Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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'so i guess it's not normal to try to smell dorothy's hair like you do mine'
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May 5, 2026

Cuddlin’

by David M Willis on April 20, 2015 at 12:01 am
  • 03 - The Butterflies Won't Fly Away

└ Tags: becky, joyce

Discussion (195) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Captain Batson
    Captain Batson
    April 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Skewed? I’LL SHOW YOU SKEWED

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      April 20, 2015 at 12:12 am | #

      Will there be graphs involved?

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        April 20, 2015 at 12:13 am | #

        “Great Faz’s time has come!”

        • The Master
          The Master
          April 20, 2015 at 7:31 am | #

          Dammit, RELEASE THE LIONS!

          • Drunken Nordmann
            Drunken Nordmann
            April 20, 2015 at 8:52 am | #

            I don’t think that would help.

          • Yet Another Laura H.
            Yet Another Laura H.
            April 20, 2015 at 11:18 am | #

            Typo in that, the Master. I think you meant “loins.”

            • L33tmaster
              L33tmaster
              April 20, 2015 at 3:55 pm | #

              wait? is that rly the plural of lion?

              • Khrene
                Khrene
                April 20, 2015 at 4:51 pm | #

                A: Loins refers to the lower belly, lower back, and pelvic regions, and also is considered “the source of erotic or procreative power.”

                Please proceed to process the above quotes as “comedic”

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        April 20, 2015 at 12:13 am | #

        …and don’t forget the Venn diagrams.

        • Dreadhawk177
          Dreadhawk177
          April 20, 2015 at 12:21 am | #

          “Here’s Joyce, and here’s Becky. This is the part where they come together.”

          • GentlemanBreakfast
            GentlemanBreakfast
            April 20, 2015 at 12:36 am | #

            “and this is the part where the great Faz joins in and all attention is paid to Faz, except Faz’s own attention which is paid thoroughly to your lady-parts.”

            • Screwball
              Screwball
              April 20, 2015 at 3:38 am | #

              I can so see Faz then becoming the victim of 1 of those Anime-uber-uppercuts after saying that, maybe even from both of them at the same time. You know, the type of punch that sends people flying away till they become a speck in the distance, vanishing with a little flash & a “ting” sound effect…

              Probably would be the only “2 ladies at once” action he’ll EVER get… XD

              • Xalthicus
                Xalthicus
                April 20, 2015 at 12:13 pm | #

                Team Rocket style?

      • AustKyzor
        AustKyzor
        April 20, 2015 at 3:21 pm | #

        We had graphs, but Joe keeps cutting them up with scissors

    • Bill
      Bill
      April 20, 2015 at 12:19 am | #

      SKEWED or SKREWED?

      • Lieutenant Dan
        Lieutenant Dan
        April 20, 2015 at 12:29 am | #

        SKEWERED.

    • Melvin Schlock
      Melvin Schlock
      April 20, 2015 at 2:45 am | #

      I’ll skew your BRAINS OUT!

  2. LiaHansen
    LiaHansen
    April 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    that is COMPLETELY normal

    you just keep on doin you Joyce

    • John
      John
      April 20, 2015 at 12:22 am | #

      I really love normalizing moderate physical affection with platonic friends. really helps to reduce the feelings of loneliness when single.

      • Shaunock
        Shaunock
        April 20, 2015 at 12:32 am | #

        I fee the same way.

        In my circle of friends I’m known as “The hugger” It aint no thang.

        • Rabid Rabbit
          Rabid Rabbit
          April 20, 2015 at 12:51 am | #

          Your avatar amuses me.

          • Rycan
            Rycan
            April 20, 2015 at 3:54 am | #

            Ruth administers bear hugs, so called because they more closely resemble a mauling than a hug.

            • Deanatay
              Deanatay
              April 20, 2015 at 9:18 am | #

              The gaping wounds show that she cares.

              • AustKyzor
                AustKyzor
                April 20, 2015 at 3:22 pm | #

                Her brother and Billie get the wounds dressed afterwards, because that’s what love is to her

        • Cheryl
          Cheryl
          April 20, 2015 at 1:42 am | #

          Hug tastic!

      • LiaHansen
        LiaHansen
        April 20, 2015 at 1:12 am | #

        Unfortunately that only works when your friends are around and not getting high at another friends house

        im having a lonely night

        • Plaid
          Plaid
          April 20, 2015 at 1:40 am | #

          If it makes you feel any better, I have the same issue when I’m hanging around in said other friend’s house among my peer group.

          Turns out you CAN be allergic to weed, so they get high in one of the suite rooms while I sit in the living room watching the door and playing League.

          • Brother Mojo
            Brother Mojo
            April 20, 2015 at 1:50 am | #

            Plus any time there are brownies around the house, you REALLY have to ask first…

            • zoomer296
              zoomer296
              April 20, 2015 at 9:40 am | #

              There will be cake, and then you will be baked.

          • Screwball
            Screwball
            April 20, 2015 at 3:44 am | #

            Ever think about putting a little bit of laxitives in their brownies? You know, for shits & giggles? You know you’ll be safe if you can’t eat them in the first place too…

            • John
              John
              April 20, 2015 at 4:03 pm | #

              That’d be a shitty thing to do.

  3. magey
    magey
    April 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Oh Joyce

    • Yet_One_More_Idiot
      Yet_One_More_Idiot
      April 20, 2015 at 5:36 am | #

      *Wants to give Joycy a platonic, reassuring hug* :3*

      *Can’t because of the darn computer screen in the way* 🙁

      • Someone
        Someone
        April 20, 2015 at 8:11 pm | #

        We must find a way to destroy the fourth wall!

        • Yet_One_More_Idiot
          Yet_One_More_Idiot
          April 20, 2015 at 8:24 pm | #

          Yes, we must! I just hope it’s not a load-bearing wall though… xD

          • Someone
            Someone
            April 20, 2015 at 10:00 pm | #

            We should do our best to avoid collapsing the fabric of reality

            • Lis
              Lis
              April 20, 2015 at 11:09 pm | #

              your avatars make this conversation awesome.

  4. Plasma Mongoose
    Plasma Mongoose
    April 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Nor is it proper to want to run your fingers through Sal’s hair… understandable but not proper.

    • KingMabel
      KingMabel
      April 20, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

      Is it still cool to whisper into each other’s ears? That’s still cool right?

      • LiaHansen
        LiaHansen
        April 20, 2015 at 12:04 am | #

        intimate secrets or sweet nothings?

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        April 20, 2015 at 12:07 am | #

        Just as long as tongues are not inserted anywhere.

        • Dean
          Dean
          April 20, 2015 at 12:12 am | #

          Nibbling a little is OK, isn’t it?

          • Plasma Mongoose
            Plasma Mongoose
            April 20, 2015 at 12:15 am | #

            Only when sharing a bath together according to this textbook.

            • Screwball
              Screwball
              April 20, 2015 at 3:49 am | #

              But what about when forced/voluntarily sharing a bed? Is it OK then?

            • Rycan
              Rycan
              April 20, 2015 at 3:55 am | #

              Faz? Is that you?

            • Deanatay
              Deanatay
              April 20, 2015 at 9:20 am | #

              We’re getting these rules from hentai, aren’t we?

              • AustKyzor
                AustKyzor
                April 20, 2015 at 3:24 pm | #

                I was wondering why the author of the textbook was J. Lesnik…

                • fogel
                  fogel
                  April 20, 2015 at 9:46 pm | #

                  J Lesnick? (I’m reading Girly for the 2nd time. It is excellent again.)

    • DarkoNeko
      DarkoNeko
      April 20, 2015 at 12:08 am | #

      But..but… that chocolate river o_o

      • Plasma Mongoose
        Plasma Mongoose
        April 20, 2015 at 12:10 am | #

        You must resist, YOU MUST!

        • StClair
          StClair
          April 20, 2015 at 1:01 am | #

          Resistance is futile.

          • Opus the Poet
            Opus the Poet
            April 20, 2015 at 2:20 pm | #

            No resistance is I/V. it’s only futile when V=0.

            • HEYOUGUYZ!
              HEYOUGUYZ!
              April 20, 2015 at 4:25 pm | #

              Pedant to the rescue:

              V=IR
              V/I = R

              Resistance is futile when V -> infinity

              See: static discharge
              See Also: Zeus, Thor, Tesla

    • LeslieBean4Shizzle
      LeslieBean4Shizzle
      April 20, 2015 at 12:58 am | #

      Oh pish, you and Joyce and your “not having lesbian sex with your friends” rules. Live free, I say.

    • Willoughby Chase
      Willoughby Chase
      April 20, 2015 at 8:39 am | #

      Presumably this comes under the heading of “whatnot” in the textbook?

  5. Mkvenner
    Mkvenner
    April 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Explains so much

    • Screwball
      Screwball
      April 20, 2015 at 3:54 am | #

      Probably, but there are still gonna be plenty who will keep believing Joyce is deep down really a Lesbian who’s getting close to openly admitting she wants to shove her face between Dorothy’s legs…

      • Pope William T Wodium
        Pope William T Wodium
        April 20, 2015 at 9:30 am | #

        “Shove her face between Dorothy’s legs?”

        Please. “Delicately insert.”

  6. Leorale
    Leorale
    April 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Oh my goodness, I didn’t think of this at all but it makes so much sense!

  7. nothri
    nothri
    April 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Rassum Frassum. I was all set to be comment number one and the damn thing didn’t load.

    • Plasma Mongoose
      Plasma Mongoose
      April 20, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

      Better luck next time.

      • nothri
        nothri
        April 20, 2015 at 10:08 pm | #

        Thanks.

  8. Kris
    Kris
    April 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Platonic lady friendship involves more than I thought.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      April 20, 2015 at 12:04 am | #

      It also involves going to the washroom together.

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        April 20, 2015 at 12:08 am | #

        doing each other’s nails, braiding each other’s hair, running for elected office — you know, girly stuff.

        • Kris
          Kris
          April 20, 2015 at 12:13 am | #

          As opposed to platonic male friendship! All we have to do is say “Yeah!” and high five, or chest bump, or even headbutt if it’s really awesome. Then theres the solitary “I understand.” shoulder touch plus head nod. But you can only do that once a year and only if someone died!

          • chris73
            chris73
            April 20, 2015 at 12:18 am | #

            We guys do have it so much easier (in this respect)

          • Incomitatus
            Incomitatus
            April 20, 2015 at 1:26 am | #

            Pouring a strong bourbon for a friend in times of great stress or grief is appropriate for all friendships, however. Especially if there is also a fire.

            • Rycan
              Rycan
              April 20, 2015 at 3:59 am | #

              ‘In case of fire, imbibe flammable liquids’ is excellent advice.

              • Deanatay
                Deanatay
                April 20, 2015 at 9:25 am | #

                Better in your stomach, than outside, catching fire. If the fire gets hot enough to combust alcohol inside your body, you already have bigger problems.

                • Rheios
                  Rheios
                  April 20, 2015 at 11:11 am | #

                  Not anymore you don’t.

                • Rycan
                  Rycan
                  April 20, 2015 at 6:24 pm | #

                  I would think that, when a fire breaks out and flammable liquids are within reach, it is a very good time to leave.

          • Screwball
            Screwball
            April 20, 2015 at 4:23 am | #

            Wait, that’s all that’s involved? Maybe that’s why Daniel the Human keeps throwing magnets at me…

          • Pope William T Wodium
            Pope William T Wodium
            April 20, 2015 at 9:31 am | #

            If a second person dies, ya gotta fall back on, “That’s rough, buddy.”

            • Gigafreak
              Gigafreak
              April 20, 2015 at 10:12 am | #

              Also implemented when the other guy reminds you that his last girlfriend turned into the Moon.

              • grantimusmax
                grantimusmax
                April 20, 2015 at 1:39 pm | #

                Only before the first guy restores his HONOOOOOR

          • Yet Another Laura H.
            Yet Another Laura H.
            April 20, 2015 at 11:29 am | #

            For reference, see (all right, listen to) The Chenille Sisters’ “Great to Be a Guy.”

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      April 20, 2015 at 12:12 am | #

      For a practical guide, see Leslie Knope and Ann Perkins.

  9. Idon'tcarenomore
    Idon'tcarenomore
    April 20, 2015 at 12:02 am | #

    Yeah, I guess I can see that Joyce 🙂

  10. bananarama
    bananarama
    April 20, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

    Alas, the struggle. If you want to bone (or used to bone), you just can’t cuddle no more. 🙁

  11. Urukak
    Urukak
    April 20, 2015 at 12:03 am | #

    Okay, so Joyce isn’t secretly lesbian, she’s just basing her social cues off someone who is. (Well, not so secretly now.) That makes sense.

    • chris73
      chris73
      April 20, 2015 at 12:13 am | #

      I’m feeling even more bad for Joyce now although a aprt of me does want to know what “whatnot” entails

  12. Koms
    Koms
    April 20, 2015 at 12:04 am | #

    Joyce’s hair looks really pretty. And she tried to smell Dorothy’s hair? Wonder what Dotty thought about that.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      April 20, 2015 at 12:12 am | #

      That her hair smelled nice, and maybe Joyce wanted to know her shampoo brand?

  13. Taigan
    Taigan
    April 20, 2015 at 12:04 am | #

    “I should probably let you know that those times I straddled your knee and ‘played horsie?’ Yeah, that’s not really a ‘friend’ thing.”

    • Screwball
      Screwball
      April 20, 2015 at 4:26 am | #

      I did want to reply with something about dampness & groans, but I’m getting death stared…

  14. DarkoNeko
    DarkoNeko
    April 20, 2015 at 12:04 am | #

    That’s… sensible of you, Becky.

    Also, dat alt-text XD

  15. Emoroffle
    Emoroffle
    April 20, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

    Joyce, I’m pretty sure you should have figured out on your own that there’s no such thing as “consolation ass grabs”.

  16. chemiclord
    chemiclord
    April 20, 2015 at 12:05 am | #

    Skewed for the better, maybe.

  17. Zaidyer
    Zaidyer
    April 20, 2015 at 12:06 am | #

    That’s no reason to stop, Joyce.

  18. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    April 20, 2015 at 12:06 am | #

    *plays Joan Jett’s “Do You Wanna Touch?” on the Muzak*

    • Chinoy Industries, Ltd.
      Chinoy Industries, Ltd.
      April 20, 2015 at 12:29 am | #

      This is why we can’t have nice things.

    • Halloween Jack
      Halloween Jack
      April 20, 2015 at 11:16 am | #

      That song got put on my no-play list ever since Gary Glitter’s arrests.

      • Stephen Bierce
        Stephen Bierce
        April 20, 2015 at 7:39 pm | #

        Would you prefer The Doors’ “Touch Me”?

        • Halloween Jack
          Halloween Jack
          April 23, 2015 at 10:42 am | #

          Why, yes, thanks. (The Doors were a great band, except for the numbers that got overwhelmed by Jim Morrison’s pretension at being a poet.)

  19. Hoboturtle
    Hoboturtle
    April 20, 2015 at 12:06 am | #

    “In retrospect I know why why Dorothy found it weird that I nibbled on her ear when we hugged”

  20. John
    John
    April 20, 2015 at 12:07 am | #

    All those things that Joyce was doing that pinged your gaydar…

    It was you, Becky. She learned it from watching you.

    • Yet Another Laura H.
      Yet Another Laura H.
      April 20, 2015 at 11:30 am | #

      YES.

  21. Elliee
    Elliee
    April 20, 2015 at 12:09 am | #

    Joyce, I love you, but that sweater/vest/sweatervest? is hideous. Forgive me.

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      April 20, 2015 at 9:29 am | #

      Makes excellent armor, though.

    • hof1991
      hof1991
      April 20, 2015 at 10:25 am | #

      There’s a reason Joyce is dressed in multiple layers. Its not because she’s cold. It is indeed armor against amour.

  22. newllend(henryvolt)
    newllend(henryvolt)
    April 20, 2015 at 12:09 am | #

    Let rub some MORE salt in the wound shall we?

  23. Spencer
    Spencer
    April 20, 2015 at 12:14 am | #

    I wouldn’t know, what with being a guy and therefore only able to express emotion through grunting and lifting weights, but is this a problem that LGBT women have to put up with when trying to console their straight friends?

    Cause, man, that’s just fucking sad. Becky’s trying to be her usual BFF self and now there’s this looming cloud over their relationship that Becky isn’t “allowed” to comfort Joyce as she would before.

    • Chinoy Industries, Ltd.
      Chinoy Industries, Ltd.
      April 20, 2015 at 12:28 am | #

      Thank you good sir for saving me the time to write the exact same thoughts myself. Because this seems rather odd, given that in my little social circle (where we have straight guys, straight girls, lgbt girls, and one irritating person who refuses to choose a pronoun), there doesn’t seem to be any such limitation. People just snuggle and the only awkwardness is because two people don’t get along personally, not this kinda thing.

    • ahuh
      ahuh
      April 20, 2015 at 12:30 am | #

      More a post-confession thing I think.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      April 20, 2015 at 12:37 am | #

      I heard a purely anecdotal story about a woman who was very frustrated with how cuddly her lady friends were – because how was she supposed to come on to them if they were already touchy-feely with each other?

    • Cerberus
      Cerberus
      April 20, 2015 at 12:41 am | #

      I think it’s more of a crush thing than an LGBT thing, where if there’s an acknowledged crush that the parties don’t want to act on, there’s a little more awkwardness about close physical platonic affection, though there are straight girls and lots and lots of straight boys who get really weird about physical affection of even the mildest form when the person giving the affection is known to be LGBT. I’m thinking this might be more the former, though it does suck that her first instinct for comfort (and something that Joyce probably needs) is being short circuited by that.

      • Incomitatus
        Incomitatus
        April 20, 2015 at 1:29 am | #

        Well, I get weird with any sort of degree of physical affection from anyone I’m not currently sleeping with. So much so that my co-workers joke that my middle name is ‘Don’t-Touch-Me’.

    • Li
      Li
      April 20, 2015 at 9:34 am | #

      Yes, this is very much a thing.

      Actually it’s also a thing with no confession and with no crush. Straight women are extremely intimate with each other and I am very very very aware of how much that doesn’t come naturally to me, and how terrified I am of making a straight woman uncomfortable, EITHER by being too affectionate or somehow “obviously” not affectionate enough. I’m constantly afraid my platonic friends will think I have feelings for them. Though in my case it’s probably partly because my high school “friends” told me outright that my being “so” attracted to girls was weird (They all considered themselves “at least a little” bi.), and then later ousted me from the group.

      But yeah there’s very much a “ACT ‘NORMAL'” imperative in my brain that never knows how much to compliment my friends / hug them / etc, that’s always afraid of fucking up. Yay.

    • EnerPrime
      EnerPrime
      April 20, 2015 at 10:58 am | #

      Well, I imagine being hugged/cuddled/etc. by someone who has openly stated sexual attraction towards you when you have none towards them would be awkward no matter what the gender/sexuality configuration is.

  24. Em
    Em
    April 20, 2015 at 12:26 am | #

    Guys it’s okay, you don’t have to be all “no homo” about it, just hug it out.

    I cuddle my lady friends who know I’m out and know I think they’re hot and they cuddle me back. It never gets weird. The only way it gets weird is if you make it weird.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      April 20, 2015 at 12:35 am | #

      Becky has to be super careful with that kind of stuff least she starts a flame war in the comments. (Here’s to hoping that me being silly doesn’t start a flame war in the comments).

      To be less silly – I agree. (Of course, there are people who don’t like to cuddle no matter what, but Becky and Joyce clearly do)

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        April 20, 2015 at 12:56 am | #

        But, Joyce might be super-uncomfortable about being snuggled by somebody who has a crush on her, and Becky could be super-uncomfortable about getting turned on with her off-limits pal. As a super-snuggly person myself, I think Becky is being smart to check in before hug-time.

        • APersonAmI
          APersonAmI
          April 20, 2015 at 1:26 am | #

          I concur. Always check in before hug-time.

        • Bagge
          Bagge
          April 20, 2015 at 1:48 am | #

          True

        • DarkoNeko
          DarkoNeko
          April 20, 2015 at 4:16 am | #

          It’s still possible they will hug in the next panel. But yeah, it felt necessary to ask, there.

      • Rycan
        Rycan
        April 20, 2015 at 4:08 am | #

        Well, considering that we literally have a commenter here with the ‘Flammable’ label you find on the likes of pure ethanol…

      • Screwball
        Screwball
        April 20, 2015 at 4:35 am | #

        1 Problem Bagge, we’ve already got lower-level flame wars going on from Becky being finally-out Becky, I can see flame wars starting even if she gets permission.

        I’ll agree, from what I’ve picked up about socializing so far, she’s over stepped a few boundaries, but she is essentially still in the “I’m FREEEEEE” arms-flailing & laughing none-stop stage of finally coming out…

    • APersonAmI
      APersonAmI
      April 20, 2015 at 1:23 am | #

      I hope you are right. I mean, that is not my life experience at all, but I do hope that my inability to find guys that don’t feel awkward about basically everything I do is a statistical anomaly. And I am not even a gay male, I just like hugs (although I always ask before I touch someone) and talking through emotions properly.

      • Rycan
        Rycan
        April 20, 2015 at 4:22 am | #

        Cultural norms simply make life weird – and amusing for a detached observer.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzO1mCAVyMw

    • Halloween Jack
      Halloween Jack
      April 20, 2015 at 11:17 am | #

      Becky will probably get to that point in another few days of DoA time, i.e. 2020 our time.

  25. smashman42
    smashman42
    April 20, 2015 at 12:30 am | #

    Am I the only one disturbed that Jen Aside isn’t the first commenter today?

    Like, was there an accident? Are they ill?

    • Dean
      Dean
      April 20, 2015 at 12:38 am | #

      I prefer to think that Jen Aside has to hike through miles of jungle to reach a computer or wifi hotspot or something. The days that Jen doesn’t get first post is when they have to stop to fight a jaguar.

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        April 20, 2015 at 12:40 am | #

        HEADCANON

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          April 20, 2015 at 12:45 am | #

          Sometimes they have to fight a pantzher. It’s half panther, half tank, all AWESOME

          • Agemegos
            Agemegos
            April 20, 2015 at 12:54 am | #

            Also, it tries to pull ones trousers down.

            • Rycan
              Rycan
              April 20, 2015 at 4:24 am | #

              Their natural habitat is the high school gymnasium.

    • Someone
      Someone
      April 20, 2015 at 1:50 am | #

      I’m pretty sure Jenaside is fighting someone to the death over the computer.
      They have magical powers.

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        April 20, 2015 at 3:06 am | #

        Is it only Jen’s computer or do all computers have magical powers?

        • Someone
          Someone
          April 20, 2015 at 9:46 am | #

          The computer does not have magical powers Jenaside and her arch enemy do

          • No Name
            No Name
            April 20, 2015 at 12:29 pm | #

            Then don’t dangle your modifiers! They don’t like it any more than you!

    • Jen Aside
      Jen Aside
      April 20, 2015 at 8:03 pm | #

      http://www.dumbingofage.com/2012/comic/book-2/02-choosing-my-religion/text/

  26. Bagge
    Bagge
    April 20, 2015 at 12:31 am | #

    Wow, headcanon confirmed. I assumed way back that they were the touchy-feely kind of friends.

    Awwww. Becky wants to help but doesn’t know how. Welcome to planet Joyce.

  27. Rodimiss
    Rodimiss
    April 20, 2015 at 12:36 am | #

    I feel like this explains Joyce’s thing towards Sal. But I also feel that Joyce would be a very physically affectionate person no matter what.

    It’s okay you two, just hug.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      April 20, 2015 at 12:38 am | #

      I also feel that – which makes it extra sad when you realize that the only person she actually has been physical with in college before Becky came was Ethan. That puts an extra spin on the isolation she felt.

      • Deanatay
        Deanatay
        April 20, 2015 at 9:37 am | #

        Her clothing reinforces that. The only bare skin she has right now is her fingertips and her face. God help her if she starts wearing gloves and a face mask.

        • DarkoNeko
          DarkoNeko
          April 20, 2015 at 10:56 am | #

          Sal is all “cover your hands ! Don’t you have any shame ?!”

        • Bagge
          Bagge
          April 20, 2015 at 10:59 am | #

          That’s Amazi-girl when she rescues cats. Joyce would be a great sidekick

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          April 20, 2015 at 12:57 pm | #

          I’ve been wondering for a while whether she wears turtlenecks as armor, for when she feels especially vulnerable, but it could just be autumn and I’m overthinking it.

          • Bagge
            Bagge
            April 20, 2015 at 1:25 pm | #

            And that she takes Sal’s advice and amps up her usual style to OWN THE FUDGE OF IT. Both in order to be cool and in order to take a stand for her identity and core values, kinda like Becky.

            …but yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s an armor too.

        • No Name
          No Name
          April 20, 2015 at 9:34 pm | #

          She can’t wear her gloves – Ruth threw them out the window, remember?

  28. Opus the Poet
    Opus the Poet
    April 20, 2015 at 12:43 am | #

    I has the sads for Joyce, and slightly less so for Becky.

  29. Cerberus
    Cerberus
    April 20, 2015 at 12:47 am | #

    Also, I’m really excited that this is where we start seeing Becky, the friend, the side of her that made Becky the person Joyce frantically tried to call when things were topsy-turvy. I mean, she’s not only being actively present, but also being super cautious on boundaries while also checking and double-checking on her emotional state. With that and the history of close physical support, I really feel this is the point where Becky might help to at least listen to Joyce and help her sort out her feelings regarding her evolving faith, Ethan, (I really hope the whole Ryan thing what with the bloody sweater thing), the stand-off with her parents.

    Because based on Joyce’s actions so far, that seems to have been a dynamic they’ve had before and I think it might be crucial for Joyce to really reopen at least a less huggy form of it now.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      April 20, 2015 at 12:53 am | #

      That Joyce and Becky are very, very important to each other has been clear from the start, but here we see a bit more of why. I really hope they have that talk soon.

      • Airyu
        Airyu
        April 20, 2015 at 1:11 am | #

        I really hope they talk about everything. As much as Joyce needs to open up, there’s bound to be other stuff that Becky has had happen at Andersen too. I hope they both open up to each other.

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          April 20, 2015 at 12:58 pm | #

          Yes. Friends being nice to each other for the win.

  30. poofdepoof
    poofdepoof
    April 20, 2015 at 1:09 am | #

    I’m the youngest in my family, and as far as I know a straight lady, and I am VERY cuddly. Like, I single-handedly turned my family into a hugging family by hugging everyone into acceptance… So, for me, hugs and cuddling are perfectly appropriate in a platonic lady friendship. But then again, who knows what that “whatnot” is.

    • zach
      zach
      April 20, 2015 at 1:31 am | #

      I am a male in his 20’s.

      I hugged a dog into submition not to long ago. All were impressed/weirded out!

      At least the dog was finally calm.

      The people pressent sucked, that’s why I went for the dog.

      • Orbit Junkie
        Orbit Junkie
        April 20, 2015 at 2:47 am | #

        I became a hugger after being tackle-hugged into submission by a friend.

        • DarkoNeko
          DarkoNeko
          April 20, 2015 at 4:19 am | #

          …that sounds scary.

          • Orbit Junkie
            Orbit Junkie
            April 20, 2015 at 4:40 am | #

            So you understand my initial reluctance.

        • gwalla
          gwalla
          April 20, 2015 at 5:15 pm | #

          So it’s spread sort of like vampirism?

          • Orbit Junkie
            Orbit Junkie
            April 20, 2015 at 6:03 pm | #

            http://goo.gl/INJUJv

      • Screwball
        Screwball
        April 20, 2015 at 4:38 am | #

        Hugging a Dog into submission? Both me & Daniel the Human are impressed…

    • Rycan
      Rycan
      April 20, 2015 at 4:27 am | #

      The hugs are contagious?

      • Orbit Junkie
        Orbit Junkie
        April 20, 2015 at 4:42 am | #

        Very much so. Like viral Care Bears.

        • Rich
          Rich
          April 20, 2015 at 7:19 am | #

          Thanks for the wonderful mental image of a rabid Tenderheart Bear foaming at the mouth.

  31. modernpython
    modernpython
    April 20, 2015 at 1:11 am | #

    In the first dumbing of age book, one of David Willis’s comments is “now we have met 5 nation characters (and Becky)”. Now Its more along the lines of “five main characters (and Joe)”

    Sorry Joe I still love you

  32. WingedBeast
    WingedBeast
    April 20, 2015 at 1:16 am | #

    This is a Becky I like.

  33. acher4
    acher4
    April 20, 2015 at 2:58 am | #

    Well….that explains a lot! 😛

  34. Professor Fate
    Professor Fate
    April 20, 2015 at 3:21 am | #

    Poor Joyce. So conflicted. Repression is a terrible thing. It leads to all sorts of traumas that affect your entire life. Live in the moment, Joyce, follow your heart, don’t build your life around the afterlife, yield to temptation, enjoy the pleasures of the flesh, embrace the now, live every day as if it were your last, you’ll be a better person for it.

    • Jerden
      Jerden
      April 20, 2015 at 4:39 pm | #

      Living every day as if it were your last would seem to involve a lot of saying goodbye.
      Maybe I’m too literal.

      • Rycan
        Rycan
        April 20, 2015 at 6:32 pm | #

        It would also involve a slew of terrible decisions and probably some addictions, I would think. Impulse control is a valuable thing.

      • Rich
        Rich
        April 20, 2015 at 10:53 pm | #

        My version would involve constant panic attacks as I confronted my own mortality, along with insincere religious conversions right before bedtime. Really not seeing the appeal.

  35. Kryss LaBryn
    Kryss LaBryn
    April 20, 2015 at 7:05 am | #

    You know, a hundred years ago, when guys all assumed that women just couldn’t have *real* orgasms and whatnot unless peen was directly involved, it was considered perfectly acceptable for “close lady friends” to even be naked and doing stuff in bed together. Like, I mean, even if they got caught, hey, they’re just really close friends, and everyone knows women tend to be more touchy-feely with friends than guys do.

    I mean, it’s not like they’re having sex or anything. No peens are involved so they can’t be!

    So, Joyce, you just need to get, you know, a little more old-fashioned with your social mores. 😀

    • Rich
      Rich
      April 20, 2015 at 7:42 am | #

      Think you need to recheck your history. Lesbian awareness was flourishing in the late 1800s and early 1900s up until about the Great Depression. The 1920s in particular saw a tremendous growth of the community, at least in the US. Guys (especially medical guys) had some freaky ideas about sex back then (look up John Harvey Kellogg sometime – you’ll ever eat his cereals again) but you had to be a pretty sheltered adult not to know that lesbian sex was a thing, even if the specific details were vague.

      • Rich
        Rich
        April 20, 2015 at 7:49 am | #

        Agh. “never eat his cerals again” that is. Because carbolic acid, that’s why.

        • Heavensrun
          Heavensrun
          April 20, 2015 at 8:59 am | #

          I’m fairly certain he’s no longer with the company.

          • Jerden
            Jerden
            April 20, 2015 at 4:40 pm | #

            In spirit he is. OOOOOOOOOOO, spooky ghost cereal.

            • Rich
              Rich
              April 20, 2015 at 10:50 pm | #

              Nah, Boo Berry was a General Mills cereal, not Kellogg’s.

              Also, egad, I cannot spell properly today.

      • TPman
        TPman
        April 21, 2015 at 12:44 am | #

        A lot of things took a step back during the Great Depression. The 1920’s were a lot more progressive than people think.

  36. GollyGamma
    GollyGamma
    April 20, 2015 at 8:36 am | #

    The storyline’s great and all, but I’m honestly just looking forward to the next thing centered around Roz.

    That said, the whole comic is awesome and it’s a treat to see the updates every day!

  37. Lulu
    Lulu
    April 20, 2015 at 9:23 am | #

    I would read a Slipshine moment called “Platonic Lady Friendship”.

    • Orbit Junkie
      Orbit Junkie
      April 20, 2015 at 1:14 pm | #

      Joyce and Becky Perform a Cuddle.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      April 20, 2015 at 1:22 pm | #

      That’s not slipshine as much as the main comic.

  38. Deanatay
    Deanatay
    April 20, 2015 at 9:47 am | #

    I just realized Joyce’s sweater vest makes her look like she’s being eaten by a large beetle.

    • Airyu
      Airyu
      April 20, 2015 at 12:22 pm | #

      I’m trying to figure out what’s under it. Is she wearing a vest over a halter-top over a turtleneck?

  39. Bill
    Bill
    April 20, 2015 at 11:37 am | #

    You know, I’ve been staring at Joyce’s outfit in these last few panels of this segment if the story and I’ll be dambed if I can figure out just what she is wearing.  It looks like she is wearing a sweater-vest (of course!) over a long-sleeved turtleneck; but if that’s the case then what’s with the orange-and-bluish things that looks like collar lapels?  Is there actually such a thing as a sweater-vest with a collar?

    • somebody
      somebody
      April 20, 2015 at 12:28 pm | #

      It’s not a collar, it’s a hood.

      First panel here has a little bit of a shot of it from the back: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2015/comic/book-5/03-the-butterflies-fly-away/forthright/

      These two have better shots of the same vest, but in a different color: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-4/04-the-whiteboard-dong-bandit/ruin/ http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-4/04-the-whiteboard-dong-bandit/bluffing/

  40. John
    John
    April 20, 2015 at 12:19 pm | #

    I think it’s a hood. Check panel two back here.

    • Bill
      Bill
      April 20, 2015 at 12:42 pm | #

      I saw that, but a sleeveless hoodie made even less sense than a collared sweater-vest.

      • Kamino Neko
        Kamino Neko
        April 20, 2015 at 12:55 pm | #

        Hooded vests are pretty common, actually. They’re generally pretty warm, but Joyce clearly has icewater flowing through her veins.

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          April 20, 2015 at 1:12 pm | #

          It’s a hooded sweater-vest, over a mock turtleneck. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this look on preschool teachers in the autumn.

      • Nono
        Nono
        April 20, 2015 at 1:05 pm | #

        Sleeveless hoodies are actually pretty common – especially in summer, but if you have a long-sleeved shirt they can be used just for layering as well as having something to cover your head if need be.

  41. Isaac Rader
    Isaac Rader
    April 20, 2015 at 1:57 pm | #

    “Skewed?”
    …This explains SO MUCH.

  42. OmegaDez
    OmegaDez
    April 20, 2015 at 3:54 pm | #

    I do wonder why things should change because she’s into it.

    Hugs are okay, unless one party involved enjoys the said hug more than the other?

  43. zaratustra
    zaratustra
    April 20, 2015 at 3:57 pm | #

    Joyce Performs A Snuggle

  44. Kryss LaBryn
    Kryss LaBryn
    April 20, 2015 at 4:25 pm | #

    You guys gotta help me. I’m trying to track down a strip that has gone missing from my hard drive, and for the life of me, I can’t find it online.

    I had thought it was a Penny Arcade one, but I can’t find it there, either. It’s a commentary on the whole DC-Reboots-Starfire issue, and it has a woman complaining to her gay friend about the reboot of Starfire, and how sexist and awful it is, and her friend agrees, saying it’s completely unfair they only rebooted Starfire, and adds something to the effect of how other DC aliens should get a sexy reboot. It ends with a little fantasy he has of a DC Reboot Sexy!Martian Manhunter saying he requires assistance, and “will trade carnal pleasure” for help with his sunscreen.

    Has anyone else seen this one? It’s not one of my usual webcomics and I suspect someone linked to it (possibly from Shortpacked), and I’m having the devil’s own time finding it again. You guys would really do me a solid if you could point me at it again (or even if you remember what strip it was in).

    Meanwhile, I need to go talk to a guy about how far back he restored my files…

    • zee
      zee
      April 20, 2015 at 7:20 pm | #

      It’s from d20 monkeys. One of my favorites (on my harddrive too 🙂

      http://www.d20monkey.com/comic/equaltime/

      • Kryss LaBryn
        Kryss LaBryn
        April 20, 2015 at 8:47 pm | #

        :DDD Thanks so much!!! 😀 That’s the one! Yay!!! :DDD <33333

  45. Tenn
    Tenn
    April 20, 2015 at 5:27 pm | #

    I was half-expecting some comment about how Becky really should’ve asked “Are you okay?” before Joyce answered it herself. Very pleased to find that I was wrong. 🙂

    • Rowen Morland
      Rowen Morland
      April 20, 2015 at 11:11 pm | #

      10 comments up from yours.

      (No, don’t look. I am lying)

  46. chris73
    chris73
    April 20, 2015 at 6:16 pm | #

    This is why i keep reading this comic, the issues and situations that’re brought up that keep making me reconsider what I thought i knew and to think about situations that would never have occured to me

  47. Madstuart
    Madstuart
    April 20, 2015 at 10:02 pm | #

    What are you talking about? This is every platonic lady friendship when you go to a women’s college.

  48. VashM16
    VashM16
    April 20, 2015 at 10:49 pm | #

    nah hugs and cuddling is a very healthy platonic friendship for any gender

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