable.

    • JetstreamGW
      JetstreamGW
      January 29, 2013 at 1:01 am | #

      Wait, what? I don’t get free meals and I cancelled my cable months ago. you’re shaking my worldview and I don’t like it!

  3. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    January 29, 2013 at 12:03 am | #

    You need to be more direct, Ruth. If I recall, she understood the “femurs” thing well enough.

    • AckAckAck
      AckAckAck
      January 29, 2013 at 12:10 am | #

      Well Doc, you can always use Lemurs initiative instead.

      • Vibbles
        Vibbles
        January 29, 2013 at 1:32 am | #

        No, no, that’ll never work. Don’t try and talk monkeys with Creationists….

        • Josh
          Josh
          January 29, 2013 at 4:11 am | #

          I hear Llamas work quite well though.

          • Dibullba
            Dibullba
            January 29, 2013 at 4:48 am | #

            Demon llama? Where?

          • Makkabee
            Makkabee
            January 29, 2013 at 5:13 pm | #

            Nahh, Joyce won’t take anything a Buddhist pack animal has to say seriously.

  4. Pyr05
    Pyr05
    January 29, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

    The sarcasm defense is good! Joyce dodges handily and it flies over her head!

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      January 29, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

      Just like my circle of friends.

    • GoldStarz
      GoldStarz
      January 29, 2013 at 12:15 am | #

      You assume she’s being sarcastic.

      • Pyr05
        Pyr05
        January 29, 2013 at 12:44 am | #

        I had actually intended to mention insults, not sure how I got to sarcasm.

  5. taekwondogirl
    taekwondogirl
    January 29, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

    “We will never understand each other” is a pretty mild statement for Ruth to be saying in response to Joyce. Considering it’s Ruth we’re talking about.

    • Zach
      Zach
      January 29, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

      Sincerity lends the comment gravity. It might even be vicious!

  6. Wonder Wig
    Wonder Wig
    January 29, 2013 at 12:04 am | #

    They don’t even have similar letters in each other’s names.

  7. licoricepencil
    licoricepencil
    January 29, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

    Awww, Joyce. So sweet and innocent.

    TELL HER ETHAN.

    • gangler
      gangler
      January 29, 2013 at 1:43 am | #

      You know, it occurs to me that she might not even think that anything was amiss if her partner turned out to be completely not into sex (with her). She might just silently worry that something was wrong with her for wanting more.

      • |Agent
        |Agent
        January 29, 2013 at 3:03 am | #

        Hm, yeah. I bet you’re right. Dammit, Joyce.

  8. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    January 29, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

    Silly Ruth, the only way you can communicate with Joyce is with threats of violence.

    • Kernanator
      Kernanator
      January 29, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

      She understands loss of femurs.

      • Yotomoe
        Yotomoe
        January 29, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

        Or bible scriptures.

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        January 29, 2013 at 12:16 am | #

        and she knows the art of applying broken glass to the FAAAACE!

        • Aizat
          Aizat
          January 29, 2013 at 12:28 am | #

          Wait, Megabride?

          • Plasma Mongoose
            Plasma Mongoose
            January 29, 2013 at 4:35 am | #

            Yes, who would have thought that Megatron would make a cute bride.

            • imperator
              imperator
              January 29, 2013 at 4:59 am | #

              I always believed Megatron would be the ultimate housewife, once he and Optimus get over their serious tsundere angst towards each other.

              Bet that laser cannon can make the PERFECT spaghettios.

            • Undrave
              Undrave
              January 29, 2013 at 5:00 am | #

              I bet Starscream did!

              • Plasma Mongoose
                Plasma Mongoose
                January 29, 2013 at 8:58 am | #

                Starscream would make a terrible spouse, you cant turn your back on him for a moment or he will most likely stab you in the back one way or another.

                • blackaeon
                  blackaeon
                  January 29, 2013 at 9:19 am | #

                  Not to mention, could you really imagine taking a poop and having Starscream interrupt it because the trash is full. Megatron it is.

  9. Kernanator
    Kernanator
    January 29, 2013 at 12:05 am | #

    “And if you can’t be careful, I wasn’t here, got it?”

  10. Yotomoe
    Yotomoe
    January 29, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

    I don’t want to understand you, Joyce. You’re living in a world that I do not wish to live in.

  11. Sir Robin
    Sir Robin
    January 29, 2013 at 12:06 am | #

    You know, it occurs to me that we have not seen Ethan’s roomate … Ryan maybe?

    • FT_Roy
      FT_Roy
      January 29, 2013 at 6:54 am | #

      It’s Mike.

      • Sir Robin
        Sir Robin
        January 29, 2013 at 9:16 am | #

        Mike is Walky’s room mate

  12. Aizat
    Aizat
    January 29, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

    Is it just me or did I just imagine Ruth saying her last line with a demonic voice?

    • AckAckAck
      AckAckAck
      January 29, 2013 at 12:15 am | #

      I imagine her muttering in defeat though. Also sounds more like a whisper.

      • Aizat
        Aizat
        January 29, 2013 at 12:24 am | #

        Yeah, but the black speech bubble usually signifies a demonic voice….that or an alien voice.

        • AckAckAck
          AckAckAck
          January 29, 2013 at 2:04 am | #

          Plot twist: Ruth is Head Alien in disguise.

          • N0083rP00F
            N0083rP00F
            January 29, 2013 at 11:48 am | #

            Not Head Alien or even Head Alien II but Head Alien’s long unknown offspring from his earlier experimental days.

    • Magus65
      Magus65
      January 29, 2013 at 12:52 pm | #

      No demonic is when it is black background in the bubble and red text.

      The black background just signifies its full of hate and venom. red signifies the fiery aspect of the speech (which we associate fire with hell yes..)

      So i viewed her speech as full of venom and hate for what Joyce just said..

  13. Ragnal
    Ragnal
    January 29, 2013 at 12:07 am | #

    You guys enjoy how much Joyce fails at being insulted.

    Me, I’ll keep counting down the seconds until she finds out he’s gay.

    • Jackson
      Jackson
      January 29, 2013 at 6:51 am | #

      Better count in higher denominations. If you count in seconds, you might run out of numbers.

      • begbert2
        begbert2
        January 29, 2013 at 3:25 pm | #

        As has been noted above, they could get married and still have her not catch on.

        • Ragnal
          Ragnal
          January 29, 2013 at 4:10 pm | #

          I dunno. Sooner or later I think Mike’s gonna get sick of dropping hints and just outright tell Joyce, or Amber’s gonna catch Ethan and chew him out right in front of her at some point.

          I know they’re Ethan’s friends and all, but sooner or later they gotta let the cat out of the bag if Ethan doesn’t.

  14. AckAckAck
    AckAckAck
    January 29, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

    This is what happened when an unstoppable snarker met impenetrable sponge.

    Or we call it, the “Snark Paradox”

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      January 29, 2013 at 12:17 am | #

      Actually, when an unstoppable snarker met an impenetrable sponge, the unstoppable snarker has a very delicious prey.

      • AckAckAck
        AckAckAck
        January 29, 2013 at 2:04 am | #

        But unstoppable snarker feed from angry responses and strong comebacks. But with Joyce she simply absorb it all and left Ruth feeling empty. What’s the point of a prey when it never give her satisfaction?

        Notice that she(Ruth) enjoy it the most when Billie fight back.

        • Plasma Mongoose
          Plasma Mongoose
          January 29, 2013 at 9:00 am | #

          I just hope that Ruth didn’t jump the snark.

          • TheBothering
            TheBothering
            January 29, 2013 at 11:58 am | #

            CAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRLOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSS

          • Roborat
            Roborat
            January 29, 2013 at 2:47 pm | #

            I keep hoping she will jump Billie.

            Nice avatar, by the way.

            • Roborat
              Roborat
              January 29, 2013 at 8:45 pm | #

              And what a surprise, it has been changed already.

    • Alechsa
      Alechsa
      January 29, 2013 at 2:12 am | #

      But the Snark was a boojum!

  15. Regalli
    Regalli
    January 29, 2013 at 12:08 am | #

    I’m not sure if the last panel speech is supposed to be under-her-breath or something, or if she is now speaking the Eldritch Language of the Damned and Femurless.

    • Yotomoe
      Yotomoe
      January 29, 2013 at 12:19 am | #

      That one group of the condemned with the most difficulty walking.

      • N0083rP00F
        N0083rP00F
        January 29, 2013 at 11:51 am | #

        You mean it is even harder for them then the ones who had their spines ripped out?
        [ note: it is very difficult to foment and underworld uprising when nobody has a spine]

  16. Davriel
    Davriel
    January 29, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

    I liked Ruth better when she was beating the crap out of people

    • AckAckAck
      AckAckAck
      January 29, 2013 at 12:14 am | #

      Your avatar is so appropriate for that comment.

      • Pyr05
        Pyr05
        January 29, 2013 at 1:01 am | #

        You two, get to it in the closet. I’ll keep watch outside. Then later join in.

        • Tapio Peltonen
          Tapio Peltonen
          January 29, 2013 at 4:13 am | #

          C-c-c-combo breaker.

          • Tapio Peltonen
            Tapio Peltonen
            January 29, 2013 at 4:13 am | #

            Uh. That backfired.

            • The Weird Guy
              The Weird Guy
              January 29, 2013 at 7:22 am | #

              This combo just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I’d like to say “C-C-COMBO BREAKER!” but I forgot what my icon is. Might very well be pat of the combo.

  17. Uniqueantique
    Uniqueantique
    January 29, 2013 at 12:09 am | #

    So much misunderstanding in one small area of communication.

    • AckAckAck
      AckAckAck
      January 29, 2013 at 12:13 am | #

      This is what we called verbal misfire.

      • Aizat
        Aizat
        January 29, 2013 at 12:19 am | #

        A verbal misfire could led to a verbal mishap or worse a verbal fuck-up.

        • AckAckAck
          AckAckAck
          January 29, 2013 at 1:59 am | #

          But Ruth expecting a verbal sparring, and that’s not what she get.

          • Makkabee
            Makkabee
            January 29, 2013 at 5:43 pm | #

            At least it didn’t lead to a Verbal Kint. We all know how that would turn out.

  18. andersonfire
    andersonfire
    January 29, 2013 at 12:18 am | #

    Joyce isn’t wearing a sweatervest! SAUCY.

    • Phillip Wilde
      Phillip Wilde
      January 29, 2013 at 10:09 am | #

      But Ruth is.

      • Roborat
        Roborat
        January 29, 2013 at 2:52 pm | #

        Clothes styles are being swapped? Joyce is brazenly exposing her tatas (apparently she was successful in calming them)! Ruth is dressed modestly? What is happening here? I am so confused.

  19. Aizat
    Aizat
    January 29, 2013 at 12:26 am | #

    You know who else needs protection? You…once I remove your femurs.

  20. Count Dracula
    Count Dracula
    January 29, 2013 at 12:36 am | #

    The thumbs-up positively MAKES this strip. I’ve lost my sides completely. It’s like she walked out of an educational cartoon from the ’90s. I resolve to give more thumbs-up in the future, because they are comedy gold.

  21. Ridureyu
    Ridureyu
    January 29, 2013 at 12:40 am | #

    That got a hilarious chuckle out of me!

  22. Pat
    Pat
    January 29, 2013 at 12:49 am | #

    Don’t worry Joyce, I’m pretty sure that “waiting” thing will work out for you. Not as sure about the “time is right” part, though.

  23. Rayrayravona
    Rayrayravona
    January 29, 2013 at 12:54 am | #

    Are those laced hands I spot?

    • Roborat
      Roborat
      January 29, 2013 at 2:53 pm | #

      Yea, what is up with that scandalous behavious Joyce? You go off to school and lose all your morals!?!?

  24. bunivasal
    bunivasal
    January 29, 2013 at 1:02 am | #

    “We will never understand each other. Which is important, because if you don’t understand me you’ll never appreciate my insults, and if you’re not feeling insulted, how do I validate my existence?”

  25. JoeMerl
    JoeMerl
    January 29, 2013 at 1:19 am | #

    You know, I wind up feeling this way a lot, except that I’m the Joyce in the conversation.

  26. Nearphotison
    Nearphotison
    January 29, 2013 at 1:23 am | #

    I’m just surprised Joyce knew what “protection” meant.

    • George
      George
      January 29, 2013 at 1:42 am | #

      … didn’t think of that. I am too.

    • ShadowWing Tronix
      ShadowWing Tronix
      January 29, 2013 at 11:04 am | #

      Oh, she keeps her gun with her at all times.

  27. GrrArg42
    GrrArg42
    January 29, 2013 at 2:04 am | #

    So that’s what the kids are calling it these days.

  28. AckAckAck
    AckAckAck
    January 29, 2013 at 2:11 am | #

    After re-reading yesterday’s comic I notice there’s a possible plot point where Ethan trying to be honest to her and she left crying or dejected afterward. Then Jo will appears (after rejected by the cheerleader) and see her all alone. You know what come next….

    • Dicrel Seijin
      Dicrel Seijin
      January 29, 2013 at 4:36 am | #

      Hmm, interesting scenario. I actually picture Joyce trying to pray the gay away or throwing herself at Ethan and sacrificing their virginities to prove that he’s not gay. Either way will end in tears and recrimination.

    • Roborat
      Roborat
      January 29, 2013 at 2:54 pm | #

      Ice cream binge?

  29. Jehosaphat
    Jehosaphat
    January 29, 2013 at 2:47 am | #

    In the wake of a reader poll, suddenly all the characters in DoA are having sex or talking about it. Me thinks this ain’t a coincidence.

  30. Crumplepunch
    Crumplepunch
    January 29, 2013 at 4:02 am | #

    This is my favourite interaction ever.

  31. Pinja
    Pinja
    January 29, 2013 at 7:24 am | #

    ETHAN

    YOU CAN NO LONGER PRETEND

    TELL HER!

    One suspects Joyce’s reaction is going to produce mucho fan hate

    • Led
      Led
      January 29, 2013 at 8:50 am | #

      Ha, I bet that when/if he tells her he’s gay she will think it’s because they haven’t had sex and offer herself or something xD

      • Led
        Led
        January 29, 2013 at 8:51 am | #

        Also, damn this gravatar fit well for the last part of my comment 😀

    • Aizat
      Aizat
      January 29, 2013 at 9:25 am | #

      Or I could just play that song from the Thompson Twins. How did it go again? Oh yeah “Lies, lies, lies”

    • nimoy
      nimoy
      January 29, 2013 at 10:42 am | #

      Joyce has shown herself to be pretty tolerant (if opinionated) when confronted with a person who is different from here or doesn’t share her beliefs.

      I’m picturing a Joshua Weed type situation wherein Joyce says she will accept his gayness and love him, he just can’t ever have sex with dudes. If you haven’t looked up Josh Weed, do it, it’s hard to believe it’s real life.

      • Pinja
        Pinja
        January 29, 2013 at 11:44 am | #

        I dunno, I just think a combination of Ethan deceiving her, her pious Christianity and the post-near-rape trauma could cause her to really blow up in an ugly manner if she find out at the wrong time/moment.

        Plus it’s more dramatic.

  32. NeutroBlaster
    NeutroBlaster
    January 29, 2013 at 3:47 pm | #

    Oh my god. Joyce’s facial expressions are the best part of this comic.

  33. KikiKoala
    KikiKoala
    January 29, 2013 at 4:22 pm | #

    I just Archive Binged ALL OF “It’s Walky!” and “Dumbing of Age” (just for funsies cuz college is sucking out my soul) And I got to say: I miss Joyce and Walky together! Am I the only one?

    • Pinja
      Pinja
      January 29, 2013 at 5:52 pm | #

      I hope so. No need to repeat etc etc

    • SSJ2Gotenks
      SSJ2Gotenks
      January 29, 2013 at 8:29 pm | #

      I miss them…oh, god,do I miss them…although walky/dorothy is interesting, it’s not ….right.

  34. Kemp
    Kemp
    January 30, 2013 at 12:41 am | #

    That’s a rather mundane thing to say with such severity.

  35. Petre Pan
    Petre Pan
    January 30, 2013 at 1:08 am | #

    HOLDING HANDS 0_0 Joyce is okay with holding hands with a boy? Is it all official in her head now?

  36. E.C.
    E.C.
    January 30, 2013 at 4:04 am | #

    Flawless victory for Joyce. 😀

  37. ocean rhino
    ocean rhino
    February 10, 2013 at 9:10 pm | #

    Will we ever meet Drew or Manny in this universe?

Who's that guy over there?

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