And then everyone had sex with everyone at the same time in The Dumbiverse. It’ll be the final Slipshine comic ever because humanity will stop after that since it can’t be topped.
Also because drawing those vast, detailed panels will overwhelm Willis’ wrist.
Reminds me of a non-canon page from another comic, where it cuts to several years in the future and the city the comic takes place in is known for being the center of a sexual implosion where literally everyone has slept with everyone, and the virgin main character is suddenly the most desirable person ever.
Why would follow that because Danny is bi, Joyce is too? There certainly hasn’t been anything to even hint at that.
If you’re referring to Danny’s orientation changing from the previous universe? I don’t really remember anything that would solidify what his orientation was from the actual strips.
It’s because Danny and Joyce are actually two halves of the same soul, separated by an ancient Sumerian curse. They can only be brought together as one if they remove the curse by “blowing, like, a thousand dudes” (I forget the exact wording).
What? Did you miss the strip where that was explained?
And in the Book of Revelation (or something like that) it was foretold that some day the one named Joyce would suck, like, a billion dicks. Joyce’s Sunday School teacher, realizing the implications of this prediction, decided not to discuss that particular prophecy in class.
LOL, I meant Bi here :P. Those are examples of her showing potential signs of ALSO being attracted to ladies. I think the “if Danny…” part comes in where if Danny, who’s grown up in the “normal” world, is finding it hard to understand being Bi, extremely-religious-upbringing Joyce is really gonna find it hard. I mean, Best Friend Becky didn’t even know there was a word for it…
Only noticed the screw up when I went back to reread it all days later :P. Now to keep working out how far I’ve read, my RSS feeds are not working properly…
,,,if Danny is bi, Joyce is too? sorry not following your logic here. I want to believe because it would bring us one step closer to Joyce x Sal, but I don’t see the connection.
Belay that order! We are nowhere near Maximum Becky; we’re barely within sight of the Becky Event Horizon. Feel free to hit an escape pod if you can’t take it, but remember, ensign: you swore an oath to boldly go where no Becky ‘shipper has gone before!
You guys, this is the last comic i read before bed (best for last) and you seriously made my night here. i grew up a huge fan of weird al and that rather obscure reference to something i love wedged into another thing i love was just the best. thank you doa community for being beautiful and almost too nerdy to handle <3
I swore that I would not rest, I would not sleep for an instant, until the one-nostriled man was brought to justice! But first, I had to buy some donuts…
This movie… I love this movie… it is weird… wacky… and awesome. I am also probably too young to know it as well as I do, but who cares? When it comes to cult classic works of art everyone can enjoy.
Well you don’t know how much money she has and it’s her money. She’s had a rough couple of wees why shame her for getting a CUTE AS HELL haircut to make herself feel better?
Because Joyce was talking about STRETCHING MEALS TO HELP FEED HER while she HIDES OUT WITH HER !
That money shoulda gone towards paying for her own food, you don’t buy 20 dollar haircuts when one of your friends you are living with is talking about NOT eating lunch today so YOU can eat.
On the one hand, to be fair, did Joyce actually share that plan with Becky? On the other hand, it does beg the question of what Becky has planned for feeding herself or housing herself or…any of that…but yeah, getting a haircut was a bit impractical all things considered.
Hmm, on the one hand Becky is a renewable resource, should we really be trying to create surpluses if there will always be more? On the other hand Becky is a very valuable resource, for one thing is is a key ingredient in most processes which have been demonstrated to make Joyce more Becky.
Even if she spent the only twenty dollars she had on this haircut, if it gives her the boost she needs to feel confident and ready to take control of her life, it was a necessary and priceless investment for her future.
I mean, she should be careful with money, and I don’t actually know if it gave her the boost she needed to take charge. But I don’t think any of us know yet so, for the time being at least, can we lay off on judging her spending habits.
We can also consider this haircut self-care: after being rejected by her father and feeling insufficiently welcome by her best friend, Becky probably needed to feel taken care of, albeit by a hair-dresser.
One missunderstanding led to another and in the end Daisy agreed to try to help Becky with her hair. “Man,” they both thought as they said goodbye. “what a hottie. I sure wish she were into girls”.
… We’re talking about Becky, right? Unless Daisy didn’t get the hint at “Hi, I’m a lesbian, would you happen to know where I can find other lesbians, and if so, are you one of them ? ’cause you’re hot”, I really don’t see that happening…
Idk, I went to get my whole head bleached when I was younger and less wise a couple of years ago and it cost me around 5 bucks in local money. Outside the barbershop was a sign that read that for long hair dyeing was $20 eq and for short hair $10 eq. At the time I was somewhere between Leslie and Dorothy length, i.e. long bangs and a full head of hair in the back -as i said, i was less wise. My mom has shorter hair than me overall and goes to that same place to get her hair done and has to pay the $10 eq. I asked about it and the barber was like “nah that’s cos women are willing to pay more to get their hair right”. I asked for literally the same service as my mother. Ridiculous. But that was one barber, I’d hope it’s not a regular problem based on sexist notions…
Shit! I have never paid $55 for someone to cut my hair and never will if I can help it. That is ridiculous. In my experience, a simple trim of an inch or two (and general cleaning up, layers, bangs, or whatever else) is approx. $16. And that’s because I go to a quality place where I trust the people working there to do a good job of what I ask for. If you went to a generic Great Clips or something I couldn’t imagine it costing more than $10. Where on earth do you get your haircuts? XD
Great Clips cost more than $10 for a generic men’s cut around here (Seattle). $15-$20 is more like it. But though I don’t care much for excessive or expensive grooming, I find those cuts are too bad. Lately been going to a place that runs over $40. Much better quality.
She is on a college campus. It’s not entirely out of the question that she managed to find her way down to a cosmetology department or something similar and got the haircut for two bucks. Or that she happened across someone in a bathroom giving their friend a similar haircut and was like “THAT’S AWESOME ME NEXT”
I agree. If their campus is anything like my campus, there are people around who will cut your hair for cheap/free, or for a barter deal of something like baked goods or a really good back massage. I’d also be willing to believe she nabbed/borrowed someone’s electric razor and did it herself.
I’ve also managed to get cheap barbershop haircuts by taking advantage of student discount days and showing the barber pictures of cute butch lesbians that I find on tumblr as style guides.
I dislike it so far, but I’ll wait for more angles of it to make up my mind. So far it reminds me too much of the infamous “Why is my son on the bench?” haircut.
You are assuming she would pay for someone to do that to her head. If someone did that to my head, they would not get paid.
Then again, when I was her age, I probably spent money I needed more for things I needed less, so whatevs. It’s not like she was going to be able to invest that $20 in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds.
Eh, I think it’s pretty normal for newly uncloseted persons to define themselves mainly in terms of their LGBTQ+ identity for a while. At at any rate, that’s happened with most of my queer-identified friends, including those with completely supportive families. I have yet to see Becky do anything really out of the ordinary under the circumstances.
Seconded! Becky is acting pretty much exactly like I and most of my friends acted while we were figuring ourselves out. Everyone brings their own personal flair to the process, but when you finally have the chance to be open about something that’s important to you and you desperately want to forge connections with other LGBTQ folks and be recognized for who you are, a lot of people’s instinct is to grab the buzz cutters and sew a rainbow patch onto everything they own, then start practically living at whatever LGBTQ student club or community center exists in their area. It’s a little goofy and overdramatic, but I certainly can’t knock it. It totally worked for me, and in some respects it saved my life. It matters so, so deeply to be recognized and understood, and to know that you’re not alone.
I think that when you are living at the mercy of someone else and are not even sparing a second to think of them and how they feel because the only thought you have is of having sex with someone of the same gender, you’re too gay. Gayness is a trait, not a personality type. If that’s NOT how it’s being treated, you’ve gone too far.
That has literally nothing to do with being gay. A straight person could have sex as their only thought and no one would call them too straight, but people just love telling gay people what ways they’re allowed to act and especially like to tell them not to show being gay very much huh.
She could have got someone interested in hairdressing to do it on her for free, perhaps? That is a very good point though, I hadn’t even thought about it until I read your comment.
All it takes is someone with a pair of clippers to give a cut like that for free, honestly. Heck, I’ve done it with a pair of hand scissors. She could have spent nothing at all. (personally I think it looks great)
Maybe that hairstyle is totally desirable for homosexual women, but I think it also has for secondary effect to keep guys away. It sure works for me at least. 😉
No has asked Becky about her finances. We’ve all just assumed that because Becky is a young lesbian thrown out form a fundie house into the world on her own, she clearly has nothing, nobody , and is one step from sleeping in the gutters.
She managed to plan taking a bus to IU from Anderson, knew enough to block Joyce’s phone, and seems to be pretty together! Becky had to know getting thrown out was a possibility. Maybe she’s been planning this for a while.
Fred you may be onto something with the idea of Becky having planned this for some time.
I’m not out to my parents yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if I never speak to them after, and when that’s in the back of your mind it really does affect how you think about your future.
I used to always say pennies are worthless and ignore them, now I literally save every last penny cause sure one is nothing but if I save every damn penny I get over the course of a year that could be like ten dollars and then in ten years I have a hundred dollars.
But you really do have to plan for a day when you’ll have no one to fall back on and if you’re like me you probably have several back up plans as well. And if you’re really like me each plan will somehow involve moving to New Mexico (Cause the weather’s nice, low cost of living, and they have legal protections for LGBT people.)
That’s a good point. Maybe this was more of a decision made on the fly once she found herself stuck in a corner, I mean Joyce could have kicked her out just as easily as anyone else…
I doubt it. She’s fleeing from her father, and showed up at IU because she has nowhere else to go. To me, this implies both immediacy and a lack of preparation. Doesn’t take much planning to take a bus trip, and screening Joyce’s calls could also be a plan she concocted on the bus ride over.
Not just ugly hair. The ugliest of hair. It’s like Willis looked up ‘lesbian’ on google and decided to draw the most stereotypically unattractive/mannish haircut he found. Heaven forbid there be a lesbian character without terrible hair.
She told him she was going to go See passion of the Christ for the second time and she believed him even though its too gruesome to see more than once.
I think it was more like “Holy shnikes my best friend is changing so fast I can barely recognize her.” I don’t think she thinks of it as a gay-girl haircut, (which it is about 90% of the time) I think it’s just another thing that is extremely different about Becky.
OK A: she does have a phone we’ve seen it and you even cald her on it once !
And B: glad to to know the Becky’s holding up the legendary Clecha that after finding out your a lesbian you MUST get a hair cut that makes you look like tank girl
She doesn’t have a phone of her own, the one she had prior to coming to Joyce’s school was probably confiscated and the phone she was seen with in the strips since arriving was Joyce’s.
And Becky’s been super repressed so of course whens she comes out as a lesbian she has to do it in the most stereotypical way possible. She probably thinks there’s like, rules or something.
But you’d think after taking a good long look in the mirror you’d know it just straight up looks bad and its not that its the hair style because I had a friend who tried that look and pulled it off , Becky is not pulling that off
I think she’s pulling it off, but I’m partial to those haircuts. It’s basically exactly what I’m getting done to my hair after my wedding. Anyway, it really doesn’t matter if we think it looks good or not. She thinks it’s ‘bangin’, and it’s her hair. She can do whatever she wants with it.
I’ve always been very amused by this stereotype. Not that it’s totally unfounded, of course. And hey, honestly, I’m okay with boys thinking I’m a lesbian because of my pixie cut if it means they won’t ask me out.
I had a pixie cut once. A guy who’d been flirting with me for the previous two months very suddenly stopped. I didn’t realize he’d been flirting, I just thought he was being friendly. When I asked if I’d done something to upset him, he said ‘I just didn’t realize you were into chicks. Now that I know, figured I’d back of.’
I’ve never had someone tell me they thought I was a lesbian, though my haircut is more like Leslie’s, which… uhm, hmm…
But seriously, a straightforward cut like Leslie’s is less likely to be stereotyped as lesbian/butch. Especially if it’s on an older woman, because lots of them have short hair.
I wonder what Joyce’s church thinks about hair. Some conservative churches have very specific rules about what is and isn’t an acceptable hairstyle. Given Becky’s previous hairstyle their church might not be hugely picky, but I bet her new one wouldn’t be to their liking.
But even if she’d never been caught at Anderson College making out with her roommate, and remained closeted, a haircut like this would likely have gotten her into trouble.
I’m not an expert, but while the members of Joyce’s church may have cultural expectations, they are non-denominational, so I think actual rules are unlikely.
They’re non-denominational yet very conservative? THAT’s interesting. I’ve never encountered that before, the non-denominational ones I know of tend to be pretty liberal, although there’s no reason why not… or maybe Willis figured mentioning a denomination would blunt his point about religion/Christianity in general. If he mentioned a denomination, every other denomination would go, “Well, what do you expect from a (fill in name of denomination).
The one we went to the longest was non-denominational. We also went to Methodist, Baptist, and Evangelical Free churches. I think now my dad occasionally goes to a walking-distance Presbyterian church after exhausting all of the other local options, and I thiiiiiiiiiiiiink my mom goes to whatever megachurch is nearby to her.
All non-denominational means is that an individual church doesn’t belong to a hierarchy of other churches with a ruling body that they have to answer to.
I read somewhere that many Congregationalist churches can claim descendance from the Puritans. This is because when the Puritans finally realized they were, in fact, too strict, they re-branded themselves as Congregational, disbanded and spread.
It fits with what Joyce said in that song with the Etch-a-Sketch, as the Puritans were a breed of Calvinists, which were fatalist and predeterministic.
Eughhhh. I really shouldn’t have looked that page up.
Nah, given Becky’s current mindset I’d guess step five is to become Amazi-Girl’s sidekick Lesbi-lady. Which of course doesn’t really work, because the lady part is redundant.
“How’d you like it?”
“As LESBIAN as possible. You see, I’m a lesbian who is tootz into ladies and stuff so I want a very LESBIAN haircut that can signal to other lesbians that I’m a lesbian. Did I mention I’m a lesbian?”
I am just too conservative when it comes to many style issues. I don’t like haircuts like that, I don’t like tattoos, I generally don’t like piercings besides pretty standard ear ones (and those I don’t like per se, I just don’t notice them much).
All that kind of stuff gives me an immediate negative impression, and it is a habit I have not been able to break :-/
I wonder if there is a systematic way to break that kind of thing?
I have a similar tic with the way people talk, type, or text. If they use excessive shorthand or poor spelling/grammar, I automatically think of them as less intelligent whether I want to or not. It’s not from some experience growing up or any stereotype I’ve noticed, it’s just…I feel repulsed by it, but it’s involuntary. Let me know if you find a way to get past it.
I’ve found it helps with being less uptight about other peoples’ language to push yourself to be more relaxed with yours. Like, try putting yourself in a situation where formal grammar is impractical and you don’t have time to spell-check yourself? Like a chatroom maybe, where you’re gonna have to be comfortable being.. inventive with punctuation and ok with abbreviating yourself?
I try to think of it as similar to a speech impediment. It’s not that they’re less intelligent, they’re just not as on point about expressing it. Hell, I know a guy who has all kinds of cognitive impairments and we’re constantly having to explain even simple words to him (he asked me what absorb meant so I told him it’s what a sponge does and if he had then asked what a sponge was I didn’t know what I was going to tell him), but he plays chess, which is a game I’ve never been able to wrap my mind around.
The best way that occurs to me would be to make friends with people who have that kind of hairstyle or piercings or whatever, so that eventually, you will associate the style with your pals. Or, if that’s too people-usey for you, you could draw a whole lot of people wearing that style and give ’em really cool back-stories. …could that be how Becky’s style came to be??
While I think it’s an understandable bias, and one shared by most, I really disagree. I’ve never seen a problem with text-spelling. People say that text-spelling is destroying writing skills or something, but studies show that texting has actually improved writing skills, due to the fact that kids are now using written communication much more often than they did in the previous era. And anyway, by the time I had a phone, it had gone out of style as a way of saving time typing, I’d guess due to the advent of phones with full keyboards. Now it’s more of a… I’d say almost a dialectical choice.
Leorale, the bias is that poor spelling & grammar indicates poor intelligence. Merely disliking poor spelling & grammar, however, is quite understandable.
I was thinking something like that, but I’d frame it differently. I find that the more I see the thing, and the more I associate with people who have/do the thing and see them as smart and complex people, the more I will internalize the idea that the thing is something intelligent people can have/do, and that it can be acceptable and attractive. That’s what happened to me with things like depictions of same-sex kisses and lots of slang words, mostly through internet exposure. I feel like this explanation is kind of awkward, but hopefully you can get the idea!
I think the idea is that you’ll stop subconsciously viewing these people through a “us versus them” lens, as you come to realize that they’re actually just like you. Works for style, race, sexuality – basically, anyone who’s human. Do not recommend trying this with bears.
Hang out with people who don’t fit into your notion of what’s ‘right’. People that you actually enjoy being around, mind you. Eventually your brain will get the message.
I agree with the others that you should make friends with people who look like that! I have Becky’s same haircut (I buzz the back of my head myself) and a tattoo! Wanna chat? 😉
I’m with you on not being a fan of more extravagant haircuts, and really any kind of piercings and tattoos, but I can never bring myself to vocalize that mostly because it’s not really about me, you know? Just because it’s not for me doesn’t mean I get to tell people why they shouldn’t do something that makes them happy.
She’s a deeply disturbed weapon of mass destruction. But, I will say that Mass Effect isn’t known for its two-dimensional characters. There is more to Jack than meets the eye.
My mom has had some similar issues with reflexive grossed-out responses to hairstyles and body mods like that (mainly body mods). She says her reasoning is that the body is a work of art and she doesn’t see why people would want to change it intensely with tattoos or piercings.
My response to her has always been that how people decorate their bodies is often a response to how at home or not at home they feel in their own skin – for example, folks who get haircuts to reshape their appearance and express a new part of themselves, or get tattoos to cover up scars from self harm so that they feel happier and more confident being bare-armed in public, or get a piercing as a way of making a conscious personal decision about what to do with their body after experiencing a stress or trauma where they didn’t have control of the situation. It can also be a straight-up statement of joy and celebration – I love my body and thus I want to decorate it.
Ultimately, the precise reasons are irrelevant. If the way someone expresses themself makes them feel more whole and satisfied with their appearance, it really doesn’t matter if another, outside person likes the aesthetic of it or not. Thinking that way doesn’t automatically make haircuts or body mods more visually appealing, but I feel like it can be a good mental exercise to practice in order to encourage yourself to respect their aesthetic decisions.
(some obvious exceptions are made for racist tattoos and similar practices)
There was quite the craze for nipple piercings and tattoos among the Victorians, so you’re… more conservative than the Victorians! How often do you get to say that?
She’s super cute. And I bet she feels a whole lot more in control of herself and her image. Joyce just needs a minute, is all. Someone as sweet as her isn’t going to be too thrown. She might suggest some barrettes or a cute headband, and Becky might give in for love of Joyce, but…well, Joyce is a loving young lady who is learning to cast aside whatever hateful mindsets she’s internalized. And she likes ribbons and bows, and Becky loves Joyce enough to trust her taste in pretty ribbons and bows.
Becky. No. Why did you do that to yourself? Shaved side head is never “bangin”.
What’s that? My unsolicited opinion doesn’t matter to you, and I should keep my mouth shut?
Right-o. You’re absolutely correct. I’ll just go sit in my old man corner and worry that you’ll next be getting tattoos and face-piercings. :/
Wait. Why is Becky saying, “Oh there you are?” She knows Joyce went to class, and it hasn’t even been an hour yet; in fact Joyce ran out rather early in the class. That’s also a short time for Becky to have found a hair stylist and gotten her hair chopped and made it back to the dorm already.
Personally, I love her new look, but, let’s face it, Becky’s new hairstyle isn’t about looking good or not looking good so much as broadcasting “lesbian” to people on sight. Helps attract the right people. And weed out the haters before she can get hurt.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Becky, herself, found that she didn’t like the hairstyle in a day, month, or year (hopefully before she can get herself a face piercing), but for now it’s a relatively harmless way for her to feel good about exploring her new ‘out’ identity.
A bit presumptuous, I think. What’s to say she doesn’t hate her new look? Of course she’d probably change it, but it could be because she didn’t have any choice in how her hair could be styled, or how her body could look. If she wants piercings, I say go for it. It’d be her decision.
It is interesting that you think she would regret her decisions. Why is that?
What? I don’t think she hates her new look, or that she’ll regret it at all. But sometimes we like things more for the statement they make than for the things themselves. I’ve worn some ridiculous things to make statement and I don’t regret it, even if I wouldn’t be caught dead in those things now. Becky may find this style works for her down the line, or she may abandon it – I think both are equally likely. (The face piercing thing is just me being an asshole – sorry.)
More than anything, I find these discussions judging how pretty Becky’s hairstyle to be so far from the point. Becky’s hairstyle isn’t about whether we like it or not. Becky’s hairstyle is about Becky finally having the opportunity to do what she wants and say what she wants – not about committing to a lifetime of looking like this. Regardless of whether you think it’s pretty or ugly.
Yeah, I kinda missed the part where you said you liked her look, and I made an incorrect assumption. Sorry for the hostility, I wasn’t thinking. D: But yeah, I think you’re totally right. She’s finally found a space where she can be free to do her own thing, and so she’s exploring her newfound freedom by changing her hair. Honestly, I want to see her going further down that road, and I hope that she’d love it.
Mainly, it’s because I want to see her dad’s face when he eventually comes over for the big confrontation. Imagine it: Ross’ horrified face when he sees her daughter with partially buzzed hair (not sure what the proper name is), facial piercings and tattoos galore. It would be amazing. 😀
I guess I’m kind of an old man too… don’t find facial piercings and bizarre haircuts attractive at all.
But then, there is a pragmatic reason to comment… There have been studies that show that on average, individuals with things like facial piercings often get negative perceptions from potential employers. So while it would be Becky’s choice to get facial piercings, tatoos, etc, it might cause her problems should she need to find a job.
I think at this point her being an 18 year old is the greater drag on her employment prospects than any combination of hair and facial piercings. She’s really only eligible for the types of jobs that don’t care about that stuff at this point.
And, like, jeez, it’s just a haircut. She’s prooooooobably not going to jump to full tigerface in a day.
First of all, you are right… being 18 (and probably lacking work experience) is probably a bigger job impediment. But, why make things even harder than they have to be? Two problems is harder to deal with than 1.
Secondly, you’re right in that she will be limited in the type of jobs she can do, but even interviews for low level jobs like flipping hamburgers might involve managers who assume “Facial piercings? Might have trouble playing by the rules, and I need someone who fits in.”
Becky’s been strictly controlled her entire life and I doubt her wardrobe escaped that. This haircut was the first step towards her dressing the way SHE wants, looking the way SHE wants and being who SHE is. Who cares if it’s not to everyone’s taste? Who cares what she spent on it (which could be nothing we don’t know yet) let the abused newly out girl have her fucking haircut.
I should have known this would happen. Every fictional lesbian has to have the ugly haircut makeover after she comes out. Thank Willis we got to skip this stage with Leslie both times.
Sorry if it bothered you they were different thought trains.
The first was ‘Seriously, you’re broke and wasted your money’ The fact I didn’t like it was more an afterthought.
The second was ‘Ooooh, this is her, I’m free to be myself so I shall have a makeover of self expression moment that every fictional lesbian seems to have’
The hair may grow on me, it may look better from different angles.
A haircut can help you feel like you’re taking ownership of your body. Many people go through dramatic appearance changes during the coming out process.
timemonkey should collect his tears in a little bottle and send it to you; I hear that there’s no dirty martini like one made from bitter fanboy tears.
This. And hell, men-digging girls aren’t getting this haircut for you, either. As a bi girl I got a similar haircut specifically to weed out the judgmental dudes from the get-go (also because it’s a totally cute cut, duh).
I relate to this very strongly. It’s extremely tiring dealing with those kind of guys but getting a haircut that doesn’t suit them is a good way to figure out who to avoid easily.
I want to grow my hair longer, but literally every time I get reminded that there are asshole straight guys out there who refuse to hit on women with short hair
That wasn’t the point of either of my posts. But I am allowed to have an opinion about fiction characters. I’ve never told a real person what to do with their body.
You do realize real people have the exact same haircut? There’s been quite a few commenters here that mentioned having it too. You didn’t just have an opinion about the character. You were criticising a look that real actual people have.
I obviously wasn’t talking about that at all though. I was talking about the fact that he said again and again that the haircut was ugly, it was over the top negative. He didn’t JUST talk about the stereotype. If he did I wouldn’t have cared. I dislike when people get all riled up over other peoples appearances, it doesn’t influence them at all yet they feel the need to constantly call it unattractive.
Not to mention I’ve had many guys criticise me when I get my hair cut short because it doesn’t live up to their specific taste, it’s the same thing and if you look at this page you see so many dudes doing this again, it’s annoying and shallow, and they do it even though many people on the page mentioned having the same haircut. People should stop bongoing and obsessing about other people’s appearances.
Except this is a cartoon character which we have to look at, so that’s just regular art criticism. We are not talking about a real person with feelings that could get hurt, but lines on paper and whether or not they are aesthetically pleasing. It’s nothing to do with “dudes”, we all do this, and there is nothing wrong with it.
And I have no idea how those people look as I can not see them. None fo them are Becky, Becky is not real, a comment about Becky has nothing to do with anyone else.
That’s precisely the problem, you thinking the people you can’t see don’t matter because they’re on the Internet, that you can say what you want about their haircut being ugly without being an asshole. Don’t go all YouTube comments, dude.
I have this haircut. I’m not a lesbian, I saw it on other people and I really liked it. It’s the first time I’ve liked my hair in years.
I’m not saying you have to like it, but you probably shouldn’t go on about how ugly it is. Kind of makes you look like a jerk. Remember that real people do stuff like this, and it makes them really happy, and when you go complaining about it you’re not changing anyone’s minds, you just sound like you’re attacking real people.
Okay. Ross is nowhere in sight. Becky has awesome hair and isn’t obviously upset about her earlier disagreement with Joyce. Now Joyce can give a somewhat toned-down version of that comfort-and-waffles talk she so beautifully planned. Stuff’s basically okay for the moment.
So how long before the subject changes to Joyce’s PTSD and how much unconditional love (and professional help) she needs? Because she really, really needs it. Like right now.
Joyce doesn’ really do toned down, but I really hope they will have time to talk before the next distraction. Becky is on a freedom-high right now, but she and Joyce need to reconnect, not to mention plan ahead. Good thing Dorothy is there, she might nudge the conversation in a constructive direction.
Also good that Ethan get introduced to Becky. He deserves to see another viewpoint.
Okay, now I’m wondering how Joyce will introduce Ethan. “Becky, this is Ethan, my (former fake boyfriend? guardian against countless imagined rapists? gayby?)… dorm neighbor! Church friend! Um.”
Where I work, I wouldn’t say this hairstyle is common, but I’ve seen about five or six women with this kind of style and am thus not shocked. Lookin’ good! Try new things! 🙂
So… This might sound dumb…. But oh my god…. I had a bit of a fit cause I just cut my hair today and a friend has to fix it and it’s going to be short… So seeing this kinda made me smile and I just wanted to say thank you.
But Mary is a bit divisive too. Anytime someone talks about Mary-hate someone else note much like me that despite her smugness she hasn’t really done that much to deserve our ire yet, and speculates in possible curve balls we could be thrown.
I think we can hate for intent and motivation. Also she HAS told Joyce to stop associating people because of their godlessness (a phrase/notion which is horrible). So that counts as adequate ire inducing action.
If ever there would be cause to create exception for the bongo filter, it would be sentences that also contain the word Mary. Ok, not really, but the sentiment is there. Mary’s just a horrible wretch of a human being, a proto Dwayne/Ross.
Well, there you go – we discuss the horribleness of Mary, but not Ross or Ryan or Blaine. I suppose the take home message is that we are a (good natured) argumentative bunch.
Well, I was responding specifically to your comment about Mary social physics. But you indeed may be on to something.
In the case of Ross, we still haven’t actually seen any dialogue from him. He isn’t yet a fully actualized character for us to hate on.
I got nothing for the others, save that there’s something about Mary’s (yes, I fit in that joke!) villainy. We love to hate her, whereas with Blaine and Ryan we just hate them. They can go away forever.
He looks like a toe and pulled his daughter out of college for being gay. I don’t think that guy can speak so much as every time he opens his mouth a flood spiders pour out.
I think it may also be a factor of evilness. It’s easy for us to say Blaine, Ryan, and perhaps Ross are outright evil individuals due to the concrete actions they’ve taken. There’s not much to say about their villainy, it’s prima facea extant.
Becky is still in total bongo (my only lament about the filter is now I’m using bongo deliberately because I <3 it) territory as opposed to outright, vociferously, evil.
“There’s not much to say about their villainy, it’s prima facea extant.”
That’s a good point, and a stark contrast to all the other people who we know as people and not evil plot movers, regardless of how damaging they can be at times.
I’d be interested to see the correlation between haircut opinion and proximity to ‘lesbian’ on the gender/orientation spectrum. Not gonna ask anyone for that, but it’d be interesting to see.
I get the impression there’s a high incidence of both “I don’t like that the lesbian is now less attractive to me, a straight guy” and “I, a girl-liking girl, approve of this haircut”. (There’s also some “I’m old, what is this silly crazy kid hair” 😉 )
There was actually a pretty great YouTube video of a gay guy speaking to a roomful of gay guys about how they need to remember that presuming to be the arbiter of women’s fashion and bodies is not magically less misogynistic because they’re not sexually attracted to women.
I just happen to find hair an attractive part of a person, so short hair is generally unattractive to me. My best friend has finally stopped asking me what I think of his hair when he gets it buzzed off – I was trying not to be a jerk, so the “as long as you like it,” took a while to sink in.
Note: I have friends with all different hair styles (including at least one much like Becky’s). The only one I feel justified in commenting on is the husband, and that’s just cuz I have to look at it the most!
This is extra funny to me because it looks like a longer version of a haircut I got last week. It is an awesome haircut, and I want to high-five Becky.
And before you ask, yes, I am also a woman who is very much into other ladies.
Later… Becky: Oh, hey… Sal? Did I remember that right? Sal: Hey. Yeah. I like your hair. We should hang out sometime. Becky: (beaming) Really? Cool! Joyce: ASFGURDRBLG.
Aw, Becks the baby dyke 🙂 Been there, done that, still have the haircut. It’s so awesome being able to be who you are for the first time, and letting the world know you don’t care what they think. A lot of us dash straight from the closet right into SUPERLESBIAN – we eventually course-correct to find a version of ourselves that fits us best. I’m still trying to settle into an identity that’s more than The Gay Girl (TM).
So, yeah, Becks will probably have some identity issues. But it’s looking like they’re definitely not the ones her bestie is pinning on her. Joyce, honey, she accepts herself. Your job is to help her figure out who herself is.
Wow. I got my hair cut like this literally two weeks ago. Ginger and everything! I feel need to find a jacket like Becky’s now so we shall become indistinguishable.
I want to know if she wasted the 20 bucks on the haircut or managed to find someone to do it for free just with the power of her charisma, inquiring minds want to know!
Joyce wants to hug and cry and be empathetic, and Becky has a bangin’ haircut. XD Excellent. I’m really hoping they don’t have the awkward “Who’s this?” conversation with Ethan yet, though.
I think it’s just an optical illusion. You kind of include the hair as part of the head (or at least I do), so cutting it back to reveal the existing facial structure underneath makes it look skinnier. The side by side on the tumblr really points this out.
I love girls with Becky’s style of haircut. Instantly makes me notice them and think they’re pretty.
It’s interesting that it seems quite a few guys are criticising the hair in the comment section because when I cut my hair short it was also guys who criticised me and said stuff like “You’ll look like a lesbian it’s s unnatractive” like… fuck off? No one wanted to be attractive to you anyway dude.
Anytime I feel that people get overdefensive about some of the plotpoints in DoA, I always see comments like this make me realize “no dude, that’s totally a thing that happens to real people and they have to put it with that bullshit” and then I feel sad.
DoA has honestly been an eye opener for me in some regards. I remember thinking when I first read the strip where Sal told Walky that he was the favoured child because he was born whiter, and thinking it was total bullshit. That’s impossible! Her mom and dad are a mixed race couple! That means they can’t be racist!
And then I read the comments and dozens of people outright stated that Sal was going through exactly what they had been through, that what was happening on the page was an outright reflection of what they’ve had said right to their faces. So it came down to me telling people who have actually experienced this that they’re wrong, or realizing that my perception on the topic wasn’t correct, that racism can be subtle but no less damaging, and it doesn’t just express itself in cartoon villainy.
I’m not always satisfied with how DoA plays out and sometimes it really pisses me off, but I appreciate how gutsy it is towards tackling very real subject matter that so many other webcomics, and really lots of other forms of fiction, don’t acknowledge.
I feel the same, and it’s very nice because Willis is a really cool dude, and I feel like I’ve learned something from reading the comic (especially I learned a lot from the storyline you mentioned with Sal) and also the things he says in general, which feels pretty rare to find on the internet, although I’m trying to be better about seeking those kinds of places out.
You sound very openminded which sometimes also feels like a rarity on the internet so it’s nice to see. 🙂
Yeah, I’ve totally had that happen to me too. I got a haircut once for the first time in about a year (because I’m lazy), and my friend’s grandpa was like, “Why did you cut your hair? Women look more attractive with longer hair,” and I think I said something about it being harder to maintain or whatever. I didn’t really know what to do because he’s always been really nice to me and you know how old people can sometimes blurt things out… in any other case I would have ranted about sexism. It was weird because my hair wasn’t even short, it was like right above my shoulders… that’s not even short???
I remember when Felicia Day cut her hair and got just an enormous amount of hate from straight men. The male ego hates it when women do things for themselves and not for men.
I am not a fan of this haircut. The whole Skrillex cut thing just seemed immature to me. Then again… as a cis white male I’m not exactly in the demographic that this haircut generally speaks to.
Follow the link, get a WordPress account (username does NOT need to match the name you use here), and upload a gravatar. The gravatar will be linked to your email address. So long as you use the same email address in your posts, your new gravatar will be applied to all your posts here.
For people who haven’t signed up to have their own gravatar, it puts the email address through a hash function to generate a number from 1 to however many default gravs there are in the system, and displays the gravatar for that number. Whenever a new default grav is added, the hash function gives different results because it has to give output in the new range, so everybody ends up with different gravs.
A new, expanded selection of default gravs has apparently been released, now that we know about Becky’s new haircut. You were randomly assigned a new one.
Fortunately, getting your own gravatar is pretty painless. Any post here with your email on it will update to your new gravatar, even retroactively.
Becky is looking fine. Fall back and regroup Joyce, you show you’re trying and that’s cool, but Becky marches to her own drummer.
Now then Becky, how’s the job hunting going? Is that what the new hair is for?
Joyce’s momma should be walking in the door any minute checking out her daughters phone kidnapping friends…maybe even have Becky’s parents with her?
Becky is homeless, probably jobless & broke, might as well have no family, and just discovered that the woman she loves is in fact straight. Becky may look fine, but is she actually feeling fine? Or is she just really good at hiding internal turmoil?
People love stereotyping all kinds of stuff with lesbians even if it’s not very common. All girls I’ve known with a hairstyle like this have been straight. I don’t think there really is any context. It’s just a cool hairstyle.
By contrast, all the people I’ve known with that hairstyle are gender queer of some sort, with sexual preferences to match (i.e. all over the place). But yes, the assumption of not-a-traditional-feminine style=lesbian is a bit too common 🙁 I guess it does make it easier to keep your hair out of your mouth during … certain activities.
It’s very far removed from traditional female hair styles. So some people follow the classic line of bigot logic that goes “If a woman is insufficiently feminine, she must be a lesbian.”
Indeed, I think maybe the motivation behind this haircut is to NOT be traditionally feminine. Because screw all those people who want to tell a girl how she should or should not look.
Just the comfort of labels. If someone is frosty enough to just take individuals as they come, then the discussion stalls with “Hey! It’s Becky!”. Good or bad, depending entirely on motivations, I guess.
Well there are way worse things to do to your body in a extreme crisis fueled spasm. Way worse and way more permanent. So cut your hair every which way.
ObligHairPost: I thought the other haircut was cuter (and just waited for a Kelly comment rather than clicking the tag) but eh, you go girl. Whatever makes you feel good.
Really, I have nothing to add to the discussion. I just wanted to see who I’ve got now the gravs have updated.
On a slightly more serious note: Panel 2 Joyce, c’mon. You’re still casting this in terms of your judgement and approval, as though Becky needed either. It’s not about you – just accept and love her for who she is.
(Plus, you sound really patronising. I’m glad you didn’t get to give the “It’s okay” speech.)
That’s a good point; I think Joyce is just trying her best to adapt to the new situation given new information, but she has a hard time letting go of her other beliefs because they haven’t yet been shown to be wrong.
In fairness, Joyce thought Becky was upset because of her (Joyce) being horrible. Joyce’s plan is all about taking back prior horribleness, which IS about Joyce.
In other words, Joyce still has a long way to go, and a lot left to learn.
One thing that does come to mind, though, is that Joyce seems to expect everyone to run off the script in her head. So it’s not just an issue with accepting Becky.
Actually, I think Becky DOES need reassuring. Not about her sexuality, clearly, but because her world has turned upside-down in the span of a week. I don’t care how resilient Becky is – she needs support.
Get it anyway! It’s hair, it grows back fast! If you’re worried do like I did the first time, buzz up the temples while keeping the hair long on top to cover it, just to see how it looks! 🙂
Suddenly I’m Monkey Master. Not being Billie is going to take some getting used to… I got her in the last two gravatar reshuffles, so it’s been a couple years.
On the other hand, I’ve gone from randomly being Billie both here and on BBR to randomly being Monkey Master both here and on IW!, which is kind of cool.
Willis, were you reading my comment about swearing yesterday? Now I’m Joyce, the only character who can’t swear.
Ah well, it suits me. She’s good people, despite her parents meddling.
Hmmm… changed again. I think this one’s Grace, but I’m not sure, and it could be her roommate (henceforth known as “the other redheaded lesbian”) whose name is Grace.
Ah well. Not that important. Yet.
Hoo boy… Joyce may be able to understand and sympathise with Becky better, but I can understand why she might be freaking out a bit. At this point, I don’t think Joyce is upset because Becky’s gay; I think now she’s just upset because she’s changing her attitude (and hair) very drastically, very quickly. Joyce has known Becky her whole life, and probably saw her as a constant in her life (not realizing that the only constant in life is change). Recognizing this side of Becky would probably go smoother if she could ease on into it, but Becky’s decided to embrace her repressed emotions and Joyce is along for the ride.
That doesn’t mean that I think Becky shouldn’t go through with all these changes to her lifestyle in light of her recognizing her homosexuality. She’s 18, she has her own life to live, and she has her own issues to sort out. Joyce may be dealing with a lot of uncomfortable change in her best friend, but Becky’s dealing with a lot more – homosexuality, homelessness, father issues, rejection, and unrequited love – and Joyce may need to step up to the plate and be strong for her friend.
Yesss more people need the asymmetrical pixie. When I first got it cut like this, an old friend from church camp private messaged me to ask me if I was bisexual. I mean, I *am* but what the fuck even, that’s not why I cut my hair.
I still feel sad for Joyce, just in general. She wanted to talk/see Becky because she needed help and support due to her very real trauma and issues. Every strip with Becky in it makes it more clear to me that Joyce is on her own there.
And it’s not wrong or anything, lord no! Becky has very real issues and more of them, so Joyce (as a good friend) has to support her. But I wish ‘support’ didn’t have to be a zero-sum game here.
Might help if Joyce *asked* for support. Becky’s not a telepath. Anyway, Joyce was looking for Becky to support Becky, the Ryan flashbacks were a surprise.
She hasn’t really had much of a chance. Becky didn’t answer her phone for at least a week, then showed up at Joyce’s dorm. They had explore the campus time, during which they were seldom alone, then Becky’s crises crashed in. And Joyce is not allowed to bring up her problems now, since ‘Becky has real ones’.
Also, my read is that the Ryan flashbacks have been happening all the time when she’s outside, we just haven’t seen them before. That’s why she’s needed a group or at least a trusted friend like Ethan or Walky in order to leave the dorm.
Becky’s current options are probably going to the loan shark of loan sharks and become deep in debt for the next two decades of her life by getting STUDENT LOANS. On the plus side, they will buy her time to build a life away from her parents.
I like how Ethan and even Dorothy have the Walky-face from yesterday. “Yup, just running along, not interrupting Joyce while she follows her trajectory. We’ll be there to help with the fallout but for now we’ll just let Joyce plans crash in their own time”
Because every fictional teen lesbian goes through the lesbian makeover of self-expression. Where their outside finally gets to match their inside and it always comes with short spikey hair. It doesn’t really work when applied to reality but writers use it as a visual cue that the character is changing and accepting themselves.
And we know this because SOMEONE WHO SHALL REMAIN UNNAMED won’t stop banging on about it EVEN THOUGH THEY’VE MADE TWO THREADS THAT I KNOW OF LAMENTING THE TROPE’S OVERUSE.
The reason Becky got the haircut is because she’s newly out and doesn’t know any better. She’s just as repressed as Joyce is (not was, is, in both cases), and Becky’s going to do all the GAY things now, gosh darn it! YOU CAN”T TELL HER WHAT TO DO!!!!!!!!
But seriously, lay off. Willis let her get the haircut because it fits Becky’s character for her to do it.
I’m clearly old. I don’t like the hairstyle and think it makes Becky look much, much, *much* worse.
And yes, I know nobody cares what I think, but I care that I’m going to have a hard time liking and relating to Becky now, because l like liking things/characters/people. Sigh.
I’m curious (sincerely) how the haircut makes her unrelatable. What attitude does it convey to you? Do you think it matches what the character has been portrayed as so far, or a radical depature from her personality? Did you know someone with this haircut that makes it alien or an issue to you?
I see a partially-shaved head, on guy or girl, as representative of a person who 1) has no taste whatsoever, because it’s hideous, and 2) doesn’t think through the consequences of their actions, because it’s not reversible and (in my mind) they’re going to regret it the moment they come to their senses. Also from my sheltered perspective (I live in Idaho) I have literally never spoken to a person with a partially-shaved head, and most of my exposure to them comes from movies, a lot of them from the eighties, where such hairstyles are associated exclusively with social deviants. I recognize that in real life such hair may exist on persons who are not thugs or punks, but at an instinctive level I automatically find myself unable to relate to people who style themselves in that manner.
As I said, nobody cares what I think, and everybody doubtlessly hates me now (par for the course), but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m saddened by my new inability to relate to Becky.
Becky is a cartoon character and her visual appearance makes up a large part of my experience with her, as you might expect in such a visual medium, especially given how little we’ve seen her doing to date.
It’ very easy to stop liking fictional characters because of how they look. Our investment in most characters is fairly shallow so making them look visually unappealing can make people just not want to see them anymore.
Remember, they’re not real so it doesn’t matter what happens to them or if you like them or not.
Oh man, I totally thought they were real for a second there, phew.
Although I guess this bothers me because I do know people irl with this haircut, and I have short hair — the reactions of people in this comment section in general to a girl getting a short, off-beat haircut is kinda skeeving me out
If it makes you feel any better my opinions on the subject relate only to Becky, not anyone else real or even fictional. What a real person does to their own body is their own business.
Her bangs, like seriously, just gained another couple inches. My very first thought on seeing the hair (aside from ‘Awesome!’) was… “Where did that length come from!?”
I’ve been surprised before at the miracles that can be accomplished by the thick-haired. If she combed forward and fluffed up some of the hair that had been lying flat at the back and sides… okay, the physics of it still might not work. Maybe she just grew it out in two hours by the sheer power of her outness.
So you’re saying the gays DO get super powers. And if it’s hair growing power I need to learn to start liking me some dick post haste. I’ve got a gorgeous mane I need to enhance.
I think you’re on the right track. The bangs area of her new haircut is definitely coming from farther back on her head, since the whole thing is brushed forward.
Joyce is just off balance. In a day full of surprises and shocking revelations she has finally figured out a path forward and Becky threw her a curve ball.
Also, the issue is less that Becky has that specific haircut and more that Becky does not have the same haircut as before. She’s changing and that’s scary (not the least because it reminds Joyce that she is ALSO changing and that’s scary).
This is not only about religion and sexual orientation – it’s also about two childhood friends who are becoming adults and try to figure out a way to relate to each other in the new circumstances. Joe and Danny have similar issues (as do Walky and Sal and even Walky and Billie, even if that takes back seat to a lot of other issues)
I think it’s just a big change. People can be weird about big changes to someone’s appearance, it takes time to get used to it.
When I dyed my hair black with pink streaks (it’s naturally a dark blonde/light brown color), I went to meet my family at dinner and my grandma took one look at me and said, “I don’t like it.” But then like 5 weeks later she said she changed her mind.
I feel like it’s just that all of a sudden this person who you recognize has a totally different face. I mean not literally, but hair has a big impact on how we recognize facial structure in our brains. I did just make that up, but it’s probably true, so.
The same thing happened to me when I was eighteen and first dyed my hair black. It’s naturally a sort of dishwater blonde/mousy brown, which is why I dyed it. Nobody objected that much, but it still took me a few days to stop startling every time I saw my face in the mirror. “Oh yeah, I did that, didn’t I?”
I wouldn’t read too much into it. Willis is probably just using the juxtaposition of having Joyce accept the big stuff (Becky being gay) and still weirding out over the little stuff (the haircut) for humorous effect. Essentially, a variation of the arson/murder/jaywalking type of gag.
I’m pretty happy to get Danny. I consider him one of the better characters in this universe, and he doesn’t have a ton of competition on the front of being a nice, stable, and considerate person.
I wonder if Joyce will get carried away in the moment and apologize to Becky for being such a fucking idiot all their lives. And thus lose her swearginity, with Joe not even around to hear it, let alone pay her.
Sort of, enough for her to want to apologize for it, but I still get the feeling she’s just on the verge of breaking out one of the greater four-letter words at an opportune moment.
Just to put in my little two cents…knowing Becky as we do, did anyone seriously NOT EXPECT her to go out and do SOMETHING like this? She’s already proven herself to be independent and strong-willed – and in the situation that she’s found herself, any kind of ‘rebellion’ against what was the norm of her life is natural and bound to be a part of her learning process. She’s learning how she wants to express herself now that she has the freedom to do so. That involves experimentation with new things. Come on, guys. You know Becky is a ‘go big or go home’ person.
The haircut is hot. It’s hot irl on people and it’s hot on Becky. And it’s also very true to life how when you’ve just figured out your queer identity, you get a matching haircut. It’s a thing. When I first came out, I dyed my hair black and had it cut all ~alternative as well. It happens. We do that. Some people stick with that hair, some change it again, some people change their hair every weeks. It’s an expression of everyone’s individuality. How boring if everyone had the same hair style all the time 😉
After 12 or so hours I like it a little more on her… And its the haircut I have now! (well shaved on both sides for me.) People stereotype it all the time. Its “Goth/Punk” “Lesbian” “Soccer Mom/Kate Gosselin.” And I don’t fit in any of those categories. I’m just not sure it fits her face.
I have the same haircut as Becky: just one side shaved. Your haircut is my next one though! I’m kind of surprised by all the backlash against Becky’s haircut, tbh. I’ve gotten nothing but compliments. Even my religious, conservative family (who generally say nothing about my short hair cuts) LOVED my new cut and said I looked “metropolitan” haha
Stereotyped haircuts, bleh. When I was younger half the new wave and punk chicks had it cut like that.
It’s like the old “if a guy has the left ear pierced he’s gay, if he has the right ear pierced he’s straight” bullshit. You know what it really means when a guy has his ear pierced? It means he likes earrings.
I’ve finally realized what this haircut reminds me of. It reminds me of a certain kind of rooster’s crest. And that looks repulsive on any animal, at least in my opinion.
Waitasec… I got it! Singularikitty escaped from the end of SP! and is now camping out on Becky’s head! That’s why her hair looks like it’s a different length in the strip, the new character model and the new grav. It’s going to go Full Sal and start consuming everything within reach. Run, Joyce! RUN WHILE YOU STILL CAN!
Get a nape undercut! If you have long hair you can hide it super easily by just not putting your hair up. And then when you want to show it off you can put your hair in a cute lil bun or ponytail. If I were to do something else that’s what I would do, but alas I got the side cut first and love it too much.
In the Walkyverse, Mandy and Grace (and the rest of their squad including Marcie, Sierra, and worst character ever Guns) were bisexual. Presumably that carried over into Dumbing of Age.
Yesss Becky joins the side cut club. Now she must go through the initiation process where, for a 3 day period, she will have an undetermined amount of people come at her outside of her peripheral vision and, without warning, gently rub the side of her head.
Yeah, that is a bangin’ haircut, but CHECK OUT MY BANGIN’ NEW AVATAR!
Though — sorry, Marcie — I’m now mad jealous of, and mad furious at, all the people who got New Haircut Becky avatars AND DON’T APPRECIATE THEM! RRRAAAAARRRRR!!!
That’s kind of the perfect summation of what’s going on right now, isn’t it? Joyce wants to swoop in and atone for her perceived gay-hatred by apologizing to Becky and telling her how much she loves her, and Becky’s just “check out my awesome haircut!”
You know what I find funny? Even after at least three Grav shuffles, Mary’s picture hasn’t changed. Everyone else’s has, whether it was the first time since Becky showed, or when Willis fixed the backgrounds (I’m not sure about Becky herself, though, the second reshuffle kinda pushed her off the list); but Mary’s expression is still exactly the same. It’s sort of like Willis doesn’t want to draw her any more than he needs to (and can we blame him?).
I saw some of Willis’s Tumblr comments and it never occurred me how momentous a hair cut is in this strip thanks to the rate time passes. If you decide you hate a character’s outfit you can just have them randomly put on a jacket or tough it out until they change clothes the next day, but shorter hair is going to last a while.
(And I hope I get a better gravatar this time, I use to have Joe and thought it was the worst of that batch…)
I just re-read the strip and now that I’m not distracted by the haircut, I’m noticing Joyce’s savior complex swinging into full gear….Becky’s pretty happy gettin’ herself free. She’s not sitting alone, crying because Joyce hasn’t gotten over her biases…after all, coming to Joyce was the mechanism by which she entered into a safe space.
Ok Joyce DiDonato in this video has like EXACTLY Becky’s hair and maybe I’m the only nerd who is both a fan of her and of DoA but she is legit a badass and a seriously amazing human so if you don’t know of her, you’re welcome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzlPEccBHNY
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Becky’ll be bangin’ SOMEBODY with that hair amirite
*high five*
Hopefully Joyce. Hey, if Danny’s bi, Joyce probably is too. There’s more foreshadowing for her, at least.
And then everyone had sex with everyone at the same time in The Dumbiverse. It’ll be the final Slipshine comic ever because humanity will stop after that since it can’t be topped.
Also because drawing those vast, detailed panels will overwhelm Willis’ wrist.
Reminds me of a non-canon page from another comic, where it cuts to several years in the future and the city the comic takes place in is known for being the center of a sexual implosion where literally everyone has slept with everyone, and the virgin main character is suddenly the most desirable person ever.
You mean Menage a 3? That Toronto bit was really funny
Link.
Heh, Swirly-Go-Round…
I have been MA3 forever, how did I miss that page?
Correction, missing word. I have been reading MA3. I did proofread before hitting send, I really did.
MA3 is the best <3 Oh, I mean, after DOA of course…
To be fair JacHunter, MA3 is heading towards that particular page becoming canon.
Isn’t that basically the plot of every Tenchi Muyo story ever?
basically…yes.
(god i loved that show, and still do! Washu’s the best!)
Not just HIS wrist ifyouknowwhatImean.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su-HUDo7XQ4
Well, everyone will be banging except Dina.
She’ll hide politely behind the door, occasionally peeking out to take notes.
Actually, she’ll be taking copious notation: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-5/02-threes-a-crowd/overstepped/
She can take her time. I’m enjoying not thinking of her as a sexual being.
Oh cheese, I’d pay for Slipshine for that.
Oh wait, I already do! Whoo, go me!
“And that’s Tengen Toppa!”
Why would follow that because Danny is bi, Joyce is too? There certainly hasn’t been anything to even hint at that.
If you’re referring to Danny’s orientation changing from the previous universe? I don’t really remember anything that would solidify what his orientation was from the actual strips.
It’s because Danny and Joyce are actually two halves of the same soul, separated by an ancient Sumerian curse. They can only be brought together as one if they remove the curse by “blowing, like, a thousand dudes” (I forget the exact wording).
What? Did you miss the strip where that was explained?
And in the Book of Revelation (or something like that) it was foretold that some day the one named Joyce would suck, like, a billion dicks. Joyce’s Sunday School teacher, realizing the implications of this prediction, decided not to discuss that particular prophecy in class.
I suspect that the connection is merely the result of wishful thinking.
I do believe the popular belief that Joyce may be gay is because of her love of Sal’s “Chocolate River” she so wants to brush, but I’d say mainly cause of how she reacts after Billie says that everyone gets curious about homosexuality. First she grabs Billie’s top, then even after she lets go she keeps staring at them, saying she could crawl up into them & be safe & warm forever. Then once they’re walking down the hallway together, she notices all the other ladies around in such a way that when she realizes, she says she doesn’t want to end up gay like everyone else in collage. While grabbing Billie’s hand with both of hers…
Or could just be cause she’s overdue for her date of openly admitting she wants to shove her face between Dorothy’s le— 😛
LOL, I meant Bi here :P. Those are examples of her showing potential signs of ALSO being attracted to ladies. I think the “if Danny…” part comes in where if Danny, who’s grown up in the “normal” world, is finding it hard to understand being Bi, extremely-religious-upbringing Joyce is really gonna find it hard. I mean, Best Friend Becky didn’t even know there was a word for it…
Only noticed the screw up when I went back to reread it all days later :P. Now to keep working out how far I’ve read, my RSS feeds are not working properly…
,,,if Danny is bi, Joyce is too? sorry not following your logic here. I want to believe because it would bring us one step closer to Joyce x Sal, but I don’t see the connection.
Even if Joyce does turn out to be bi she’s already established that she’s not at all attracted to Becky.
And it’s not exactly hard to tell when she’s potentially attracted to another girl (see the majority of her interactions with Sal, for one).
1. I’m pretty sure Willis said that Joyce is straight and 2. What does Danny have to do with anything here?
This isnt even her final form!
I even read that in Cheryl Tunt’s voice; well done!
Da-Uh Of course you did.
Your posts give me life
Aww, Cut mid-sentence!
WE’VE HIT MAXIMUM BECKY!!!!! SOUND THE ALARMS!!!
Belay that order! We are nowhere near Maximum Becky; we’re barely within sight of the Becky Event Horizon. Feel free to hit an escape pod if you can’t take it, but remember, ensign: you swore an oath to boldly go where no Becky ‘shipper has gone before!
NEVER enough Becky!
Becky takes things up to 12.
Since her hair has been cut, it’s technically slightly less Becky than before.
Unless the hair they removed was actually a seal that kept her from unleashing her full Becky-ness, and now her power is rapidly increasing.
Soon, all will be Becky, and Becky will be all.
So her full Becky-ness disregards the law of conservation of mass?
Damn straight it does. She is unbound by our pathetic laws of physics!
No, what was removed wasn’t actually Becky; it was actually a Becky inhibitor.
So it stands to reason that if she shaves all her hair, we will reach maximum Becky, right?
Or Becky goes supercritical.
Science demands hard proof. *fires up electric clippers*
Beckularity
Becky can only reach her full potential by shaving off all of her hair?
Does that include pubic hair?
I wonder who Becky’s been spending time with.
The Motley Crew?
That guy with the Flock of Seagulls haircut and only one nostril?
Stabby Joe? Dude also does haircuts when he isn’t… y’know…
MR.SICCORHANDS?
Aw man, I hate it when you’re right.
THat guy burst into my room and grabbed my lucky snorkel! I told him, “Hey, you can’t have that! That snorkel’s been just like a snorkel to me!”
And he said, “Tough!” And I said, “Give it!” And he said, “Make me!” And I said, “‘Kay!”
You guys, this is the last comic i read before bed (best for last) and you seriously made my night here. i grew up a huge fan of weird al and that rather obscure reference to something i love wedged into another thing i love was just the best. thank you doa community for being beautiful and almost too nerdy to handle <3
I swore that I would not rest, I would not sleep for an instant, until the one-nostriled man was brought to justice! But first, I had to buy some donuts…
Cameron Esposito?
You’d think you’d know to stop making plans by now, Joyce.
Ya, How many times must you be instantly proven wrong to the Audience till you get out of this bad habit
“Want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans.”
Maybe Joyce just wants to give Jesus a fit of hysteria. Or the peanut gallery, at least.
Considering Joyce’s God is named Willis I think it’s safe to say she never stood a chance.
Becky is what happens while you’re making other plans.
I like it!
Me too.
I don’t particularly care for it, but I figure that’s because I’m just not used to it yet. And if it makes her happy, then that’s all that matters.
For fucks sake, Becky, you are homeless and broke, you get 20$ and you waste it on ugly hair?
You mean bangin’ hair.
Who is her hair banging, exactly?
She looks cute.
That is not the point. Even though it is false.
https://31.media.tumblr.com/0d438981175d17141b7cfb6f594bbed9/tumblr_inline_nfkt2yxDSp1skr2h8.gif
Sauce? That blond dude’s hot…
It’s Rocky Horror, have you not seen? You must.
Shit… Usually I’m pretty good at disguising just how much popculture I haven’t seen.
I haven’t seen it, but I know recognized it!
delete that “know”.
…I really need to go to bed it seems
Oh my god! I need to watch this movie now!!!
This movie… I love this movie… it is weird… wacky… and awesome. I am also probably too young to know it as well as I do, but who cares? When it comes to cult classic works of art everyone can enjoy.
Well you don’t know how much money she has and it’s her money. She’s had a rough couple of wees why shame her for getting a CUTE AS HELL haircut to make herself feel better?
Agreed, that haircut is super cute.
Because Joyce was talking about STRETCHING MEALS TO HELP FEED HER while she HIDES OUT WITH HER !
That money shoulda gone towards paying for her own food, you don’t buy 20 dollar haircuts when one of your friends you are living with is talking about NOT eating lunch today so YOU can eat.
On the one hand, to be fair, did Joyce actually share that plan with Becky? On the other hand, it does beg the question of what Becky has planned for feeding herself or housing herself or…any of that…but yeah, getting a haircut was a bit impractical all things considered.
Yes, she does look cute. I like women with short hair.
Mee too, but I’m not a fan of partial buzzes off the side.
For realz, regardless of the attractiveness of the haircut, she’s running on finite resources here….
Ah, but according to Joyce, she now has a surplus of Becky.
MORE BECKY THAN YOUR BODY HAS ROOM FOR!
Becky is a vitamin now?
No, but it should be! Joyce is Vitamin-Becky-deficient…
IT’LL MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLY OPEN ABOUT YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Hmm, on the one hand Becky is a renewable resource, should we really be trying to create surpluses if there will always be more? On the other hand Becky is a very valuable resource, for one thing is is a key ingredient in most processes which have been demonstrated to make Joyce more Becky.
No, I am putting my foot down. We are NOT going to just bottle up and sell Becky!
Even if she spent the only twenty dollars she had on this haircut, if it gives her the boost she needs to feel confident and ready to take control of her life, it was a necessary and priceless investment for her future.
I mean, she should be careful with money, and I don’t actually know if it gave her the boost she needed to take charge. But I don’t think any of us know yet so, for the time being at least, can we lay off on judging her spending habits.
We can also consider this haircut self-care: after being rejected by her father and feeling insufficiently welcome by her best friend, Becky probably needed to feel taken care of, albeit by a hair-dresser.
aaawww, new grav!!!! I LOVE it!
It’s also possible she buzzed it herself.
Maybe she didn’t spend it on the haircut. Maybe she got someone in the dorm to do it.
She saw Daisy playing with two pairs of scissors and assumed she was a hairdresser.
They had one of those comedic conversations where somehow neither of them got a clue even though the other was clearly dropping hints.
Headcanon accepted.
One missunderstanding led to another and in the end Daisy agreed to try to help Becky with her hair. “Man,” they both thought as they said goodbye. “what a hottie. I sure wish she were into girls”.
… We’re talking about Becky, right? Unless Daisy didn’t get the hint at “Hi, I’m a lesbian, would you happen to know where I can find other lesbians, and if so, are you one of them ? ’cause you’re hot”, I really don’t see that happening…
If Daisy was scissoring Becky, Joe’s alarm would have gone off. OTOH, someone clearly did scissor Becky, so maybe Joe’s alarm is broken.
Hi kinda DID start babbling about scissoring just an hour ago.
I was thinking about that too.
Or she just grabbed a pair of scissors and went at it until she liked what she saw.
If the money you’ve spent results in you feeling bangin, it can never have been wasted
*holds bat*
What? She said she wanted a bangin.
Well, okay. IMPLIED.
No, bad Dina! Bats are only to be swung at baseballs & rapists.
Fine. *Hands Rycan/Sarah bat*
(Also, where’s your Grav from?)
http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-5/01-when-somebody-loved-me/inseparable/
*Gets out oar*
There are places that give women’s haircuts for $20?
Every barbershop I go to it’s like Men: $15, Women: $55.
That’s because men only want a buzzcut while women want the whole nine yards. I’m sure Becky could have haggled for a lower price.
Idk, I went to get my whole head bleached when I was younger and less wise a couple of years ago and it cost me around 5 bucks in local money. Outside the barbershop was a sign that read that for long hair dyeing was $20 eq and for short hair $10 eq. At the time I was somewhere between Leslie and Dorothy length, i.e. long bangs and a full head of hair in the back -as i said, i was less wise. My mom has shorter hair than me overall and goes to that same place to get her hair done and has to pay the $10 eq. I asked about it and the barber was like “nah that’s cos women are willing to pay more to get their hair right”. I asked for literally the same service as my mother. Ridiculous. But that was one barber, I’d hope it’s not a regular problem based on sexist notions…
Shit! I have never paid $55 for someone to cut my hair and never will if I can help it. That is ridiculous. In my experience, a simple trim of an inch or two (and general cleaning up, layers, bangs, or whatever else) is approx. $16. And that’s because I go to a quality place where I trust the people working there to do a good job of what I ask for. If you went to a generic Great Clips or something I couldn’t imagine it costing more than $10. Where on earth do you get your haircuts? XD
Where I live, your two options for a men’s cut are $18 or $26. It’s more than I’ve ever paid before.
Great Clips cost more than $10 for a generic men’s cut around here (Seattle). $15-$20 is more like it. But though I don’t care much for excessive or expensive grooming, I find those cuts are too bad. Lately been going to a place that runs over $40. Much better quality.
As a man with long hair, it’s impossible for me to get a GOOD haircut under $30. Any place that charges $15 for men only knows short mens haircuts.
She is on a college campus. It’s not entirely out of the question that she managed to find her way down to a cosmetology department or something similar and got the haircut for two bucks. Or that she happened across someone in a bathroom giving their friend a similar haircut and was like “THAT’S AWESOME ME NEXT”
I agree. If their campus is anything like my campus, there are people around who will cut your hair for cheap/free, or for a barter deal of something like baked goods or a really good back massage. I’d also be willing to believe she nabbed/borrowed someone’s electric razor and did it herself.
I’ve also managed to get cheap barbershop haircuts by taking advantage of student discount days and showing the barber pictures of cute butch lesbians that I find on tumblr as style guides.
Yech! Can’t say I’m a fan of it either…
That hairstyle just doesn’t look good.
I dislike it so far, but I’ll wait for more angles of it to make up my mind. So far it reminds me too much of the infamous “Why is my son on the bench?” haircut.
You might want to get used to it, Keroshino, It’s your Grav now.
NOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo!!!!
(I’m ok with the grav…but I still don’t like the hairstyle tho)
Well it looks ….just fabulous… on you.
Thanks…the grav does seem to make it look not as terrible!
…Said one red-headed lady-who’s-into-girls to the other
Poor Grace…
You are assuming she would pay for someone to do that to her head. If someone did that to my head, they would not get paid.
Then again, when I was her age, I probably spent money I needed more for things I needed less, so whatevs. It’s not like she was going to be able to invest that $20 in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds.
maybe she cut it herself, YOU DONT KNOW BECKYS STORY
All she needs now is a tattoo on her face that says “Sit here”.
St. Elmo’s Fire reference: “This face seats five.”
Ethan needs LGBT counseling. Amber needs anger management counseling. Joyce needs PTSD counseling.
Now Becky needs financial counseling. She’s fitting right in!
Oh, no Rycan. She needs LGTB counseling too. She’s going overboard. Being LGTB is okay, but being ONLY LGTB… yikes.
Eh, I think it’s pretty normal for newly uncloseted persons to define themselves mainly in terms of their LGBTQ+ identity for a while. At at any rate, that’s happened with most of my queer-identified friends, including those with completely supportive families. I have yet to see Becky do anything really out of the ordinary under the circumstances.
Oh, and I see Kateastrophe just phrased this much better and did it hours ago. Anyway.
Seconded! Becky is acting pretty much exactly like I and most of my friends acted while we were figuring ourselves out. Everyone brings their own personal flair to the process, but when you finally have the chance to be open about something that’s important to you and you desperately want to forge connections with other LGBTQ folks and be recognized for who you are, a lot of people’s instinct is to grab the buzz cutters and sew a rainbow patch onto everything they own, then start practically living at whatever LGBTQ student club or community center exists in their area. It’s a little goofy and overdramatic, but I certainly can’t knock it. It totally worked for me, and in some respects it saved my life. It matters so, so deeply to be recognized and understood, and to know that you’re not alone.
Who died and made you the arbiter of how much gay is too much gay?
It’s been like two days in the storyline too, let the girl live
I think that when you are living at the mercy of someone else and are not even sparing a second to think of them and how they feel because the only thought you have is of having sex with someone of the same gender, you’re too gay. Gayness is a trait, not a personality type. If that’s NOT how it’s being treated, you’ve gone too far.
That has literally nothing to do with being gay. A straight person could have sex as their only thought and no one would call them too straight, but people just love telling gay people what ways they’re allowed to act and especially like to tell them not to show being gay very much huh.
You underestimate my terminology, Chocolate. I can easily see myself saying that.
>A straight person could have sex as their only thought and no one would call them too straight
Nobody at all? A bit presumptuous, I think.
Okay I sort of understanding where you’re coming from but you seriously need to pick a less horrible way of saying it.
She could have got someone interested in hairdressing to do it on her for free, perhaps? That is a very good point though, I hadn’t even thought about it until I read your comment.
It’s a university; they have hair-dressing courses, or cosmetology as it’s known as these days.
Free hair-cuts for the poor!
She may not have paid for it. Lotsa college students cut each other’s hair.
All it takes is someone with a pair of clippers to give a cut like that for free, honestly. Heck, I’ve done it with a pair of hand scissors. She could have spent nothing at all. (personally I think it looks great)
I wanna know what hair salon she went to that cut her hair for $20. That’s crazy inexpensive for a lady cut.
Maybe that hairstyle is totally desirable for homosexual women, but I think it also has for secondary effect to keep guys away. It sure works for me at least. 😉
Actually I have this cut, and I can say it’s mostly (not exclusively) worn by gay men, then lesbians, then everyone else.
No has asked Becky about her finances. We’ve all just assumed that because Becky is a young lesbian thrown out form a fundie house into the world on her own, she clearly has nothing, nobody , and is one step from sleeping in the gutters.
She managed to plan taking a bus to IU from Anderson, knew enough to block Joyce’s phone, and seems to be pretty together! Becky had to know getting thrown out was a possibility. Maybe she’s been planning this for a while.
Fred you may be onto something with the idea of Becky having planned this for some time.
I’m not out to my parents yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if I never speak to them after, and when that’s in the back of your mind it really does affect how you think about your future.
I used to always say pennies are worthless and ignore them, now I literally save every last penny cause sure one is nothing but if I save every damn penny I get over the course of a year that could be like ten dollars and then in ten years I have a hundred dollars.
But you really do have to plan for a day when you’ll have no one to fall back on and if you’re like me you probably have several back up plans as well. And if you’re really like me each plan will somehow involve moving to New Mexico (Cause the weather’s nice, low cost of living, and they have legal protections for LGBT people.)
“There’s nowhere else for me to go.”
That sentence at least heavily implies that she does not have the money required for even the cheapest of hotels.
That’s a good point. Maybe this was more of a decision made on the fly once she found herself stuck in a corner, I mean Joyce could have kicked her out just as easily as anyone else…
I doubt it. She’s fleeing from her father, and showed up at IU because she has nowhere else to go. To me, this implies both immediacy and a lack of preparation. Doesn’t take much planning to take a bus trip, and screening Joyce’s calls could also be a plan she concocted on the bus ride over.
Guys can get a haircut that costs less than $20, girls are doing well if a simple trim stays below $50.
Easy come, easy go. All she’s gotta do if she needs more is ask Billie more annoying questions about her sexuality.
Not just ugly hair. The ugliest of hair. It’s like Willis looked up ‘lesbian’ on google and decided to draw the most stereotypically unattractive/mannish haircut he found. Heaven forbid there be a lesbian character without terrible hair.
Tumblr solidarily approves of that haircut.
Check your hair privilege.
Becky levels over 9000
Much cute
Can’t deal
…too meme.
…wow.
Sorry…
Also my gravatar changed from Joyce to Mary, and I’m sad.
That. Is. Amazing.
Holy crap, Becky joined a Japanese biker gang… O_O
To impress Sal no doubt. This comic really took an unexpected turn.
That’s not a Regent….
Is that Lina Inverse today, Mr Mongoose?
Yes it sure is ^_^
http://plasma-mongoose.tumblr.com/tagged/lina-inverse
Woo-hoo! I actually recognised one correctly, for once.
And now I learn you have tumbled your gravs, so I may educate myself on the others.
Just click on my name and you can see all my gravatar entries.
http://plasma-mongoose.tumblr.com/tagged/gravatar
Yeah, but it’s more fun to guess!
It’s ok, Joyce. I’m not a fan of that hairstyle in GENERAL. Only a select few can really pull it off really well.
Like Tank Girl.
Know how Leslie’s “defining moment” was seeing Leia wear a bikini in Return of the Jedi?
Becky’s was seeing Lori Petty kiss Naomi Watts in Tank Girl.
Man, how’d she sneak THAT past her dad? I mean, she’s proud of sneaking Seinfeld, so the bar is kinda low…
She told him she was going to go See passion of the Christ for the second time and she believed him even though its too gruesome to see more than once.
Now that I think of it “Passion of the Christ” kinda sounds like a biblical themed porno.
No, you’re thinking “The Last Temptation of Christ”. Easy to mix up.
The Passion of the Christ was Mel Gibson’s self-masturbatory gore-porn.
Yet another reminder that the hair I find most attractive is usually found on women with no interest in me… That hair looks so GOOD!
I’m surprised Joyce could figure out the significance of a haircut like that.
Significance? …my hair is usually cut like that… does it mean something?? :O
just that its significantly bangin
Yeah, it means you’ve got a banging hairstyle!
Meh, beaten by seconds!
Means you need a new gravatar!
Maybe Cephalo was thinking on the lines of the Important Haircut trope.
I think it was more like “Holy shnikes my best friend is changing so fast I can barely recognize her.” I don’t think she thinks of it as a gay-girl haircut, (which it is about 90% of the time) I think it’s just another thing that is extremely different about Becky.
Next we’ll get her a neon sign that says LESBIAN!!! on it to hang around her neck.
She needs to be LETH Becky
(get it? like Kate Leth)
(cuz i think she had or has that hair?)
(ahahaha)
I was gonna say, she’s “gone full Lumberjane”.
Lethbian?
Becky is like dakka. Nevah enuff
Only the war gods have enough dakka. If you are not a war god, then you cannot possibly have enough dakka.
The only way for there to be enough dakka in the mortal realm is for the entire universe to suddenly turn into a really big gun.
But then it wouldn’t have anything to shoot at.
*Things I learned from hanging around a Warhammer fan.
GAH! Now Becky looks like some girl I didn’t like that much in High School!
Funny for me Becky now looks like some girl I had a crush on in high school…probably not the same girl.
This was an unexpected outcome.
…
I like it!
Um… That hair cut does not fit that color pallet.
????????
what is that even supposed to mean????
Yes pumpkin-shaped was the way to go
That haircut isn’t so bad! Now she can make some bangin’ wubs with the pros! Like Skrillex and Diplo!
But maybe not hang out with them because ugh.
Oh Joyce, this isn’t about you.
OK A: she does have a phone we’ve seen it and you even cald her on it once !
And B: glad to to know the Becky’s holding up the legendary Clecha that after finding out your a lesbian you MUST get a hair cut that makes you look like tank girl
She doesn’t have a phone of her own, the one she had prior to coming to Joyce’s school was probably confiscated and the phone she was seen with in the strips since arriving was Joyce’s.
And Becky’s been super repressed so of course whens she comes out as a lesbian she has to do it in the most stereotypical way possible. She probably thinks there’s like, rules or something.
But you’d think after taking a good long look in the mirror you’d know it just straight up looks bad and its not that its the hair style because I had a friend who tried that look and pulled it off , Becky is not pulling that off
I think she’s pulling it off, but I’m partial to those haircuts. It’s basically exactly what I’m getting done to my hair after my wedding. Anyway, it really doesn’t matter if we think it looks good or not. She thinks it’s ‘bangin’, and it’s her hair. She can do whatever she wants with it.
The phone that you saw her with when she was at Anderson college was probably a land line that belonged to the university.
And as another poster pointed out, the phone that she had more recently was borrowed from Joyce. All hail satan!
Becky just got 95% hotter. Wow.
Very appropriate grav
Dang it’s true, that haircut IS completely bangin
The only way that haircut could be more lesbian is if it has the actual word ‘lesbian’ shaved into the back.
I know, ain’t it cool? 😉
I see that as entirely plausible.
I just realized she spent the 20 Billie gave her on that haircut. That’s the spirit, Becky. When life gives you rude rejections, make hairstyles.
Well, we haven’t seen it from all angles yet….for all we know it does. :p
I’ve always been very amused by this stereotype. Not that it’s totally unfounded, of course. And hey, honestly, I’m okay with boys thinking I’m a lesbian because of my pixie cut if it means they won’t ask me out.
Pixie cut = lesbian? News to me.
According to some people I’ve seen, not only lesbian, but BUTCH lesbian.
I had a pixie cut once. A guy who’d been flirting with me for the previous two months very suddenly stopped. I didn’t realize he’d been flirting, I just thought he was being friendly. When I asked if I’d done something to upset him, he said ‘I just didn’t realize you were into chicks. Now that I know, figured I’d back of.’
lulwut
*is straight*
Stereotypes: Sorting out the idiots so you don’t have to waste time on them.
Which is kind of hilarious to me because I’ve always found it very cute and feminine.
Aw; I’m not sardonic Jason anymore?! I don’t want Ruth. *Pout* Jason’s expression was the perfect one for, like, 99% of my posts. :[
I’ve never had someone tell me they thought I was a lesbian, though my haircut is more like Leslie’s, which… uhm, hmm…
But seriously, a straightforward cut like Leslie’s is less likely to be stereotyped as lesbian/butch. Especially if it’s on an older woman, because lots of them have short hair.
Wait until she turns around.
I wonder what Joyce’s church thinks about hair. Some conservative churches have very specific rules about what is and isn’t an acceptable hairstyle. Given Becky’s previous hairstyle their church might not be hugely picky, but I bet her new one wouldn’t be to their liking.
Yes, and I’m sure we all know how much Becky would care if the church likes her HAIRCUT.
But even if she’d never been caught at Anderson College making out with her roommate, and remained closeted, a haircut like this would likely have gotten her into trouble.
Pretty sure Becky wouldn’t get such a haircut if she hadn’t be caught in the first place.
I’m not an expert, but while the members of Joyce’s church may have cultural expectations, they are non-denominational, so I think actual rules are unlikely.
They’re non-denominational yet very conservative? THAT’s interesting. I’ve never encountered that before, the non-denominational ones I know of tend to be pretty liberal, although there’s no reason why not… or maybe Willis figured mentioning a denomination would blunt his point about religion/Christianity in general. If he mentioned a denomination, every other denomination would go, “Well, what do you expect from a (fill in name of denomination).
I’m pretty sure Willis’s church was also non-denom.
I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure.
The one we went to the longest was non-denominational. We also went to Methodist, Baptist, and Evangelical Free churches. I think now my dad occasionally goes to a walking-distance Presbyterian church after exhausting all of the other local options, and I thiiiiiiiiiiiiink my mom goes to whatever megachurch is nearby to her.
All non-denominational means is that an individual church doesn’t belong to a hierarchy of other churches with a ruling body that they have to answer to.
Thank you for clarifying, Willis. I appreciate these forays into the forum.
… Wait, let me get this strait for a moment…
Joyce goes to a nondenominational church, meaning the church answers to no one.
Joyce’s parents don’t like atheists because they answer to no one.
I guess theoretically they answer to the church, but it seems too perfect that there’s a comparison to be made there.
I’m pretty sure nondenominational churches believe they answer to God.
I first read that phrase as “non-demon”
I go to the First Demon Church of Indiana, myself.
Wait, are you making that up, or is that a real thing?
Big difference between not having rules and making your own rules. The latter describes a non-denominational, or Congregationist, church.
I read somewhere that many Congregationalist churches can claim descendance from the Puritans. This is because when the Puritans finally realized they were, in fact, too strict, they re-branded themselves as Congregational, disbanded and spread.
It fits with what Joyce said in that song with the Etch-a-Sketch, as the Puritans were a breed of Calvinists, which were fatalist and predeterministic.
Eughhhh. I really shouldn’t have looked that page up.
Clearly this is step one of Becky’s seven part plan to change her image SO MUCH that if her parents do show up they won’t recognize her.
Step five is to become Amazi-Girl.
I rather think that the plan is that when her parents show up they will see that she is tootz independent and can do whatever she want.
Nah, given Becky’s current mindset I’d guess step five is to become Amazi-Girl’s sidekick Lesbi-lady. Which of course doesn’t really work, because the lady part is redundant.
Lesbi-Anne gotta disguise her name so that people are looking for a redhead named Anne.
Everyone will just assume that she’s Les Bean in a wig.
Except Billie, who will somehow become convinced that she’s Sal.
No, Joyce, she’s already convinced Sal is Amazi-Girl. And who do we (or at least Billie) know is lesbian for Sal?
Billie.
OK, yeah, but Billie knows she’s not Lesbi-Anne. Unless… Does Billie suffer from blackouts, do we know?
“Whoa, I got so drunk last night I went out and fought crime and don’t even remember it.”
Who said LesbiAnne will be a redhead? If she’s smart, she’ll have it dyed and cover those freckles in makeup.
Maybe her hero name can be Sapphistication?
Sapph-fire!
“I have it all planned out”
“That’s too much!”
– Joyce, basically the entire comic.
MORE BECKY!!! Life is bangin’ again.
Looki at that haircut, Joyce. Becky is a REBEL now.
She’s kickin’ it rebelstyle, homeslice.
Joyce must be so disappointed, all that situational planing for nothing. Shame on you Becky.
Becky intensifies.
Becky and I have the same haircut! I dyed mine black. love it. With mousse and a blowdrier, she can style it like James Dean and other bad boys.
Y’know, at first I didn’t like it, but its kinda growin on me.
Good, ‘cuz it just became your gravatar!
…and then it wasn’t. We’re getting gravitate whiplash around here.
That is what hair does, yes
Why do I think Becky asked the stylist for the most lesbian haircut they had?
Heh, I kinda think she did.
“How’d you like it?”
“As LESBIAN as possible. You see, I’m a lesbian who is tootz into ladies and stuff so I want a very LESBIAN haircut that can signal to other lesbians that I’m a lesbian. Did I mention I’m a lesbian?”
Stylist: so do the stereo typical thing and just shave off half your head is what your asking me?
Agh, now I’m Mary. I miss being Amber…
Well you’re agatha now, apparently.
I don’t know what to think.
I am just too conservative when it comes to many style issues. I don’t like haircuts like that, I don’t like tattoos, I generally don’t like piercings besides pretty standard ear ones (and those I don’t like per se, I just don’t notice them much).
All that kind of stuff gives me an immediate negative impression, and it is a habit I have not been able to break :-/
I wonder if there is a systematic way to break that kind of thing?
That gravatar tho xD
I have a similar tic with the way people talk, type, or text. If they use excessive shorthand or poor spelling/grammar, I automatically think of them as less intelligent whether I want to or not. It’s not from some experience growing up or any stereotype I’ve noticed, it’s just…I feel repulsed by it, but it’s involuntary. Let me know if you find a way to get past it.
I’ve found it helps with being less uptight about other peoples’ language to push yourself to be more relaxed with yours. Like, try putting yourself in a situation where formal grammar is impractical and you don’t have time to spell-check yourself? Like a chatroom maybe, where you’re gonna have to be comfortable being.. inventive with punctuation and ok with abbreviating yourself?
I try to think of it as similar to a speech impediment. It’s not that they’re less intelligent, they’re just not as on point about expressing it. Hell, I know a guy who has all kinds of cognitive impairments and we’re constantly having to explain even simple words to him (he asked me what absorb meant so I told him it’s what a sponge does and if he had then asked what a sponge was I didn’t know what I was going to tell him), but he plays chess, which is a game I’ve never been able to wrap my mind around.
The best way that occurs to me would be to make friends with people who have that kind of hairstyle or piercings or whatever, so that eventually, you will associate the style with your pals. Or, if that’s too people-usey for you, you could draw a whole lot of people wearing that style and give ’em really cool back-stories. …could that be how Becky’s style came to be??
Curses, beaten by a measly minute!
*Ahem* This is good advice.
PS. JacHunter you totally don’t have to overcome that bias against excessive text-spelling and grammar. A love of language is nifty.
While I think it’s an understandable bias, and one shared by most, I really disagree. I’ve never seen a problem with text-spelling. People say that text-spelling is destroying writing skills or something, but studies show that texting has actually improved writing skills, due to the fact that kids are now using written communication much more often than they did in the previous era. And anyway, by the time I had a phone, it had gone out of style as a way of saving time typing, I’d guess due to the advent of phones with full keyboards. Now it’s more of a… I’d say almost a dialectical choice.
Leorale, the bias is that poor spelling & grammar indicates poor intelligence. Merely disliking poor spelling & grammar, however, is quite understandable.
I was thinking something like that, but I’d frame it differently. I find that the more I see the thing, and the more I associate with people who have/do the thing and see them as smart and complex people, the more I will internalize the idea that the thing is something intelligent people can have/do, and that it can be acceptable and attractive. That’s what happened to me with things like depictions of same-sex kisses and lots of slang words, mostly through internet exposure. I feel like this explanation is kind of awkward, but hopefully you can get the idea!
I think the idea is that you’ll stop subconsciously viewing these people through a “us versus them” lens, as you come to realize that they’re actually just like you. Works for style, race, sexuality – basically, anyone who’s human. Do not recommend trying this with bears.
Hang out with people who don’t fit into your notion of what’s ‘right’. People that you actually enjoy being around, mind you. Eventually your brain will get the message.
Hey, it’s worked for Joyce so far.
I agree with the others that you should make friends with people who look like that! I have Becky’s same haircut (I buzz the back of my head myself) and a tattoo! Wanna chat? 😉
I’m with you on not being a fan of more extravagant haircuts, and really any kind of piercings and tattoos, but I can never bring myself to vocalize that mostly because it’s not really about me, you know? Just because it’s not for me doesn’t mean I get to tell people why they shouldn’t do something that makes them happy.
Somewhere out there is a woman who looks like Jack from Mass Effect. She will change your mind… about any number of things.
well that sure changed my mind about not being intersted in Mass Effect. DAMN.
Hells Yeah! Jack x Shepard OTP
Shows up in Mass Effect 2 and to a lesser extent (and with a somewhat different look) in ME3. You’re welcome.
She’s a deeply disturbed weapon of mass destruction. But, I will say that Mass Effect isn’t known for its two-dimensional characters. There is more to Jack than meets the eye.
Just pray that she doesn’t have anything else in common with Jack.
My mom has had some similar issues with reflexive grossed-out responses to hairstyles and body mods like that (mainly body mods). She says her reasoning is that the body is a work of art and she doesn’t see why people would want to change it intensely with tattoos or piercings.
My response to her has always been that how people decorate their bodies is often a response to how at home or not at home they feel in their own skin – for example, folks who get haircuts to reshape their appearance and express a new part of themselves, or get tattoos to cover up scars from self harm so that they feel happier and more confident being bare-armed in public, or get a piercing as a way of making a conscious personal decision about what to do with their body after experiencing a stress or trauma where they didn’t have control of the situation. It can also be a straight-up statement of joy and celebration – I love my body and thus I want to decorate it.
Ultimately, the precise reasons are irrelevant. If the way someone expresses themself makes them feel more whole and satisfied with their appearance, it really doesn’t matter if another, outside person likes the aesthetic of it or not. Thinking that way doesn’t automatically make haircuts or body mods more visually appealing, but I feel like it can be a good mental exercise to practice in order to encourage yourself to respect their aesthetic decisions.
(some obvious exceptions are made for racist tattoos and similar practices)
There was quite the craze for nipple piercings and tattoos among the Victorians, so you’re… more conservative than the Victorians! How often do you get to say that?
http://www.edwardianpromenade.com/edwardians/punk-rock-edwardians/
She’s super cute. And I bet she feels a whole lot more in control of herself and her image. Joyce just needs a minute, is all. Someone as sweet as her isn’t going to be too thrown. She might suggest some barrettes or a cute headband, and Becky might give in for love of Joyce, but…well, Joyce is a loving young lady who is learning to cast aside whatever hateful mindsets she’s internalized. And she likes ribbons and bows, and Becky loves Joyce enough to trust her taste in pretty ribbons and bows.
maybe a cute girly hat/beanie that covers the entirety of the buzz
In the first panel, when Joyce said “Maybe she just came straight back?”, I first read: “Maybe she just came back straight?”
Becky. No. Why did you do that to yourself? Shaved side head is never “bangin”.
What’s that? My unsolicited opinion doesn’t matter to you, and I should keep my mouth shut?
Right-o. You’re absolutely correct. I’ll just go sit in my old man corner and worry that you’ll next be getting tattoos and face-piercings. :/
Wait. Why is Becky saying, “Oh there you are?” She knows Joyce went to class, and it hasn’t even been an hour yet; in fact Joyce ran out rather early in the class. That’s also a short time for Becky to have found a hair stylist and gotten her hair chopped and made it back to the dorm already.
There was an hour or so for lunch between classes, as always. Joyce has been gone for at least two hours.
Ah. Knew I was missing something there. Was thinking they split up on the way to class.
Can I join you in the old man corner? :-/
Sure! Come on in, we got milk & cookies!
And cranberries!
Well hello there, giant cranberry…
Ehehehe, you got it. 😉
Prunes & Matlock reruns…
Dunno about prunes, but prune juice is a true warrior’s drink!
This comment delights me. Becky doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her hair! ^.^
lol!
Personally, I love her new look, but, let’s face it, Becky’s new hairstyle isn’t about looking good or not looking good so much as broadcasting “lesbian” to people on sight. Helps attract the right people. And weed out the haters before she can get hurt.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Becky, herself, found that she didn’t like the hairstyle in a day, month, or year (hopefully before she can get herself a face piercing), but for now it’s a relatively harmless way for her to feel good about exploring her new ‘out’ identity.
A bit presumptuous, I think. What’s to say she doesn’t hate her new look? Of course she’d probably change it, but it could be because she didn’t have any choice in how her hair could be styled, or how her body could look. If she wants piercings, I say go for it. It’d be her decision.
It is interesting that you think she would regret her decisions. Why is that?
What? I don’t think she hates her new look, or that she’ll regret it at all. But sometimes we like things more for the statement they make than for the things themselves. I’ve worn some ridiculous things to make statement and I don’t regret it, even if I wouldn’t be caught dead in those things now. Becky may find this style works for her down the line, or she may abandon it – I think both are equally likely. (The face piercing thing is just me being an asshole – sorry.)
More than anything, I find these discussions judging how pretty Becky’s hairstyle to be so far from the point. Becky’s hairstyle isn’t about whether we like it or not. Becky’s hairstyle is about Becky finally having the opportunity to do what she wants and say what she wants – not about committing to a lifetime of looking like this. Regardless of whether you think it’s pretty or ugly.
Yeah, I kinda missed the part where you said you liked her look, and I made an incorrect assumption. Sorry for the hostility, I wasn’t thinking. D: But yeah, I think you’re totally right. She’s finally found a space where she can be free to do her own thing, and so she’s exploring her newfound freedom by changing her hair. Honestly, I want to see her going further down that road, and I hope that she’d love it.
Mainly, it’s because I want to see her dad’s face when he eventually comes over for the big confrontation. Imagine it: Ross’ horrified face when he sees her daughter with partially buzzed hair (not sure what the proper name is), facial piercings and tattoos galore. It would be amazing. 😀
I guess I’m kind of an old man too… don’t find facial piercings and bizarre haircuts attractive at all.
But then, there is a pragmatic reason to comment… There have been studies that show that on average, individuals with things like facial piercings often get negative perceptions from potential employers. So while it would be Becky’s choice to get facial piercings, tatoos, etc, it might cause her problems should she need to find a job.
I think at this point her being an 18 year old is the greater drag on her employment prospects than any combination of hair and facial piercings. She’s really only eligible for the types of jobs that don’t care about that stuff at this point.
And, like, jeez, it’s just a haircut. She’s prooooooobably not going to jump to full tigerface in a day.
First of all, you are right… being 18 (and probably lacking work experience) is probably a bigger job impediment. But, why make things even harder than they have to be? Two problems is harder to deal with than 1.
Secondly, you’re right in that she will be limited in the type of jobs she can do, but even interviews for low level jobs like flipping hamburgers might involve managers who assume “Facial piercings? Might have trouble playing by the rules, and I need someone who fits in.”
Old Man Corner? Is that anything like the Confusion Corner over at Wapsi Square Forums? They have espresso and pastries…
I would like to come to Oldman Corner, but only if Gary’s going to be there.
I love short hair like that on women.
So, Joyce got herself worked up over nothing since Becky is obviously not upset with her or anything. Becky appears to be having the time of he life.
Becky owes Joyce a non-romantic hug.
Becky’s been strictly controlled her entire life and I doubt her wardrobe escaped that. This haircut was the first step towards her dressing the way SHE wants, looking the way SHE wants and being who SHE is. Who cares if it’s not to everyone’s taste? Who cares what she spent on it (which could be nothing we don’t know yet) let the abused newly out girl have her fucking haircut.
It’s really possible she got it done at a cosmetology school or something. They’ll style hair for cheap or free.
there is simply not enough becky for this comic to be titled ‘more becky’
but oh my gosh i love that haircut wowee zowee
Yay, Becky mating plumage! Now to the School Paper!
I should have known this would happen. Every fictional lesbian has to have the ugly haircut makeover after she comes out. Thank Willis we got to skip this stage with Leslie both times.
Neither Billie or Ruth got that haircut.
Neither Billie nor Ruth are lesbians.
also, jeez, timemonkey, i think the one thread about how you hate this hairstyle was enough, we get it
Sorry if it bothered you they were different thought trains.
The first was ‘Seriously, you’re broke and wasted your money’ The fact I didn’t like it was more an afterthought.
The second was ‘Ooooh, this is her, I’m free to be myself so I shall have a makeover of self expression moment that every fictional lesbian seems to have’
The hair may grow on me, it may look better from different angles.
A haircut can help you feel like you’re taking ownership of your body. Many people go through dramatic appearance changes during the coming out process.
I get why, that’s the point of this comment thread. I understood what she was doing, even if I didn’t like it.
timemonkey should collect his tears in a little bottle and send it to you; I hear that there’s no dirty martini like one made from bitter fanboy tears.
Tears? I don’t even like Becky and you think I’d cry over a haircut?
Now that you said that, Willis will probably draw Leslie this!
But yeah…the tumblr virus has to infect everything, it’s the rules now!
How judgmental. Thank goodness these lesbians aren’t doing it for you.
Thank you.
This. And hell, men-digging girls aren’t getting this haircut for you, either. As a bi girl I got a similar haircut specifically to weed out the judgmental dudes from the get-go (also because it’s a totally cute cut, duh).
I relate to this very strongly. It’s extremely tiring dealing with those kind of guys but getting a haircut that doesn’t suit them is a good way to figure out who to avoid easily.
I want to grow my hair longer, but literally every time I get reminded that there are asshole straight guys out there who refuse to hit on women with short hair
and I keep it short.
That wasn’t the point of either of my posts. But I am allowed to have an opinion about fiction characters. I’ve never told a real person what to do with their body.
You do realize real people have the exact same haircut? There’s been quite a few commenters here that mentioned having it too. You didn’t just have an opinion about the character. You were criticising a look that real actual people have.
No, he was critizing the art for falling into a stereotype actually.
I obviously wasn’t talking about that at all though. I was talking about the fact that he said again and again that the haircut was ugly, it was over the top negative. He didn’t JUST talk about the stereotype. If he did I wouldn’t have cared. I dislike when people get all riled up over other peoples appearances, it doesn’t influence them at all yet they feel the need to constantly call it unattractive.
Not to mention I’ve had many guys criticise me when I get my hair cut short because it doesn’t live up to their specific taste, it’s the same thing and if you look at this page you see so many dudes doing this again, it’s annoying and shallow, and they do it even though many people on the page mentioned having the same haircut. People should stop bongoing and obsessing about other people’s appearances.
Except this is a cartoon character which we have to look at, so that’s just regular art criticism. We are not talking about a real person with feelings that could get hurt, but lines on paper and whether or not they are aesthetically pleasing. It’s nothing to do with “dudes”, we all do this, and there is nothing wrong with it.
In this case less a stereotype and actually a pretty common phenomenon.
And I have no idea how those people look as I can not see them. None fo them are Becky, Becky is not real, a comment about Becky has nothing to do with anyone else.
That’s precisely the problem, you thinking the people you can’t see don’t matter because they’re on the Internet, that you can say what you want about their haircut being ugly without being an asshole. Don’t go all YouTube comments, dude.
Never go full YouTube commenter.
No, because they don’t exist… Willis, you haven’t forgotten that you created them, right ?
I have this haircut. I’m not a lesbian, I saw it on other people and I really liked it. It’s the first time I’ve liked my hair in years.
I’m not saying you have to like it, but you probably shouldn’t go on about how ugly it is. Kind of makes you look like a jerk. Remember that real people do stuff like this, and it makes them really happy, and when you go complaining about it you’re not changing anyone’s minds, you just sound like you’re attacking real people.
I like it.
Dammit Becky, I’m trying to grow my hair out and I don’t need you reminding me how awesome an undercut looks!
Okay. Ross is nowhere in sight. Becky has awesome hair and isn’t obviously upset about her earlier disagreement with Joyce. Now Joyce can give a somewhat toned-down version of that comfort-and-waffles talk she so beautifully planned. Stuff’s basically okay for the moment.
So how long before the subject changes to Joyce’s PTSD and how much unconditional love (and professional help) she needs? Because she really, really needs it. Like right now.
Joyce doesn’ really do toned down, but I really hope they will have time to talk before the next distraction. Becky is on a freedom-high right now, but she and Joyce need to reconnect, not to mention plan ahead. Good thing Dorothy is there, she might nudge the conversation in a constructive direction.
Also good that Ethan get introduced to Becky. He deserves to see another viewpoint.
Okay, now I’m wondering how Joyce will introduce Ethan. “Becky, this is Ethan, my (former fake boyfriend? guardian against countless imagined rapists? gayby?)… dorm neighbor! Church friend! Um.”
Not the fuck. The banging.
Hmm. That was meant as a reply to a comment that appears to have disappeared as I posted. I assure you it made sense at the time.
As long as you are prepared to accept that some of my comments make sense.
Happened to me before. Willis deleted my nonsense reply when I replied to request just that.
Panel 2 Joyce appears to have acquired her Walkyverse equivalent’s jetpack.
*sigh*
Becky, you’re going to make Joyce regress.
Becky 2: The Beckoning.
A crazy new haircut. How rebellious! In a conformist sort of way.
“Available at Hot Topic the official store for popular ‘alternative’ culture at a mall or shopping center near you.”
Where I work, I wouldn’t say this hairstyle is common, but I’ve seen about five or six women with this kind of style and am thus not shocked. Lookin’ good! Try new things! 🙂
Aaaaaaand Becky’s going wild!
aww i really liked her last cut
Your Grav agrees.
Wait, I know where I’ve seen that haircut before.
Becky, why you wanna look like Archie?
Cool or not, very poor way to spend $20.
So… This might sound dumb…. But oh my god…. I had a bit of a fit cause I just cut my hair today and a friend has to fix it and it’s going to be short… So seeing this kinda made me smile and I just wanted to say thank you.
Comments are so divisive in here, and I kind of love it.
Half: “UGH! That’s UGLY, why you do that!?”
Half: -swooning intensifies-
Another polarizing topic to add to our growing list: Becky’s hair.
To be fair the only thing not on that list is everyone loves Dina and hates Blaine. (And hates Ryan and Marry too.)
And hates Ross.
But Mary is a bit divisive too. Anytime someone talks about Mary-hate someone else note much like me that despite her smugness she hasn’t really done that much to deserve our ire yet, and speculates in possible curve balls we could be thrown.
I think we can hate for intent and motivation. Also she HAS told Joyce to stop associating people because of their godlessness (a phrase/notion which is horrible). So that counts as adequate ire inducing action.
If ever there would be cause to create exception for the bongo filter, it would be sentences that also contain the word Mary. Ok, not really, but the sentiment is there. Mary’s just a horrible wretch of a human being, a proto Dwayne/Ross.
Well, there you go – we discuss the horribleness of Mary, but not Ross or Ryan or Blaine. I suppose the take home message is that we are a (good natured) argumentative bunch.
Well, I was responding specifically to your comment about Mary social physics. But you indeed may be on to something.
In the case of Ross, we still haven’t actually seen any dialogue from him. He isn’t yet a fully actualized character for us to hate on.
I got nothing for the others, save that there’s something about Mary’s (yes, I fit in that joke!) villainy. We love to hate her, whereas with Blaine and Ryan we just hate them. They can go away forever.
He looks like a toe and pulled his daughter out of college for being gay. I don’t think that guy can speak so much as every time he opens his mouth a flood spiders pour out.
I think it may also be a factor of evilness. It’s easy for us to say Blaine, Ryan, and perhaps Ross are outright evil individuals due to the concrete actions they’ve taken. There’s not much to say about their villainy, it’s prima facea extant.
Becky is still in total bongo (my only lament about the filter is now I’m using bongo deliberately because I <3 it) territory as opposed to outright, vociferously, evil.
*cough* I meant Mary. Cheezus crust I’ve been talking with a friend extensively about Becky so the name was at the forefront of my mind.
“There’s not much to say about their villainy, it’s prima facea extant.”
That’s a good point, and a stark contrast to all the other people who we know as people and not evil plot movers, regardless of how damaging they can be at times.
How dare you. I am in no way good-natured.
*grumble*
I believe everyone is nice and sunny and like cookies!
I’m guessing Mike’s mom was a close second when you chose your grav?
Heh, I didn’t even consider it but now I kinda do.
I’d be interested to see the correlation between haircut opinion and proximity to ‘lesbian’ on the gender/orientation spectrum. Not gonna ask anyone for that, but it’d be interesting to see.
I get the impression there’s a high incidence of both “I don’t like that the lesbian is now less attractive to me, a straight guy” and “I, a girl-liking girl, approve of this haircut”. (There’s also some “I’m old, what is this silly crazy kid hair” 😉 )
Well, since you’re interested I’m a gay dude.
I’m just old 🙂
(Wasn’t specifically aiming at you, btw, just general musing)
There was actually a pretty great YouTube video of a gay guy speaking to a roomful of gay guys about how they need to remember that presuming to be the arbiter of women’s fashion and bodies is not magically less misogynistic because they’re not sexually attracted to women.
Hmm, I think I’m just grumpy about unusual hairstyles, with an unfortunate bit of the first one.
Mostly it’s probably just being weirded out by sudden changes in character appearance, I’m sure that will stop in a few days. 😛
I just happen to find hair an attractive part of a person, so short hair is generally unattractive to me. My best friend has finally stopped asking me what I think of his hair when he gets it buzzed off – I was trying not to be a jerk, so the “as long as you like it,” took a while to sink in.
Note: I have friends with all different hair styles (including at least one much like Becky’s). The only one I feel justified in commenting on is the husband, and that’s just cuz I have to look at it the most!
And now your grav has the shortest hair in DoA!
This is extra funny to me because it looks like a longer version of a haircut I got last week. It is an awesome haircut, and I want to high-five Becky.
And before you ask, yes, I am also a woman who is very much into other ladies.
Later…
Becky: Oh, hey… Sal? Did I remember that right?
Sal: Hey. Yeah. I like your hair. We should hang out sometime.
Becky: (beaming) Really? Cool!
Joyce: ASFGURDRBLG.
At first I was like “you are a runaway, WHERE DID YOU GET THE MONEY FOR THAT HAIRCUT??”
And then I was like “Oh yeah. Billie. Right.”
Becky was too amazing. Willis had to ruin her with that hair to give everyone else a fair chance.
You misspelled “improve” 😛
*waits for brumagen to notice new gravatar*
This delicious coincidence will serve as this morning’s breakfast for me. I am satiated.
For the love of cheeze …
It’s even worse in gravatar form. It looks like a happy squid is on her head.
If head hamsters can be cute and head iguanas can be cute, why can’t head squids be cute
That’s racist against squids
If it was an actual squid it would be cute.
Head squids are cute. Stuff that looks like jello on someone’s head isn’t. Cue the obvious response about lesbians and jello.
As long as it wasn’t a head octopus
Thank you, I really needed that laugh!
… I don’t think I handle this identity change …
DAAAAYYYUUUUUMMM
I think the hair looks really rad.
OH MY GOD BECKY YOU ARE NOW TOO BEAUTIFUL FOR THIS WORLD
IF I WERE A GIRL I’D ASK YOU OUT IMMEDIATELY
Aw, Becks the baby dyke 🙂 Been there, done that, still have the haircut. It’s so awesome being able to be who you are for the first time, and letting the world know you don’t care what they think. A lot of us dash straight from the closet right into SUPERLESBIAN – we eventually course-correct to find a version of ourselves that fits us best. I’m still trying to settle into an identity that’s more than The Gay Girl (TM).
So, yeah, Becks will probably have some identity issues. But it’s looking like they’re definitely not the ones her bestie is pinning on her. Joyce, honey, she accepts herself. Your job is to help her figure out who herself is.
I have nothing to say but I like this comment.
+1, +5, +internet (?)
Hear, hear
Wow. I got my hair cut like this literally two weeks ago. Ginger and everything! I feel need to find a jacket like Becky’s now so we shall become indistinguishable.
High five!
I want to know if she wasted the 20 bucks on the haircut or managed to find someone to do it for free just with the power of her charisma, inquiring minds want to know!
By inquiring minds, you Daisy right?
“Charisma”.
Sexy, sexy charisma.
Bet she seduced Daisy into cutting her hair.
Joyce wants to hug and cry and be empathetic, and Becky has a bangin’ haircut. XD Excellent. I’m really hoping they don’t have the awkward “Who’s this?” conversation with Ethan yet, though.
Did she change her alt mode too?
Too much for you to handle, Joyce.
That’s so Becky.
Uh oh. Joyce’s eyebrows seem to have gone into orbit again. Hopefully they come back down soon?
Now Becky has the short cut, did her face somehow get skinnier? Or am I crazy?
I think it’s just an optical illusion. You kind of include the hair as part of the head (or at least I do), so cutting it back to reveal the existing facial structure underneath makes it look skinnier. The side by side on the tumblr really points this out.
Snrk. Becky just plum refuses to follow whatever internal narrative Joyce has running in her head. A+, Becky. A+.
When you mention it, thats been an important part of their interaction since she joined the cast.
I love girls with Becky’s style of haircut. Instantly makes me notice them and think they’re pretty.
It’s interesting that it seems quite a few guys are criticising the hair in the comment section because when I cut my hair short it was also guys who criticised me and said stuff like “You’ll look like a lesbian it’s s unnatractive” like… fuck off? No one wanted to be attractive to you anyway dude.
Anytime I feel that people get overdefensive about some of the plotpoints in DoA, I always see comments like this make me realize “no dude, that’s totally a thing that happens to real people and they have to put it with that bullshit” and then I feel sad.
It’s very nice of you to acknowledge that/people’s experiences in general. Thank you.
DoA has honestly been an eye opener for me in some regards. I remember thinking when I first read the strip where Sal told Walky that he was the favoured child because he was born whiter, and thinking it was total bullshit. That’s impossible! Her mom and dad are a mixed race couple! That means they can’t be racist!
And then I read the comments and dozens of people outright stated that Sal was going through exactly what they had been through, that what was happening on the page was an outright reflection of what they’ve had said right to their faces. So it came down to me telling people who have actually experienced this that they’re wrong, or realizing that my perception on the topic wasn’t correct, that racism can be subtle but no less damaging, and it doesn’t just express itself in cartoon villainy.
I’m not always satisfied with how DoA plays out and sometimes it really pisses me off, but I appreciate how gutsy it is towards tackling very real subject matter that so many other webcomics, and really lots of other forms of fiction, don’t acknowledge.
I feel the same, and it’s very nice because Willis is a really cool dude, and I feel like I’ve learned something from reading the comic (especially I learned a lot from the storyline you mentioned with Sal) and also the things he says in general, which feels pretty rare to find on the internet, although I’m trying to be better about seeking those kinds of places out.
You sound very openminded which sometimes also feels like a rarity on the internet so it’s nice to see. 🙂
Yeah, I’ve totally had that happen to me too. I got a haircut once for the first time in about a year (because I’m lazy), and my friend’s grandpa was like, “Why did you cut your hair? Women look more attractive with longer hair,” and I think I said something about it being harder to maintain or whatever. I didn’t really know what to do because he’s always been really nice to me and you know how old people can sometimes blurt things out… in any other case I would have ranted about sexism. It was weird because my hair wasn’t even short, it was like right above my shoulders… that’s not even short???
I remember when Felicia Day cut her hair and got just an enormous amount of hate from straight men. The male ego hates it when women do things for themselves and not for men.
I am not a fan of this haircut. The whole Skrillex cut thing just seemed immature to me. Then again… as a cis white male I’m not exactly in the demographic that this haircut generally speaks to.
Why did my picture change? I liked being Billy… (And before that Jason with the bowtie…) Does this mean I have to get an official gravatar?
So… how does this whole Gravatar thing work, anyway?
Follow the link, get a WordPress account (username does NOT need to match the name you use here), and upload a gravatar. The gravatar will be linked to your email address. So long as you use the same email address in your posts, your new gravatar will be applied to all your posts here.
Well. Looks like you’ve made an excellent choice on the Gravatar front.
For people who haven’t signed up to have their own gravatar, it puts the email address through a hash function to generate a number from 1 to however many default gravs there are in the system, and displays the gravatar for that number. Whenever a new default grav is added, the hash function gives different results because it has to give output in the new range, so everybody ends up with different gravs.
A new, expanded selection of default gravs has apparently been released, now that we know about Becky’s new haircut. You were randomly assigned a new one.
Fortunately, getting your own gravatar is pretty painless. Any post here with your email on it will update to your new gravatar, even retroactively.
Ok… I made one. But it my picture hasn’t changed yet. Hmmm…
Give it a few. Doesn’t happen instantly.
Awesome. Thanks! I just preferred not being Raidah. haha
No problem
Becky is looking fine. Fall back and regroup Joyce, you show you’re trying and that’s cool, but Becky marches to her own drummer.
Now then Becky, how’s the job hunting going? Is that what the new hair is for?
Joyce’s momma should be walking in the door any minute checking out her daughters phone kidnapping friends…maybe even have Becky’s parents with her?
Becky is homeless, probably jobless & broke, might as well have no family, and just discovered that the woman she loves is in fact straight. Becky may look fine, but is she actually feeling fine? Or is she just really good at hiding internal turmoil?
cliche but funny
This comic needs to be an animated gif with the last panel screen shaking.
So, I’ve been reading the comments, and is this hairstyle really a stereotype of lesbians? I don’t understand. O_o Context, please?
People love stereotyping all kinds of stuff with lesbians even if it’s not very common. All girls I’ve known with a hairstyle like this have been straight. I don’t think there really is any context. It’s just a cool hairstyle.
Yeah, I’ve known enough of the punk rock crowd and their contemporaries with that look than lesbians.
By contrast, all the people I’ve known with that hairstyle are gender queer of some sort, with sexual preferences to match (i.e. all over the place). But yes, the assumption of not-a-traditional-feminine style=lesbian is a bit too common 🙁 I guess it does make it easier to keep your hair out of your mouth during … certain activities.
It’s very far removed from traditional female hair styles. So some people follow the classic line of bigot logic that goes “If a woman is insufficiently feminine, she must be a lesbian.”
Indeed, I think maybe the motivation behind this haircut is to NOT be traditionally feminine. Because screw all those people who want to tell a girl how she should or should not look.
Just the comfort of labels. If someone is frosty enough to just take individuals as they come, then the discussion stalls with “Hey! It’s Becky!”. Good or bad, depending entirely on motivations, I guess.
Going entirely off-topic, your Mercer Mayer gravatar is awesome. I haven’t thought about that book in years, but it’s a favorite.
Oh Joyce. TOO MUCH BECKY genuinely made me laugh
Kinda like mine, but mine’s shorter on the top. Good choice Becky. 🙂
The alt text should have had brackets.
[ Becky intensifies ]
P.S. Best non-Dina page ever.
(Sees gravitar Changed) DAMN YOU WILLIS!!!
you did that on purpose. 🙁
What was your gravatar before?
Walky…but I was hating on Becky’s new ‘do
…then BAM! New Becky gravitar lol
*licks fingers* Mmm… that’s some delicious schadenfruede. Just… god damn it’s so good I’d have sex with it.
I’m sorry for your loss, but… Hnnnnggggggg…
This must be what Mike feels like ALL THE TIME!
meh, the gravs ok because i like Becky…just still not a fan of the hairstyle
if this is a burden i must carry…so be it.
Ech…now it’s Daisy???
…great now All of my previous comments are gonna be confusing. lol
Well there are way worse things to do to your body in a extreme crisis fueled spasm. Way worse and way more permanent. So cut your hair every which way.
ObligHairPost: I thought the other haircut was cuter (and just waited for a Kelly comment rather than clicking the tag) but eh, you go girl. Whatever makes you feel good.
Really, I have nothing to add to the discussion. I just wanted to see who I’ve got now the gravs have updated.
DINA > MARY! 😀
Aww, and now I’m Ruth. Bye, Dina! Easy come, easy go.
Re-reading comments I read earlier with different gravs is delightfully confusing.
On a slightly more serious note: Panel 2 Joyce, c’mon. You’re still casting this in terms of your judgement and approval, as though Becky needed either. It’s not about you – just accept and love her for who she is.
(Plus, you sound really patronising. I’m glad you didn’t get to give the “It’s okay” speech.)
That’s a good point; I think Joyce is just trying her best to adapt to the new situation given new information, but she has a hard time letting go of her other beliefs because they haven’t yet been shown to be wrong.
In fairness, Joyce thought Becky was upset because of her (Joyce) being horrible. Joyce’s plan is all about taking back prior horribleness, which IS about Joyce.
In other words, Joyce still has a long way to go, and a lot left to learn.
One thing that does come to mind, though, is that Joyce seems to expect everyone to run off the script in her head. So it’s not just an issue with accepting Becky.
Actually, I think Becky DOES need reassuring. Not about her sexuality, clearly, but because her world has turned upside-down in the span of a week. I don’t care how resilient Becky is – she needs support.
Oh my. Now that’s a good look. *drools a little*
That is one awesome haircut! I’d love to get an undercut, but I’m not brave enough/I don’t think I’d pull it off.
Get it anyway! It’s hair, it grows back fast! If you’re worried do like I did the first time, buzz up the temples while keeping the hair long on top to cover it, just to see how it looks! 🙂
How long is your current hair?
Great hair-cut! Tattoos and piercings next?
The haircut looks nice but wow is it going to take some getting used to.
WELP I guess I have the same haircut as Becky now. I knew we were destined.
Eh… I don’t think she came back “straight”, Joyce.
Becky looks super cute.
C’mon, Its cute, in a boyish way. Its perfect for her!
( i’d do her. )
Dont listen to them , Willis. Let Beckys Freak Flag fly
Don’t worry, he’s not about to redraw three months of buffer strips 😉
Definitely an improvement in the hair department.
the opposite of repression isn’t “make it my entire personality to be gay” haha
You ever witness evangelical christians finally embrace themselves and come out? It looks just like this.
Suddenly I’m Monkey Master. Not being Billie is going to take some getting used to… I got her in the last two gravatar reshuffles, so it’s been a couple years.
On the other hand, I’ve gone from randomly being Billie both here and on BBR to randomly being Monkey Master both here and on IW!, which is kind of cool.
You know where everyone thinks Joyce will snap and suck 500 dicks?
I think Becky is about to lick 500 vaginas
It’s a billion, Sir Robin, not 500.
I think that’s her plan
JUst what is the female population of this university? She may have to go off campus to accomplish this
Oh she’s gonna get off alright
Willis, were you reading my comment about swearing yesterday? Now I’m Joyce, the only character who can’t swear.
Ah well, it suits me. She’s good people, despite her parents meddling.
My avatar has not changed, I am the most fabulous of all ponies
You most definitely are.
Hmmm… changed again. I think this one’s Grace, but I’m not sure, and it could be her roommate (henceforth known as “the other redheaded lesbian”) whose name is Grace.
Ah well. Not that important. Yet.
Yer actually Mandy. Grace’s the redhead.
Hoo boy… Joyce may be able to understand and sympathise with Becky better, but I can understand why she might be freaking out a bit. At this point, I don’t think Joyce is upset because Becky’s gay; I think now she’s just upset because she’s changing her attitude (and hair) very drastically, very quickly. Joyce has known Becky her whole life, and probably saw her as a constant in her life (not realizing that the only constant in life is change). Recognizing this side of Becky would probably go smoother if she could ease on into it, but Becky’s decided to embrace her repressed emotions and Joyce is along for the ride.
That doesn’t mean that I think Becky shouldn’t go through with all these changes to her lifestyle in light of her recognizing her homosexuality. She’s 18, she has her own life to live, and she has her own issues to sort out. Joyce may be dealing with a lot of uncomfortable change in her best friend, but Becky’s dealing with a lot more – homosexuality, homelessness, father issues, rejection, and unrequited love – and Joyce may need to step up to the plate and be strong for her friend.
I admire Beckys resiliance.
Joyce is changing fast, too. I think shes used to Beckys being a nit more passive.
Maybe Joycewill ask Billie if she knows any lesbians. Then Daisy gets her date.
Great analysis, totally agreed.
At least she did not go with the Justin Beiber.
Oh, Becky.
That style looks seriously awesome on her.
The back is reaching critical mass!
Person who is similar yet legally distinct from Scotty! Status report!
“she isn’t capable of experiencing any more of this commanding officer!”
Becky*
Razzin frazzin autocorrect mazzin
You look ridiculous, Becky.
You wrote “fabulous” wrong!
I find haircuts very soothing, especially drastic ones. Here is hoping Becky found hers the same. Either way, she looks great.
Looks like I’m rocking a Rozatar for now… which may change when Willis fixes the background to be transparent. We’ll see if it sticks.
Aha! Back to Amber.
Yesss more people need the asymmetrical pixie. When I first got it cut like this, an old friend from church camp private messaged me to ask me if I was bisexual. I mean, I *am* but what the fuck even, that’s not why I cut my hair.
Related: YAY BECKY
Maybe they were hitting on you!
Maybe they thought the shaved part represented your gay side and the pixie part represented your hetero side. 😛
(I hope it’s clear that I’m kidding!)
Everyone in the comic must get that haircut.
Yes I know.
No I don’t care.
Everyone.
I’m sorry, but you can’t. Try giving Dean McHenry that haircut.
Everyone.
A wig will help with the Dean.
That’s the opposite of a haircut!
I still feel sad for Joyce, just in general. She wanted to talk/see Becky because she needed help and support due to her very real trauma and issues. Every strip with Becky in it makes it more clear to me that Joyce is on her own there.
And it’s not wrong or anything, lord no! Becky has very real issues and more of them, so Joyce (as a good friend) has to support her. But I wish ‘support’ didn’t have to be a zero-sum game here.
I’m Joe now! I miss my Sal, but Joe will do! 🙂
Might help if Joyce *asked* for support. Becky’s not a telepath. Anyway, Joyce was looking for Becky to support Becky, the Ryan flashbacks were a surprise.
So true, and so crucial. But I fear that Joyce is the type that loves to provide help to others, yet is very reluctant to ask for help for themselves.
She hasn’t really had much of a chance. Becky didn’t answer her phone for at least a week, then showed up at Joyce’s dorm. They had explore the campus time, during which they were seldom alone, then Becky’s crises crashed in. And Joyce is not allowed to bring up her problems now, since ‘Becky has real ones’.
Also, my read is that the Ryan flashbacks have been happening all the time when she’s outside, we just haven’t seen them before. That’s why she’s needed a group or at least a trusted friend like Ethan or Walky in order to leave the dorm.
I think the new do looks cute personally.
Aw, Dammit mistyped my Email.
My other post was that I think the new hair looks cute personally.
Becky’s current options are probably going to the loan shark of loan sharks and become deep in debt for the next two decades of her life by getting STUDENT LOANS. On the plus side, they will buy her time to build a life away from her parents.
And that assumes that she’ll be able to keep up with payments once she’s out of school.
I like how Ethan and even Dorothy have the Walky-face from yesterday. “Yup, just running along, not interrupting Joyce while she follows her trajectory. We’ll be there to help with the fallout but for now we’ll just let Joyce plans crash in their own time”
Becky please get off tumblr jfc I want to like you but you’re making it hard
Oh, the lesbionic trim.
I know a girl with that same haircut who always gets mistaken for a lesbian. And I’m like… WHY.
Because every fictional teen lesbian goes through the lesbian makeover of self-expression. Where their outside finally gets to match their inside and it always comes with short spikey hair. It doesn’t really work when applied to reality but writers use it as a visual cue that the character is changing and accepting themselves.
And we know this because SOMEONE WHO SHALL REMAIN UNNAMED won’t stop banging on about it EVEN THOUGH THEY’VE MADE TWO THREADS THAT I KNOW OF LAMENTING THE TROPE’S OVERUSE.
CAPS LOCK IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL
I made one thread about it.
The first one was about wasting money when you’re broke.
Perhaps people were misled by the way you used the phrase ‘ugly hair’ in both those posts.
(Is it time to stop digging?)
Hell, the second one was me accepting the hair style by getting what the point was.
The reason Becky got the haircut is because she’s newly out and doesn’t know any better. She’s just as repressed as Joyce is (not was, is, in both cases), and Becky’s going to do all the GAY things now, gosh darn it! YOU CAN”T TELL HER WHAT TO DO!!!!!!!!
But seriously, lay off. Willis let her get the haircut because it fits Becky’s character for her to do it.
Dude, she came out yesterday. What better way to affirm pride in her sexuality than getting a “lesbian” hairdo?
Plus, it’s totes adorbs.
Sorry, Joyce, but this is nowhere near enough Becky. There’s three whole panels that are functionally Beckyless.
Joyce splooshed a little
I’m clearly old. I don’t like the hairstyle and think it makes Becky look much, much, *much* worse.
And yes, I know nobody cares what I think, but I care that I’m going to have a hard time liking and relating to Becky now, because l like liking things/characters/people. Sigh.
I’m curious (sincerely) how the haircut makes her unrelatable. What attitude does it convey to you? Do you think it matches what the character has been portrayed as so far, or a radical depature from her personality? Did you know someone with this haircut that makes it alien or an issue to you?
I see a partially-shaved head, on guy or girl, as representative of a person who 1) has no taste whatsoever, because it’s hideous, and 2) doesn’t think through the consequences of their actions, because it’s not reversible and (in my mind) they’re going to regret it the moment they come to their senses. Also from my sheltered perspective (I live in Idaho) I have literally never spoken to a person with a partially-shaved head, and most of my exposure to them comes from movies, a lot of them from the eighties, where such hairstyles are associated exclusively with social deviants. I recognize that in real life such hair may exist on persons who are not thugs or punks, but at an instinctive level I automatically find myself unable to relate to people who style themselves in that manner.
As I said, nobody cares what I think, and everybody doubtlessly hates me now (par for the course), but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m saddened by my new inability to relate to Becky.
Are Becky’s aesthetic qualities that profoundly important to your ability to identify with and like her?
Becky is a cartoon character and her visual appearance makes up a large part of my experience with her, as you might expect in such a visual medium, especially given how little we’ve seen her doing to date.
If you decide to stop liking people based on hairstyles, why would you allow that thought to escape your brain and broadcast it to the world?
I think a lot of people should listen to what you said here.
It’ very easy to stop liking fictional characters because of how they look. Our investment in most characters is fairly shallow so making them look visually unappealing can make people just not want to see them anymore.
Remember, they’re not real so it doesn’t matter what happens to them or if you like them or not.
Oh man, I totally thought they were real for a second there, phew.
Although I guess this bothers me because I do know people irl with this haircut, and I have short hair — the reactions of people in this comment section in general to a girl getting a short, off-beat haircut is kinda skeeving me out
If it makes you feel any better my opinions on the subject relate only to Becky, not anyone else real or even fictional. What a real person does to their own body is their own business.
Short hair is fine, even quite appealing usually. As I’ve written above, it’s the partial shaving that kills the look for me.
This doesn’t make your comment better?? Real people also do that shave.
There is one, and only one, thing that bothers me about Becky’s new haircut…
http://itswalky.tumblr.com/post/111445502302/becky-intensifies
Her bangs, like seriously, just gained another couple inches. My very first thought on seeing the hair (aside from ‘Awesome!’) was… “Where did that length come from!?”
I’ve been surprised before at the miracles that can be accomplished by the thick-haired. If she combed forward and fluffed up some of the hair that had been lying flat at the back and sides… okay, the physics of it still might not work. Maybe she just grew it out in two hours by the sheer power of her outness.
So you’re saying the gays DO get super powers. And if it’s hair growing power I need to learn to start liking me some dick post haste. I’ve got a gorgeous mane I need to enhance.
You’d be surprised what you can do with red hair!
Indeed.
I think you’re on the right track. The bangs area of her new haircut is definitely coming from farther back on her head, since the whole thing is brushed forward.
So let me get this straight. Becky being gay is acceptable. Becky getting a sidewall haircut is not.
Hmm.
*being* gay is a-okay. It’s *looking* gay that’s the problem here for Joyce.
Joyce is just off balance. In a day full of surprises and shocking revelations she has finally figured out a path forward and Becky threw her a curve ball.
Also, the issue is less that Becky has that specific haircut and more that Becky does not have the same haircut as before. She’s changing and that’s scary (not the least because it reminds Joyce that she is ALSO changing and that’s scary).
This is not only about religion and sexual orientation – it’s also about two childhood friends who are becoming adults and try to figure out a way to relate to each other in the new circumstances. Joe and Danny have similar issues (as do Walky and Sal and even Walky and Billie, even if that takes back seat to a lot of other issues)
I think it’s just a big change. People can be weird about big changes to someone’s appearance, it takes time to get used to it.
When I dyed my hair black with pink streaks (it’s naturally a dark blonde/light brown color), I went to meet my family at dinner and my grandma took one look at me and said, “I don’t like it.” But then like 5 weeks later she said she changed her mind.
I feel like it’s just that all of a sudden this person who you recognize has a totally different face. I mean not literally, but hair has a big impact on how we recognize facial structure in our brains. I did just make that up, but it’s probably true, so.
The same thing happened to me when I was eighteen and first dyed my hair black. It’s naturally a sort of dishwater blonde/mousy brown, which is why I dyed it. Nobody objected that much, but it still took me a few days to stop startling every time I saw my face in the mirror. “Oh yeah, I did that, didn’t I?”
I wouldn’t read too much into it. Willis is probably just using the juxtaposition of having Joyce accept the big stuff (Becky being gay) and still weirding out over the little stuff (the haircut) for humorous effect. Essentially, a variation of the arson/murder/jaywalking type of gag.
A sideways haircut on top of all the other recent changes in Becky’s character is what’s overwhelming Joyce.
Just posting to see who I get. Fingers crossed…
Oh, one of the last people I wanted. Darn. Maybe someone else…
Nnnnope.
Me too
I’m pretty happy to get Danny. I consider him one of the better characters in this universe, and he doesn’t have a ton of competition on the front of being a nice, stable, and considerate person.
First time to comment to just point out in local Filipino slang…
“Becky” or “beki” means gay person. Shortened from “bakla” which means gay.
Made me chuckle when Joyce says that’s “Too much Becky.”
That’s awesome.
Clearly Becky’s and Leslie’s parents have the same gift for picking out names for their daughters.
Haha, yes.
Bangin’! Now she just needs some rockin’ kicks, rad sunglasses, and rude ‘tude.
Becky only gets better/cuter. 😀
AHHHH and so does my gravatar!
I wonder if Joyce will get carried away in the moment and apologize to Becky for being such a fucking idiot all their lives. And thus lose her swearginity, with Joe not even around to hear it, let alone pay her.
But that already happened
yesterday.
Sort of, enough for her to want to apologize for it, but I still get the feeling she’s just on the verge of breaking out one of the greater four-letter words at an opportune moment.
Just to put in my little two cents…knowing Becky as we do, did anyone seriously NOT EXPECT her to go out and do SOMETHING like this? She’s already proven herself to be independent and strong-willed – and in the situation that she’s found herself, any kind of ‘rebellion’ against what was the norm of her life is natural and bound to be a part of her learning process. She’s learning how she wants to express herself now that she has the freedom to do so. That involves experimentation with new things. Come on, guys. You know Becky is a ‘go big or go home’ person.
The haircut is hot. It’s hot irl on people and it’s hot on Becky. And it’s also very true to life how when you’ve just figured out your queer identity, you get a matching haircut. It’s a thing. When I first came out, I dyed my hair black and had it cut all ~alternative as well. It happens. We do that. Some people stick with that hair, some change it again, some people change their hair every weeks. It’s an expression of everyone’s individuality. How boring if everyone had the same hair style all the time 😉
I never changed my hair. The most dramatic thing I did was get tired of taking care of my hip-length hair so I cut it off to shoulder length.
After 12 or so hours I like it a little more on her… And its the haircut I have now! (well shaved on both sides for me.) People stereotype it all the time. Its “Goth/Punk” “Lesbian” “Soccer Mom/Kate Gosselin.” And I don’t fit in any of those categories. I’m just not sure it fits her face.
I have the same haircut as Becky: just one side shaved. Your haircut is my next one though! I’m kind of surprised by all the backlash against Becky’s haircut, tbh. I’ve gotten nothing but compliments. Even my religious, conservative family (who generally say nothing about my short hair cuts) LOVED my new cut and said I looked “metropolitan” haha
Right? I’ve gotten dozens of compliments from coworkers, friends, family, classmates, and even random kids on campus.
Stereotyped haircuts, bleh. When I was younger half the new wave and punk chicks had it cut like that.
It’s like the old “if a guy has the left ear pierced he’s gay, if he has the right ear pierced he’s straight” bullshit. You know what it really means when a guy has his ear pierced? It means he likes earrings.
Right? Thought that was a 90s thing that was faded out. And yet, I’ll always like a guy with one earring versus two.
What can I say? I like asymmetry ^_^
I’ve finally realized what this haircut reminds me of. It reminds me of a certain kind of rooster’s crest. And that looks repulsive on any animal, at least in my opinion.
Waitasec… I got it! Singularikitty escaped from the end of SP! and is now camping out on Becky’s head! That’s why her hair looks like it’s a different length in the strip, the new character model and the new grav. It’s going to go Full Sal and start consuming everything within reach. Run, Joyce! RUN WHILE YOU STILL CAN!
(I kid, I kid.)
@Willis – was Becky’s new ‘do inspired by Danielle Corsetto’s hair at all? I thought of her self-portrait on the GWS front page, and wondered.
God I love this hairstyle so much. She looks great! And now I’m once again wishing I could get an undercut (damn job)
I just flopped my hair over to the other side for my most recent job interview 🙂
Get a nape undercut! If you have long hair you can hide it super easily by just not putting your hair up. And then when you want to show it off you can put your hair in a cute lil bun or ponytail. If I were to do something else that’s what I would do, but alas I got the side cut first and love it too much.
Oh gosh, I thought Becky’s Dad was taken away. I’m so glad she hasn’t. Yet.
Dammit!! I have a Mike Avatar!! I don’t wanna be an asshole! ;A;
But Mike is not an asshole!
(At least not when he’s drunk).
(Ok, that was Shortpacked! knowledge and has yet to be established in the dumbiverse).
Well good news, Willis fixed the Gravs. You are now the other redheaded lesbian. I forget her name. It’s either Grace or her roommate/girlfriend.
In the Walkyverse, Mandy and Grace (and the rest of their squad including Marcie, Sierra, and worst character ever Guns) were bisexual. Presumably that carried over into Dumbing of Age.
Ah! Thank you Spencer.
oh wow, people are actually annoyed by the hair
*extremely kevins voice* dorrrrrks
Who am I now?
More importantly – who am I??
As of this post, you are both Amber and it is very, very appropriate for Amber to be the one saying that to her self
Well said.
Nice. What about this one?
Even better. Can I make it 3 for 3?
Good enough.
or is it?
Yesss Becky joins the side cut club. Now she must go through the initiation process where, for a 3 day period, she will have an undetermined amount of people come at her outside of her peripheral vision and, without warning, gently rub the side of her head.
Wait, what? That’s a thing? Maaaaan, another privilege to check
Yeah, that is a bangin’ haircut, but CHECK OUT MY BANGIN’ NEW AVATAR!
Though — sorry, Marcie — I’m now mad jealous of, and mad furious at, all the people who got New Haircut Becky avatars AND DON’T APPRECIATE THEM! RRRAAAAARRRRR!!!
Huh. The avatars got reshuffled again. And now I’m Grace. *pouts*
It’s annoying when oppressed people refuse to act like they’re oppressed. 🙂
That’s kind of the perfect summation of what’s going on right now, isn’t it? Joyce wants to swoop in and atone for her perceived gay-hatred by apologizing to Becky and telling her how much she loves her, and Becky’s just “check out my awesome haircut!”
Oh God, Raidah? Seriously?
Yeah, I got stuck with Mary… 🙁
Wait, it’s changed again… now it’s Ruth!
Yay, Ruth!
I like Becky’s new haircut.
You know what I find funny? Even after at least three Grav shuffles, Mary’s picture hasn’t changed. Everyone else’s has, whether it was the first time since Becky showed, or when Willis fixed the backgrounds (I’m not sure about Becky herself, though, the second reshuffle kinda pushed her off the list); but Mary’s expression is still exactly the same. It’s sort of like Willis doesn’t want to draw her any more than he needs to (and can we blame him?).
It’s symbolic for her static character (at least from our point of view). (or something – just making things up here 🙂 )
Or he thought that he couldn’t improve upon that grav.
None more Becky.
I saw some of Willis’s Tumblr comments and it never occurred me how momentous a hair cut is in this strip thanks to the rate time passes. If you decide you hate a character’s outfit you can just have them randomly put on a jacket or tough it out until they change clothes the next day, but shorter hair is going to last a while.
(And I hope I get a better gravatar this time, I use to have Joe and thought it was the worst of that batch…)
I just re-read the strip and now that I’m not distracted by the haircut, I’m noticing Joyce’s savior complex swinging into full gear….Becky’s pretty happy gettin’ herself free. She’s not sitting alone, crying because Joyce hasn’t gotten over her biases…after all, coming to Joyce was the mechanism by which she entered into a safe space.
Yes exactly! I really can’t wait to see the next strips in this story arc. Joyce is learning a lot but there is still a long way to go!
Six hundred comments about the haircut and i’m just like “wait, is her collar popped? Why is her collar popped?”
Sam hill you’re right.
Oh God It Is….AHHHH!!!!
Who’s my Gravatar now? It’s been Billie for as long as I can remember…
fffffffffffffffffffffffff
Gravatar hype?
Dang that haircut is bangin
I’m kinda jealous of all people with new and awesome gravatars. Then I remember that my grav is happy-blue-panel-Becky and I’m cool again
And here I am, being forever cursed by Raidah.
Ok Joyce DiDonato in this video has like EXACTLY Becky’s hair and maybe I’m the only nerd who is both a fan of her and of DoA but she is legit a badass and a seriously amazing human so if you don’t know of her, you’re welcome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzlPEccBHNY
http://nooooooooooooooo.com/
Willis what have you done to my hair my beautiful beautiful hair
So can we all agree that Becky is kind of a dick, finally?
What.
Alternative lifestyle haircut! Nice, Becky. XD