Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
RSS
‹
›
  • Home
  • About/Read before posting
  • Archive↓
    • by calendar
  • Cast
  • Store↓
    • Main Store (books and stuff)
    • T-shirts
  • Patreon↓
    • Patreon (regular)
    • Patreon (NSFW)
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
bros bros bros bros bros bros
First Previous Random 334Comments Share Next Latest
Reddit Digg Facebook MySpace Delicious Stumbleupon Buzz Up! Mixx Technorati Google Bookmarks Yahoo Bookmarks Yahoo MyWeb Windows Live Propeller FriendFeed Newsvine Xanga LinkedIn Blinklist Twitter
Discover more Hiveworks comics
Freakshow
Scotty
A festival of broken people, blood flows in the center ring. Come one and come all, to the greatest show in all of Paris.
Not Drunk Enough
Tess Stone
Logan Ibarra is possibly the unluckiest repairman in the world. A late night job should not have landed him in the middle of a mad scientist's squabble, but he soon finds himself surrounded by monsters and further madness with little tools to get out.
ARISE, YE SKELETON KING
Brian Clevinger, Escher Cattle, Lee Black
A troupe of wandering "adventurers" down to their last silver "acquire" a map only to find the real treasure was the fiend they dug up along the way.
The Weave
Rennie Kingsley
A young woman pursued by bad luck is witness to the murder of the Fairy Queen of Summer. Can she get to the bottom of this mystery?
Nigh Heaven & Hell
Scotty
Heather Vodihn is on a simple mission: find her father. However she becomes entangled with two strangers with mysterious powers being stalked by a group with bizarre demands. Heather must learn to trust her new traveling companions, even if she is untrustworthy herself.
Angel's Orchard
Harry Bogosian
After the events in Demon's Mirror, Gerda has accepted her role as a Demon Hunter, and Cezar has traveled back to the Demon City. Demons have existed alongside humans for millennia, so things begin to return to normal. But an impossibly powerful Relic has been taken by one of the Demon Masters, and a silent war enters its final stages.
Sister Claire
Yamino
In the troubled aftermath of a great war between Witches and her fellow Nuns, novice Sister Claire just wants a purpose.
Ozzie the Vampire
Eric Lide
Ozzie and her best friend Kimmy are your average everyday normal art students – except one is an immortal vampire with superpowers and the other possesses a magic talking grimoire. Also they have to save their town from a demonic invasion.
Sleepless Domain
Mary Cagle (Cube Watermelon)
In a world where magical girls and their battles are commonplace, loss has become all too common as well.
Sakana
Mad Rupert
Our heroes must navigate a hazardous dating scene, overcome personal anxieties, and wrangle unruly seafood in order to find love, peace of mind, and a paycheck.
Saint for Rent
Ru Xu
Saint Halliday runs an inn for Time Travelers. Unfortunately, he seems to attract other supernatural "guests," too.
Namesake
Isa, Meg
There's ghosts at your heels and fairy tale worlds ahead. What do you do? Jump down the rabbit hole!
The Messenger
indui
In a ruin-abound town cursed with bad luck, Kai and Kalla--a young boy and a fledgling dragonbird spirit--take on a quest in hopes the reward will solve all of their problems.
Cyanide & Happiness
Explosm
Satire, dark humor and surreal humor.
Heroes of Thantopolis
Izzy Strontium Hall
A living boy fights to save the City of the Dead.
Barbarous
Ananth Hirsh, Yuko Ota
A crummy wizard and an anxious monster have to get over themselves and bring order to an apartment building full of misfits.
Lies Within
Lacey
Lysander's aimless and carefree life is turned upside down when he accidentally discovers that the cute boy next door, Simon, is a literal monster
Stand Still, Stay Silent
Minna Sundberg
A few generations after the end of the world, a small, poorly financed research crew is sent out to rediscover whatever is left of the forbidden old world in the south.
Nerf Now!!
Josué Pereira
A cute webcomic about fanservice, video games, and... love. Mostly video games, though.
Empowered
Adam Warren
A sexy superhero comedy (except when it isn't) about the never-ending struggles of a plucky but very unlucky young superheroine.
Peritale
Mari Costa
A fairy godmother with no magic tries her best to successfully fulfill a Fairytale and win the respect of her peers.
Augustine
Winter Jay Kiakas, Windy
August and her ragtag group are just like everyone else, simply surviving in the treacherous Crater... When they stumble into what may be an artifact of the ancient past, their lives are thrown into a much bigger loop as they trifle with bounty hunters, monsters and gods.
Guilded Age
T Campbell, John Waltrip, Florence Machina
Welcome to the saga of the working-class adventurer! Enjoy the complete story with new annotations daily!
Novae
KaiJu
A historical romance with a touch magic and a dash of astronomy. It chronicles the romantic adventures of Sulvain, a sweet tempered necromancer and Raziol, a passionate 17th century astronomer.
Dumbing of Age
David M Willis
Joyce has been homeschooled her entire life until now, when she's suddenly a freshman in college! Things don't go well.
Monster's Garden
Ash G.
Champion pit fighter Kilo Monster was content to spend the rest of his days tending to his quiet garden alone... until he met a curious robot girl and her human family.
The Golden Boar
Magnolia Porter Siddell
A young woman joins a group of summoners who call forth Guardian Beasts to protect their isolated magical island. Unfortunately, her Guardian Beast is nothing like she'd imagined, and he's about to change her life, and everything she thought she knew about herself...
Blindsprings
Kadi Fedoruk
Tamaura, wrested into a world 300 years in the future, must find a way to save the magic fading from her country.
Three Panel Soul
Matt Boyd, Ian McConville
It's a pretty rigid format but we keep the content loose, you know?
Edison Rex
Chris Roberson
The adventures of the world’s greatest villain who, after defeating his superheroic nemesis, decides that he’s the only one left to defend the world.
Little Tiny Things
Clover
What are the little things that move us? The simple joys that warm our bodies and hearts? The micro life of insects that influence our world more than we think? The tiny steps we make everyday to have a happier tomorrow?
Darkling Bright
Chris Hazelton
Kieran Bright is a college student home for the summer and roped into an online reunion with his old neighborhood friends in the most recent update of their favorite childhood MMORPG. At least, he was, and that was the idea... Join Kieran and his friends as they are pulled into another reality that may or may not be real and are forced to confront their own identities, the nature of simulated universes and reality itself.
BOOKMARK
Click "Tag Page" to bookmark a page. When you return to the site, click "Goto Tag" to continue where you left off.
Goto TagClear Tag


BUFFER WATCH Comics are currently drawn and uploaded through:

May 22, 2026

Frieda

by David M Willis on June 9, 2016 at 12:01 am
  • 04 - It All Returns
└ Tags: congressional aide, dawson, frieda, robin, taylor, tyler

Discussion (334) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. AnvilPro
    AnvilPro
    June 9, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    Those glasses aren’t nearly thick enough

    • Durandal_1707
      Durandal_1707
      June 9, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

      And Frieda doesn’t even have naturally curly hair.

      • AnvilPro
        AnvilPro
        June 9, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

        Robin is already down 2, I look forward to seeing her bounce back from these huge set backs.

        • Doctor_Who
          Doctor_Who
          June 9, 2016 at 12:14 am | #

          Robin: “Know what always bounces back? These gazongas!”

          Let’s hope she keeps comments like that to herself in this universe, or her rep as the family values candidate is going down the tubes.

          • Orion Fury
            Orion Fury
            June 9, 2016 at 12:39 am | #

            SP Quote? Or just a case of Beam Me Up, Scotty?

            • Doctor_Who
              Doctor_Who
              June 9, 2016 at 1:29 am | #

              Not a direct quote perhaps, but she was always bragging about the quality of her chest matter.

              Random example.

              • xtravisage
                xtravisage
                June 9, 2016 at 12:06 pm | #

                I can’t click that link

          • Robin
            Robin
            June 9, 2016 at 6:25 pm | #

            i have a feeling Robin would say “huge honkers” :^)

      • rick
        rick
        June 9, 2016 at 5:57 am | #

        I see what you did there…o

        • Durandal_1707
          Durandal_1707
          June 9, 2016 at 5:01 pm | #

          I’m really kind of surprised that no one else got it.

    • Willoughby Chase
      Willoughby Chase
      June 9, 2016 at 12:56 am | #

      They arent horney enough either.

  2. Mr. Mendo
    Mr. Mendo
    June 9, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    The strip is getting Shortpacked-a-riffic all up in here! ^_^

    • Ana Chronistic
      Ana Chronistic
      June 9, 2016 at 12:17 am | #

      Unpaid interns are free, right??

      (dangit lost track of time in my Steam library)

      • Jay Eff
        Jay Eff
        June 9, 2016 at 12:27 am | #

        They weren’t actually free.
        It’s just that their barcodes weren’t scanning when Frieda picked them up from the Intern Store…

      • Rebecca
        Rebecca
        June 9, 2016 at 1:31 am | #

        I appreciate the explanation. Good to know that you’re okay. 😉

    • Rebecca
      Rebecca
      June 9, 2016 at 1:32 am | #

      I’m so excited. I like Dumbing of Age, but being the jerk that I am I find myself usually whispering to myself, “Still not Shortpacked!”

    • Willoughby Chase
      Willoughby Chase
      June 9, 2016 at 3:37 pm | #

      When two worlds collide! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csxBQLG4-3Q

      Ah, the Inspirals!

  3. Andr3wtime
    Andr3wtime
    June 9, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    BROS BROS BROS BROS

    • Stephen R. Bierce
      Stephen R. Bierce
      June 9, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

      DE SANBROS

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      June 9, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

      I prefer to think of them as Quinn’s wannabe-boyfriends from Daria.

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        June 9, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

        Joey, Jeffy and…Justin?

        (Jaimie)

        • magicallady
          magicallady
          June 9, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

          i thought the third guys name was johnny

          • Shaunock
            Shaunock
            June 9, 2016 at 2:20 am | #

            Pretty sure at least one needs to be “Chad”

      • vlademir1
        vlademir1
        June 9, 2016 at 4:41 am | #

        Why do these random comments that remind me it’s been ages since I stopped in on PPMB and make me feel guilty for that fact seem to come in bunches?

    • magicallady
      magicallady
      June 9, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

      BROS BROS BROS BROS BROS BROS BROS BROS BROS BRO? BRO BRO~! BROS BROS BROS

      • Tacos
        Tacos
        June 9, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

        Say it long enough and it doesn’t sound like it’s a real word anymore.

      • lejwocky
        lejwocky
        June 9, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

        FRANGINS FRANGINS FRANGINS
        TOUT DES FRANGINS

        • DarkoNeko
          DarkoNeko
          June 9, 2016 at 12:15 am | #

          Ça rend moins bien, je trouve.

          • dralou
            dralou
            June 9, 2016 at 7:07 am | #

            Mmmm, je trouve que ça sonne plus amical, moins “fratrie de mâââââles”. I… actually like it better that way.

          • Hno
            Hno
            June 9, 2016 at 8:14 am | #

            surtout grammaticalement.

            • WolfLann
              WolfLann
              June 9, 2016 at 10:26 am | #

              Exactement.
              C’est TOUS pas TOUT.
              Comme dans la chanson des mousquetaires:

              Avec nous, venez croiser le fer.
              Les méchants vont mordre la pousière.
              Sous le signe des Mousquetaires,
              On est TOUS des frèèèèèères

          • WolfLann
            WolfLann
            June 9, 2016 at 10:19 am | #

            Ouais ca sonne bizarre a haute voix.
            Quoique BROS sonne pas vraiment mieux répété trop souvent.
            Ça doit être l’age qui me rattrape 😛

      • -Sentinel-
        -Sentinel-
        June 9, 2016 at 12:19 am | #

        http://poorlydrawnlines.com/comic/bro/

      • Orion Fury
        Orion Fury
        June 9, 2016 at 12:42 am | #

        Bro.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        June 9, 2016 at 2:57 am | #

        BROS! BROS! BROS! BROS! BROS!

        • StClair
          StClair
          June 9, 2016 at 6:51 am | #

          *raises hand*
          that was me, yes.

    • Deanatay
      Deanatay
      June 9, 2016 at 9:01 am | #

      At least they’re not saying ‘brah’. I HATE that.

      Or ‘bruh’. I mean, what’s that mean, anyway?

      Dude.

      • Darchias
        Darchias
        June 9, 2016 at 10:11 am | #

        Bro is supposedly a shortened version of the word, ‘brother’. However, most American accents (all I believe, but I’m not 100% sure) pronounce brother as ‘bruh-ther’ or ‘bruh-tha’. ‘Bruh’, therefore, is a slightly MORE accurate shortening of the word ‘brother’.

      • Darchias
        Darchias
        June 9, 2016 at 10:12 am | #

        Also, ‘brah’ is ‘bro’ with a Southern California accent.

      • rectilinearpropagation
        rectilinearpropagation
        June 9, 2016 at 2:04 pm | #

        “Bruh” is “bro” with a certain tone/inflection, usually of WTF but can also be annoyance.

        “I spent the rent on 50 liters of ice cream.”
        “Bruh”

        See also, this face https://www.google.com/search?q=bruh&oq=bruh&aqs=chrome..69i57j0j5j0.3004j0j4&client=ms-android-google&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=DX9sCzAuphv2QM%3A

        Urban Dictionary says it’s just a greeting. They are wrong.

  4. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    June 9, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    Aw jeez. These guys always used to set my teeth on edge in Shortpacked.

  5. carl320
    carl320
    June 9, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    Bros, Bros, Bros!

    • inqntrol
      inqntrol
      June 9, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

      You could say they are a Broforce.

      • Tacos
        Tacos
        June 9, 2016 at 12:11 am | #

        Bro-Force! Bro-On!

    • Finley
      Finley
      June 9, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

      “Bro?”

      “Bro.”

      “BRO!!!”

      “Brooooo.”

      “Well, since you put it that way…”

      • Deanatay
        Deanatay
        June 9, 2016 at 9:05 am | #

        “Dude.”
        “Dude!”
        “Dude…”
        “DUDE!!”
        “Dude! DUDE.”
        “… Okay, good point.”

        -Actual quote from “BASEketball”

    • Willoughby Chase
      Willoughby Chase
      June 9, 2016 at 3:33 pm | #

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvQTTA9raJU

      BROS!

  6. Raibean
    Raibean
    June 9, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    How many of them are named Reagan

    • Stephen R. Bierce
      Stephen R. Bierce
      June 9, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

      They went and grabbed ol’ Ronnie
      He’s not the only one, saying
      It’s A Mistake
      …

  7. Mr. Random
    Mr. Random
    June 9, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    …. Are we sure these are different people?

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      June 9, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

      Maybe it’s one person moving very fast.

      • Slartibeast Button, BIA
        Slartibeast Button, BIA
        June 9, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

        Timeshifted echoes caused by Robin’s latent superspeed powers.

      • DarkoNeko
        DarkoNeko
        June 9, 2016 at 12:16 am | #

        It’s the result of a cloning experiment, 20 years ago.

      • Tacos
        Tacos
        June 9, 2016 at 12:19 am | #

        After a certain age, Bros spontaneously subdivide. Like amoeba.

        • Slartibeast Button, BIA
          Slartibeast Button, BIA
          June 9, 2016 at 12:22 am | #

          After the IP rights revert.

        • AgentKeen
          AgentKeen
          June 9, 2016 at 1:01 am | #

          Don’t Transformers bud in certain continuities?

          • Orion Fury
            Orion Fury
            June 9, 2016 at 1:06 am | #

            I don’t think we talk about that. I think the fandom has mixed feelings on BM.

            • Tacos
              Tacos
              June 9, 2016 at 1:23 am | #

              I think I recall budding coming from the G2 comics.

              • Orion Fury
                Orion Fury
                June 9, 2016 at 1:26 am | #

                Huh, never read those. I was casual till BW. Think I’ve forgotten most stuff though, enough to barely be called casual now. Though if I had money, I’d be all over the Combiners line. They’re the Transformers I wanted 25+ years ago.

  8. Wheelpath
    Wheelpath
    June 9, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    One of us! One of us! One of us!

    • SundaesChild
      SundaesChild
      June 9, 2016 at 7:46 am | #

      Do you think they’re cognizant of how bad they’ve got it?

      • BenRG
        BenRG
        June 9, 2016 at 8:25 am | #

        Politics of all stripes and wings tends to bring with it complimentary blinders and critical thinking bypasses.

        • Clif
          Clif
          June 9, 2016 at 11:49 am | #

          Yep. Could you help get the word out by making a small donation?

  9. Bicycle Bill
    Bicycle Bill
    June 9, 2016 at 12:02 am | #

    She’s definitely a Republican.

    • Anon
      Anon
      June 9, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

      Politician*
      If you think Democrats pay all of their interns, you’re kidding yourself.

      • -Sentinel-
        -Sentinel-
        June 9, 2016 at 12:20 am | #

        But I think only Republicans talk about trickle-down economics.

        • Bicycle Bill
          Bicycle Bill
          June 9, 2016 at 12:30 am | #

          Exactly.  In the Republican lexicon, “trickle-down” is the euphemism for “pissed on”.

        • Anon
          Anon
          June 9, 2016 at 12:30 am | #

          Ah, yes that is true. If that’s what they were referring to, then they are most likely republicans. Although it was fairly obvious, based on past conversations.

        • Dana
          Dana
          June 9, 2016 at 12:32 am | #

          Everybody loves talking about trickle-down economics. The parties differentiate themselves by whether it’s the cause or source of all the world’s problems.

          • Dana
            Dana
            June 9, 2016 at 12:33 am | #

            Oops, misstated that. Cure or cause. I guess my political leanings are showing.

            • Orion Fury
              Orion Fury
              June 9, 2016 at 12:45 am | #

              I’m gonna hazard a guess and assume commenters here lean left on average. What with the support of equality and what have you.

              • Cerberus
                Cerberus
                June 9, 2016 at 1:08 am | #

                Curse reality’s well-known liberal bias!

                • Orion Fury
                  Orion Fury
                  June 9, 2016 at 1:24 am | #

                  And then you have the inverse, of course.

            • Amazi-Stool
              Amazi-Stool
              June 9, 2016 at 5:18 pm | #

              Actually (according to Robin) it’s “the cause of — and solution to– all our problems.“

    • BenRG
      BenRG
      June 9, 2016 at 5:32 am | #

      Frieda’s comment about Ross’s rampage affecting Robin’s numbers is the clincher for that, IMO. I can’t see a Democrat representative being hurt politically by a gun crime incident on campus.

      • MM
        MM
        June 9, 2016 at 8:21 am | #

        Also, if you go back to the strips where she was introduced, the map of her constituents makes it pretty clear she’s a Republican. That, and Leslie’s admission she voted for “the white guy.”

    • AriBerri
      AriBerri
      June 9, 2016 at 12:05 pm | #

      I always just assumed Republican bc she reminds me of Sarah Palin

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        June 9, 2016 at 1:25 pm | #

        Robin came first.

  10. Kkiten
    Kkiten
    June 9, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

    She has some sympathy for unpaid interns, so she’s not completely a politician yet.

  11. TheGrammarLegionary
    TheGrammarLegionary
    June 9, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

    Gee, I seem to remember Robin deeply regretting the last time she pushed back on Manley…

  12. toki
    toki
    June 9, 2016 at 12:03 am | #

    are those the BROS! BROS! BROS! dudes from QC?

    • Zane
      Zane
      June 9, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

      They’re from Shortpacked.

    • Cephalo the Pod
      Cephalo the Pod
      June 9, 2016 at 12:07 am | #

      No, they come from Shortpacked, I’m sure of it. They’re the guys who keep calling people arrogant.

    • Sheason
      Sheason
      June 9, 2016 at 12:09 am | #

      http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1862

      Doesn’t look like it.

      • Orion Fury
        Orion Fury
        June 9, 2016 at 12:48 am | #

        But they don’t have matching clothes, hair, hairstyles, height. Probably other things as well. But I do believe Bros are a multiverse constant, so perhaps they just ended up different there.

  13. Bicycle Bill
    Bicycle Bill
    June 9, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

    So why would you tag the interns by name, but not the aide?

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      June 9, 2016 at 12:07 am | #

      ‘Cause Word of Willis.

    • MatthewTheLucky
      MatthewTheLucky
      June 9, 2016 at 1:18 am | #

      The interns are established Shortpacked characters, like Ethan, Amber, or Ryu.

      • Gigafreak
        Gigafreak
        June 9, 2016 at 9:48 am | #

        I mean, I think the aide was, too, but never received a name.

        That said, Manley was basically “exactly Robin except opposite gender” in Shortpacked, so I wonder what he’s like in this universe.

  14. Doom Shepherd
    Doom Shepherd
    June 9, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

    My first thought flashed to the “Adam Ruins Everything” that pointed out that most internships are actually illegal. I wonder if this will go there.

    • Some1
      Some1
      June 9, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

      I love how even Robin feels weird about not paying the interns.

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      June 9, 2016 at 12:51 am | #

      Looking forward to the next season. The ‘Ruins Death’ episode was a good one.

  15. Dean
    Dean
    June 9, 2016 at 12:04 am | #

    Three guys is not an army, Frieda.

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      June 9, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

      More like a squad actually.

      • EvilMidnightLurker
        EvilMidnightLurker
        June 9, 2016 at 12:33 am | #

        Get two ladies and it’s a sentai.

        • Orion Fury
          Orion Fury
          June 9, 2016 at 12:54 am | #

          Is there a term for a female version of a Bro, or is Bro gender neutral?

          • MatthewTheLucky
            MatthewTheLucky
            June 9, 2016 at 1:19 am | #

            Sis.

            • Orion Fury
              Orion Fury
              June 9, 2016 at 1:22 am | #

              Is there a plural form, or does it count for both?

              • MatthewTheLucky
                MatthewTheLucky
                June 9, 2016 at 2:34 am | #

                Sib?

              • Heavensrun
                Heavensrun
                June 9, 2016 at 10:44 am | #

                Sisses.

          • Disloyal Subject
            Disloyal Subject
            June 9, 2016 at 1:35 am | #

            I’d say it’s gender neutral. There’s some girls I call bro who I’d never call sis, and vice versa.

          • DSL
            DSL
            June 9, 2016 at 7:17 am | #

            Closest I’ve heard is Bongos, with a z or maybe two z’s in place of an s, but I think you’re only allowed to call yourself, or your own group of “bongoezz,” that.

            • Gigafreak
              Gigafreak
              June 9, 2016 at 9:54 am | #

              Hilarity, thy name is “Autofilter.”

        • Slartibeast Button, BIA
          Slartibeast Button, BIA
          June 9, 2016 at 9:56 am | #

          Robin is the Leader, Frieda is the Lancer, Aide is the Chick. Taylor is the Big Guy, Tyler is the Smart Guy, and Dawson is the Sixth Ranger.

        • Kamino Neko
          Kamino Neko
          June 9, 2016 at 4:55 pm | #

          A significant number of Super Sentai teams only have one girl. The majority, I’d wager, but I don’t really want to go through 40 seasons and confirm. Two is more common now than it used to be, but even the one that set the pattern in North America only had one girl in Japan (TigerRanger was a boy. Named Boi.) Also, 3 is a perfectly acceptable team size. (A quick glance through the pictures of the teams on the Ranger Wiki suggests 4 man-1 woman is the single most common set up, followed by 3 man-2 woman, and 2 man-1 woman. Teams larger than five are usually a 3-2 with dudes added later in the season.)

  16. Mav
    Mav
    June 9, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

    Ugh, i have so many feelings about unpaid internships. Good thing in NYS more companies are paying their interns.

    There’s definitely value in volunteering, but part to full time work with no pay? grown people have bills to pay. Hell, some teenagers have bills to pay.

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      June 9, 2016 at 12:12 am | #

      I have only one feeling about unpaid internships, and it’s that they’re terrible.

      • Doctor_Who
        Doctor_Who
        June 9, 2016 at 12:18 am | #

        I lucked out and managed to get a paid one. Didn’t pay MUCH mind you, but at least while I was crashing on my cousin’s couch I could chip in for pizza.

      • Mav
        Mav
        June 9, 2016 at 12:19 am | #

        I was in an interview when I was on summer vacation in college and dude was shocked when I made a similar comment to yours (I know, mistake #1 in an interview). In head I was like, “you see this phone I answered your call with? You think phone service drops outta the sky??”

        I picked up my wings and flew to interview instead of taking the train lol

        Too many people assume since you’re young and in school or just out of school that your parents are paying for everything, for some reason

        • Cerberus
          Cerberus
          June 9, 2016 at 1:07 am | #

          Unpaid internships feel like the touchdown in the quest to see how little companies can value secretarial services and office management staff.

          • Mav
            Mav
            June 9, 2016 at 1:18 am | #

            And it’s nuts that as a society we tend to idolize wealthy people, especially celebrities and companies and let them get away with any and everything.

            But the minute a poor person expresses desire to make more money or even be paid at all or get benefits, that’s a Terrible Thing and how dare you, “don’t you know money corrupts people?”

            • Disloyal Subject
              Disloyal Subject
              June 9, 2016 at 1:43 am | #

              I don’t think I’ve heard that one before, but I don’t doubt that people say it.
              I wonder how often it earns them an assault.

              • Nightsbridge
                Nightsbridge
                June 9, 2016 at 3:39 am | #

                You’ve heard something like it before, one way or another. Ever heard, ‘money can’t buy happiness?’

                • Dean
                  Dean
                  June 9, 2016 at 5:33 am | #

                  I’d like the opportunity to find out for myself, is all.

                • Slartibeast Button, BIA
                  Slartibeast Button, BIA
                  June 9, 2016 at 9:58 am | #

                  It can’t, but it makes misery much more comfortable.

                • John
                  John
                  June 9, 2016 at 1:38 pm | #

                  Money can’t buy happiness, but no money can’t buy anything.

          • Orion Fury
            Orion Fury
            June 9, 2016 at 1:20 am | #

            I wonder what they’d consider FGs and safeties. I bet the extra two points is [Insert I’m Gonna Stop There Before I Say Something REALLY Offensive Joke].

            • Cerberus
              Cerberus
              June 9, 2016 at 1:36 am | #

              Part-time independent Contractors?

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      June 9, 2016 at 3:08 am | #

      But they’ll pay you “in experience”!

      Bootstrapping experience to get your foot in the door is the worst Catch-22. Nobody will interview you without experience, but you can’t get experience without a job. It took me two years to get a job in my field, even with several years of retail experience under my belt. (Then again the economy actually was down the tubes back then. Now they just use that as an excuse.)

    • Willoughby Chase
      Willoughby Chase
      June 9, 2016 at 4:44 am | #

      There was some fuss about unpaid internships for students in London. Only a rich kid can afford to take on these internships, because only they could do a job with no pay and live in London.

      • DonDueed
        DonDueed
        June 9, 2016 at 5:52 am | #

        From the employers’ perspective, that wasn’t a bug, it was a feature. Your unpaid worker was also sure to be of the “right sort”.

        • thejeff
          thejeff
          June 9, 2016 at 6:33 am | #

          Exactly. It’s a class filter.
          If you can afford to work without pay as an investment in your future career, you’ll do better in the long run.

          • Willoughby Chase
            Willoughby Chase
            June 9, 2016 at 10:18 am | #

            In the UK, that’s accentuated by the Eton-Oxford-Cambridge stranglehold.

            Funfact: if a kid from a poor area (usually defined as someone who gets school meals from the state) does manage to make it to Oxbridge and get a 1st, they will end up earning less than the richer, more well-connected members of their cohort.

      • monkyvirus
        monkyvirus
        June 9, 2016 at 7:57 am | #

        Well they’re also actually illegal in the UK and people have successfully fought for back pay. Most people can’t afford an unpaid internship anywhere.

  17. Cattleprod
    Cattleprod
    June 9, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

    Thanks to the sliding time scale, this strip will theoretically be taking place at a point in time where human cloning will be commonplace. Just saying.

  18. Nono
    Nono
    June 9, 2016 at 12:05 am | #

    Manley? That sounds really famil-

    OH RIGHT THE dude that Robin banged in Shortpacked!.

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      June 9, 2016 at 12:10 am | #

      Manly!

  19. tim gueguen
    tim gueguen
    June 9, 2016 at 12:06 am | #

    How would the Questionable Content Bros react to these guys?

    • GuruBuckaroo
      GuruBuckaroo
      June 9, 2016 at 12:09 am | #

      I can’t say for sure, but I imagine they would say something along the lines of “Bros Bros Bros!”

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        June 9, 2016 at 1:41 am | #

        They would be at it all day

        • Tualha
          Tualha
          June 9, 2016 at 2:34 am | #

          Like a bro-ken record.

  20. JessWitt
    JessWitt
    June 9, 2016 at 12:06 am | #

    Oh sure the unpaid bros get tags but not the loyal aide. *grumble* j/k

    • Auroki
      Auroki
      June 9, 2016 at 12:40 am | #

      the aide will earn his name when he fixes his tie~ He is not nearly name worthy enough to be a good aide to our congress woman while looking unprofessional~!

  21. Lan
    Lan
    June 9, 2016 at 12:06 am | #

    Shit now I’m worried. Frieda reminds me of my dad’s family. We don’t talk to my dad’s family anymore.

    • DarkoNeko
      DarkoNeko
      June 9, 2016 at 12:59 am | #

      Let’s be honest, she looks a lot like Mary.

      • Rukduk
        Rukduk
        June 9, 2016 at 2:06 am | #

        Ten bucks says they’re cousins*.

        *Really half-sisters but they don’t know and the family doesn’t talk about it.

      • Needfuldoer
        Needfuldoer
        June 9, 2016 at 3:11 am | #

        I think she looks like a taller Dina, mostly because of the hairstyle.

      • Commodore Jeep-Eep
        Commodore Jeep-Eep
        June 9, 2016 at 5:38 am | #

        Aw fuck, she’s related isn’t she?

      • Tobias
        Tobias
        June 9, 2016 at 8:34 am | #

        I’d say Mary’s her Evil Twin, but so far Frieda hasn’t demonstrated herself to be much of a Good Twin except when compared to Mary…

        Religious Twin and Political Twin?

  22. newllend(henryvolt)
    newllend(henryvolt)
    June 9, 2016 at 12:06 am | #

    Hmmmm I’m just going to leave this here and call it a night: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S35X8lGxGPI

  23. Some1
    Some1
    June 9, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

    hmmm Frieda is only one letter away from Frieza…

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      June 9, 2016 at 12:16 am | #

      It’s a real name! Her parents probably like art.

      • Some1
        Some1
        June 9, 2016 at 12:16 am | #

        Isn’t that Frida?

        • Leorale
          Leorale
          June 9, 2016 at 12:25 am | #

          Yep, she was born Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón.
          Okay so her parents would have to really like art.

          • inqntrol
            inqntrol
            June 9, 2016 at 12:38 am | #

            Still doesn’t beat Picasso’s full name.

            • Orion Fury
              Orion Fury
              June 9, 2016 at 12:56 am | #

              What about Dot’s?

      • skdk
        skdk
        June 9, 2016 at 4:53 am | #

        actually Frida is a very common name in scandinavia

    • Willoughby Chase
      Willoughby Chase
      June 9, 2016 at 5:16 am | #

      Frieda was DH Lawrence’s wife.

  24. Tenzhi
    Tenzhi
    June 9, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

    Let Frieda ring!

    • carl320
      carl320
      June 9, 2016 at 6:26 pm | #

      Now I have that song in my head lol

  25. Undrave
    Undrave
    June 9, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

    That’s some nice absolute territory that Robin is rocking there…

  26. Kris
    Kris
    June 9, 2016 at 12:08 am | #

    So aide doesn’t get his name in the tags but interchangeable unpaid interns I’m sure no one cares about do?….Yeah that seems right.

    • Regalli
      Regalli
      June 9, 2016 at 12:12 am | #

      The difference with the interns (at least as far as I can tell) is that they used to be characters (… so to speak anyway) back in Shortpacked as a minor annoying customer dude and his interchangeable clones guys. So they came in having names before they were completely interchangeable and can therefore be slotted back in, whereas Kyle didn’t up until now and now it’s become a joke.

      (That said, there are some minor DoA-original background characters who do have names, like Asma. So Kyle not having a name is very much the joke now.)

      • John
        John
        June 9, 2016 at 1:45 pm | #

        Asma’s name has still not actually been established in the comic proper.

    • Showler
      Showler
      June 9, 2016 at 12:56 am | #

      Willis has two babies, not an unpaid intern to go back and change previous tags.

      • Orion Fury
        Orion Fury
        June 9, 2016 at 1:29 am | #

        They think that Comic Sans is a good typeface. Clearly they can’t handle the responsibility.

      • David M Willis
        David M Willis
        June 9, 2016 at 1:48 am | #

        Changing tags retroactively is easy. You can edit the tag itself from the dashboard end and all appearances of the tag on the site are altered.

    • DarkoNeko
      DarkoNeko
      June 9, 2016 at 1:00 am | #

      Oh noes, the author did something I don’t agree with !

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      June 9, 2016 at 1:45 am | #

      And good lord, the art style evolution, too.

    • Tualha
      Tualha
      June 9, 2016 at 2:40 am | #

      The bros are unpaid, so Robin has to at least pretend to show a little appreciation for their work. Kyle is paid, and also probably pursuing this as his career, so she can dump on him as much as she likes and she probably does.

      • Willoughby Chase
        Willoughby Chase
        June 9, 2016 at 4:48 am | #

        No no no no no.

        Sad to say it, but people generally only appreciate expensive things and that includes humans.

      • Amazi-Stool
        Amazi-Stool
        June 9, 2016 at 5:12 pm | #

        So it was Robin who put the name of the Bros in the tag list?

    • Willoughby Chase
      Willoughby Chase
      June 9, 2016 at 4:45 am | #

      I thought giving the clones names was the start of good running joke.

    • skdk
      skdk
      June 9, 2016 at 4:49 am | #

      i dont see why so many people disagree with you

      • Kris
        Kris
        June 9, 2016 at 3:20 pm | #

        I was just pointing it out because I thought it was funny. Like the aide gets so little respect even unpaid interns get treated better in the tags. Maybe I was wrong?

        • Kamino Neko
          Kamino Neko
          June 9, 2016 at 5:03 pm | #

          No, you’re right…that is clearly the joke, and it’s amusing.

  27. Regalli
    Regalli
    June 9, 2016 at 12:09 am | #

    THE CLONES HAVE RETURNED!

    And oh hey I forgot she was running against Manley.

  28. Shiro
    Shiro
    June 9, 2016 at 12:09 am | #

    Robin obtained ARMY OF UNPAID BROS!

    • Jay Eff
      Jay Eff
      June 9, 2016 at 12:11 am | #

      And not just any Bros– They’re the “WOOO BROS!”

  29. Cephalo the Pod
    Cephalo the Pod
    June 9, 2016 at 12:09 am | #

    Wait, Frieda? Seriously? That one-shot lady from Shortpacked’s final year?

    …Oh, apparently she also showed up in Shortpacked’s second year as well.

    • Regalli
      Regalli
      June 9, 2016 at 12:14 am | #

      Shortpacked customers: The gift that keeps on giving when you need one-offs and don’t feel like designing a new jerk.

      • JessWitt
        JessWitt
        June 9, 2016 at 12:53 am | #

        I’m still holding out for the last wave of SP! workers to cameo some time.

        • Orion Fury
          Orion Fury
          June 9, 2016 at 1:00 am | #

          What about the common customers?

          • JessWitt
            JessWitt
            June 9, 2016 at 1:14 am | #

            I’m open to that as well but they’re hard to recall.

            • Orion Fury
              Orion Fury
              June 9, 2016 at 1:18 am | #

              They did tend to be one-dimensional. Perhaps customers that Becky would have to deal with in a future job? Though at this rate it’ll be years before that happens, unless he does another time-skip, which I think I read he’s trying to avoid. I am looking forward to any of the holiday themed months. Though he may be dreading Halloween for any characters that would dress up.

        • Tacos
          Tacos
          June 9, 2016 at 1:26 am | #

          I wonder, has Buckets o’ Blood guy appeared?

          • Jason
            Jason
            June 9, 2016 at 1:48 am | #

            Yep! He creeped on Amber in an early strip.

          • Disloyal Subject
            Disloyal Subject
            June 9, 2016 at 1:50 am | #

            Yeah, he wanted to sit next to Amber in CS. She decided to take the chance that the next guy was less creepy. He’s probably got a tag.

            • John
              John
              June 9, 2016 at 1:47 pm | #

              Yep.

  30. Rosaline
    Rosaline
    June 9, 2016 at 12:10 am | #

    Frieda looks to me like an unholy combination of Dina and Mary. Couldn’t say why.

    • Moose
      Moose
      June 9, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

      So I’m not the only one to see a resemblance.

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      June 9, 2016 at 12:16 am | #

      I think she looks like female Ethan.

    • Spidergirl
      Spidergirl
      June 9, 2016 at 12:18 am | #

      Well I suppose we now have a new contender for worst fusion ever

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      June 9, 2016 at 7:24 am | #

      Maybe Roz isn’t the only one with an embarrassing older sister…

    • Tenn
      Tenn
      June 9, 2016 at 6:01 pm | #

      Yep yep. *nods*

  31. maxyai
    maxyai
    June 9, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

    There are a lot of things going on here that I have no clue about because I was not a Shortpacked wonkie.

  32. Teddae
    Teddae
    June 9, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

    BRO.

    i thought she would be running against Sydney Yus in this universe…guess not.

  33. Tacos
    Tacos
    June 9, 2016 at 12:13 am | #

    I wonder how many comments we’ll have of people just saying, “bro”…

    • Doctor_Who
      Doctor_Who
      June 9, 2016 at 12:15 am | #

      DAB

    • Some1
      Some1
      June 9, 2016 at 12:16 am | #

      as of typing this the word Bro has been said 43 times. More updates to come later

      • Orion Fury
        Orion Fury
        June 9, 2016 at 1:01 am | #

        I got 63 now.

    • inqntrol
      inqntrol
      June 9, 2016 at 12:18 am | #

      “Soggies may rule!”…Oops, wrong comic.

    • Willoughby Chase
      Willoughby Chase
      June 9, 2016 at 3:30 pm | #

      BRO

    • Tenn
      Tenn
      June 9, 2016 at 6:03 pm | #

      Orb.

  34. Woobie
    Woobie
    June 9, 2016 at 12:16 am | #

    I’m Dawson, this is my brother Tyler, and this is my other brother Tyler.

    • Dean
      Dean
      June 9, 2016 at 5:37 am | #

      Cool Newhart reference, bro.

  35. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    June 9, 2016 at 12:19 am | #

    That’s not plaid on their shirts.

    That’s bar codes.

    And they didn’t scan.

    (Cue two people who get that joke.)

    • MatthewTheLucky
      MatthewTheLucky
      June 9, 2016 at 1:25 am | #

      Oh god, Willis was just setting up that comment, wasn’t he.

  36. magicallady
    magicallady
    June 9, 2016 at 12:20 am | #

    did the bros all shop at abercrombie and fitch?

  37. Spidergirl
    Spidergirl
    June 9, 2016 at 12:21 am | #

    Jesus Christ those interns look exactly like my little brother.

  38. Van Jealous
    Van Jealous
    June 9, 2016 at 12:24 am | #

    This arc is starting to remind of a Richard Lester movie!

  39. Yossarianduck
    Yossarianduck
    June 9, 2016 at 12:24 am | #

    Bros For DeSanto.
    DeSanBros.

  40. brionl
    brionl
    June 9, 2016 at 12:27 am | #

    At first I thought Frieda said she was in charge of student outrage…

  41. Liam
    Liam
    June 9, 2016 at 12:33 am | #

    i’m sensing a “BROS BROS BROS” crossover from Questionable Content, lol

    • Jupiterror
      Jupiterror
      June 9, 2016 at 12:40 am | #

      same

  42. Pyrpyr
    Pyrpyr
    June 9, 2016 at 12:35 am | #

    GUUUUUUUUUUUYS
    WHY DOES SHE LOOK LIKE MARY
    O____________________________O

  43. Mr Ak
    Mr Ak
    June 9, 2016 at 12:35 am | #

    I come for the character development, but I *stay* for the subtle socio-political commentary.

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      June 9, 2016 at 1:02 am | #

      Don’t we all?

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        June 9, 2016 at 1:56 am | #

        I mostly come for the character development. Especially moments of suffering and/or wrath.

    • Mr Ak
      Mr Ak
      June 9, 2016 at 2:03 am | #

      Sorry, I fear I may have inadvertently underplayed the irony intended by “subtle”.

      (Not that I disagree, mind.)

  44. ESM
    ESM
    June 9, 2016 at 12:37 am | #

    Is Frieda Mary’s mom? They look rather similar

    • ESM
      ESM
      June 9, 2016 at 12:45 am | #

      By which I mean not similar, since Mary has short brown hair. I must be thinking of someone else.

      • The Gentleman Mummy
        The Gentleman Mummy
        June 9, 2016 at 2:39 pm | #

        I find it really ironic you’re commenting on this webcomic with that avatar.

  45. Darwin
    Darwin
    June 9, 2016 at 12:38 am | #

    Are these guys clones? Or identical triplets (as insane as that idea is)? Is Frieda manufacturing fratboy supporters in the biology lab?

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      June 9, 2016 at 1:54 am | #

      The middle one has a paler skintone and thinner jaw. The guy on the left also seems slightly paler and more heavyset than the fellow on the right.

      • Darwin
        Darwin
        June 12, 2016 at 1:43 am | #

        That could be shading and also random mutation among the cloned zygotes, as well as differences in nutrition/weather exposure. After all, identical twins seldom look completely identical beyond childhood. C’mon, lemme have this one sci-fi element in my realistic comic.

  46. Jupiterror
    Jupiterror
    June 9, 2016 at 12:39 am | #

    BROS BROS BROS

  47. Phildog
    Phildog
    June 9, 2016 at 12:41 am | #

    Funny, but technically she does have to pay them. You can’t just have people work for free, yes, even in an internship. There are rules. Internships are only free if it functions as on the job training where the boss does not directly benefit from training you. What she is doing is SUPER illegal, and if her employees sued they would probably win.

    Your employer can’t just decide not to pay you. That’s wage theft and it is very much illegal. Many unpaid interns have sued for back pay and gotten awarded a settlement. If this is you I encourage you to seek legal council for proper restitution.

    • Petra
      Petra
      June 9, 2016 at 12:51 am | #

      Well, I mean, I did an unpaid internship at a wildlife rehab center that literally could not afford to pay us. Which works because our bosses weren’t directly benefitting, I guess? But it wasn’t something I felt taken advantage of on, because it was basically volunteer work with college credit at the end.

    • Cerberus
      Cerberus
      June 9, 2016 at 1:00 am | #

      You’d be surprised how many “super illegal” things American businesses get away with these days.

      • Orion Fury
        Orion Fury
        June 9, 2016 at 1:03 am | #

        What about how many things American Government get away with these days?

        • Cerberus
          Cerberus
          June 9, 2016 at 1:04 am | #

          Just as “super illegal”, just as scot free.

          • BenRG
            BenRG
            June 9, 2016 at 2:49 am | #

            When you’ve reached the point where your peer group physically own all three branches of government and are always sure to be able to find a large number of thugs to enforce your will, then ‘super illegal’ becomes a hypothetical consideration rather than an actual state of being.

            • StClair
              StClair
              June 9, 2016 at 7:02 am | #

              Rex non potest peccare, “the king can do no wrong.”

              Or, as rephrased late last century by Nixon, “When the President does it, that means it’s not illegal.”

      • Tualha
        Tualha
        June 9, 2016 at 2:44 am | #

        Would anyone be surprised at that anymore?

    • WingedBeast
      WingedBeast
      June 9, 2016 at 1:51 am | #

      Technically, yeah she does.

      But, she can get away with not for a few reasons.

      1. Most interns don’t know their rights

      2. Many that do know their rights don’t protect them because they’re trying to get hired and, well, suing companies doesn’t seem like a good selling point.

      3. These guys are obviously believers. They believe in the goal. They’re in it to gain credibility in right wing politics and to gain status. They’re likely not challenging the employers enough to really ask that question.

      4. I’m guessing they’re students with their meal-plans paid for and not exactly hurting for the money that they’re due.

    • Lin
      Lin
      June 9, 2016 at 9:30 am | #

      Political campaigns call them “intern volunteers.” Because ALL campaigns have 501(c)4 registrations, they can classify them as volunteers and not pay them. If you call something an internship, there are guidelines around what you have to do to not pay them (must have educational opportunities attached, they must not be displacing paid workers [try proving that one], and they should be getting college credit). In the US, you can indeed not pay people for internships as long as you are a non-profit or governmental organization and classify them as volunteers.

  48. Reltzik
    Reltzik
    June 9, 2016 at 12:44 am | #

    I’ve heard enough about how (and whether) trickle-down economics works.

    I want to hear some theories about tickle-down economics instead.

    • JessWitt
      JessWitt
      June 9, 2016 at 12:54 am | #

      That sounds like a porn parody of Mad Money.

    • Cerberus
      Cerberus
      June 9, 2016 at 1:04 am | #

      Trickle-down economics is the least subtle euphemism for “we’ll pee on you”, I’ve ever heard in my life.

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        June 9, 2016 at 2:48 am | #

        The wealth will trickle down in a shower of gold!

      • BenRG
        BenRG
        June 9, 2016 at 2:51 am | #

        It works on the assumption that the super-rich will stimulate the economy by hiring people and buying stuff instead of, say, living in a gilded palace swimming in Olympic-sized pools filled with gold coins. I’m not sure that it is a safe assumption. Oh, they need servants and things but I don’t think that they ever do enough of that to really stimulate the wider economy.

        • Willoughby Chase
          Willoughby Chase
          June 9, 2016 at 3:43 am | #

          Automation and overseas outsourcing screws those ideas up.

          Automation will screw everyone up eventually.

          • StClair
            StClair
            June 9, 2016 at 7:05 am | #

            The Industrial Revolution never really stopped, it just changes speeds now and then.

            • Willoughby Chase
              Willoughby Chase
              June 9, 2016 at 10:13 am | #

              Yep.

              I’ve spent a good chunk of my “career” automating things humans once did. Whether I’m part of the problem or the solution remains to be seen.

              • StClair
                StClair
                June 10, 2016 at 2:55 pm | #

                We reaaaaaaly need to work on the “what will humans do (and how will they live) when there’s nothing left for them to do” thing.

        • Slartibeast Button, BIA
          Slartibeast Button, BIA
          June 9, 2016 at 7:30 am | #

          The “living in a gilded palace swimming in Olympic-sized pools filled with gold coins” isn’t the problem as much, since at least you employ miners, minters, and construction workers. The problem is the rest of their money which they want to invest in something that will return a good profit. But there aren’t enough good investments, so they end up making bad ones, which eventually crash when their badness can no longer be denied.

        • Reltzik
          Reltzik
          June 9, 2016 at 7:45 am | #

          Economists actually rank rates of return for how much giving money to various people and/or programs will stimulate the economy. The best rate of return policy-wise is education. For people, giving it to the lower class gives the best rate of return, for the simple reason that people living paycheck to paycheck will put it into the economy immediately rather than banking it.

        • The Gorram Batguy
          The Gorram Batguy
          June 9, 2016 at 4:32 pm | #

          As I understand it, I think the big part of the idea is that they invest their money in starting and expanding businesses, which makes them more money (assuming they succeed) but also creates jobs for large numbers of other people. Under this model, trickle down economics works very well. If, however, they invest that money overseas, or horde it, then the country’s economy is not helped.

        • Charles Phipps
          Charles Phipps
          June 9, 2016 at 8:54 pm | #

          Trickle down economics has some validity, actually, but there’s two points which need to be remembered:

          1. It’s a trickle, not a river.

          2. The trickle ended up being outsourced to even more trickly countries.

    • Orion Fury
      Orion Fury
      June 9, 2016 at 1:04 am | #

      And that made me think of Elmo trying to explain Economics. I shuddered.

    • WingedBeast
      WingedBeast
      June 9, 2016 at 1:38 am | #

      The thinking of supply side economics is this, if you release the business owners from taxation, they will take the extra money and invest it in new factories, in new stores, in shipping facilities, etc. This will result in employment.

      Basically, you buy from the wealthiest and that money trickles down through a system of employment, to the poor. Hence “trickle down economics.”

      Keynsian economics operates on the notion that, in a boom and bust economy, you can raise taxes in boom times and, during busts, when private industry isn’t hiring, you can have the government use the available manpower to build public works projects (say, an interstate travel system or the Hoover Dam), thus cutting the bust-time and making sure the economy still has a consumer base with an income. This can be used to make sure that dips in the economy don’t become extended recessions or even a new Great Depression.

      I think the fact that the New Deal and the Highway Interstate System got us out of and kept us out of the Great Depression and Bush’s tax cuts got us into the Great Recession gives a clear siting on which one works best.

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        June 9, 2016 at 2:00 am | #

        Trickle-down sounds nice in theory, but much like true communism, it relies on people not being selfish pricks, and that’s a losing bet.

        • WingedBeast
          WingedBeast
          June 9, 2016 at 2:05 am | #

          Arguably, it relies upon fewer people not being selfish pricks or short-sighted with regards to the consequences of their actions. On the other hand, it does specify business owners for that requirement. And, not to speak ill of business owners, that’s not a selection pressure for selflessness.

          • DonDueed
            DonDueed
            June 9, 2016 at 6:12 am | #

            Especially since, legally and “ethically”, business managers are responsible to their shareholders rather than society at large. So they tend to operate their businesses to maximize short-term profits (as demanded by the shareholders) rather than considering the long-term health of the economy or their employees’ concerns. In other words, the benefits generally only trickle down to the shareholders.

        • Crumplepunch
          Crumplepunch
          June 9, 2016 at 6:56 am | #

          Here’s the elementary error; companies don’t actually invest more in their businesses when they have more money. They only spend money if they stand to make money. The only circumstance in which a company will invest in greater production is if demand for their product increases. Failure to grasp this point has caused the world a lot of economic trouble.

        • thomas wrobel
          thomas wrobel
          June 9, 2016 at 7:05 am | #

          The poor, statistically, spend more of their income then the rich.
          ergo, its a error to think the rich are the “job creators”

          Giving the poor more disposable income will result in more money circulating quicker (as that group will spend more of it).

          • thejeff
            thejeff
            June 9, 2016 at 7:41 am | #

            It’s a question of what’s wrong with the economy at the given moment. We’re currently (still) in a demand crunch. In that situation, you’re definitely right: more money to the poor stimulates demand since they can buy stuff and the economy improves.

            It’s possible to be in a supply crunch – where there is demand, but money/resources aren’t available to expand production to meet it. That requires different policies. The 70s oil shock was essentially that on a large scale.

          • Willoughby Chase
            Willoughby Chase
            June 9, 2016 at 8:09 am | #

            If you go back far enough in history, then the trickle-down does seem to have some traction.

            For example, when the rich were the ONLY ones doing the spending, and the spending was into the local economy, then trickle-down does make sense.

            However, more money (and more tax) can be gained by selling to the masses. The masses do need to get paid, though.

            The great myopia of the Reagan era was exactly that. The Laffer curve and trickle down were great levers to suck money away from the poor and to the rich. Cut wages, and have really cheap loans so that the poor could think themselves rich.

            Of course everyone was cutting their own throats. Which is where 2008 came in.

      • Willoughby Chase
        Willoughby Chase
        June 9, 2016 at 8:02 am | #

        (I’m not an economist or an economics student) I’m guessing Keynes never really factored exporting whole factories abroad or offshore tax-havens and complete freedom of capital into his thinking.

        In a closed or controlled system, Keynes’s theory works very well. When the rich are allowed to “export capital”, then it begins to leak.

        I’m a pleb so I don’t understand the attitude behind offshoring their money. Sure, they pay no tax on it but it loses it’s value as capital just sitting there doing nothing.

    • Mr Ak
      Mr Ak
      June 9, 2016 at 2:07 am | #

      We should tickle down, but punch up. Makes sense, I guess? Not everyone likes to be tickled, and I think a punch in response to unrequested tickling is at least arguably reasonable and proportionate force.

      • Disloyal Subject
        Disloyal Subject
        June 9, 2016 at 3:27 am | #

        Maybe a jab, but crosses and heavier punches are probably best held in reserve… unless the tickler goes for the ribs, then they’re fair game.

  49. AgentKeen
    AgentKeen
    June 9, 2016 at 12:59 am | #

    It really is the return of Shortpacked!.

  50. Willoughby Chase
    Willoughby Chase
    June 9, 2016 at 1:01 am | #

    Nice joke abt trickle-down economics and unpaid interns.

    • Tualha
      Tualha
      June 9, 2016 at 2:52 am | #

      Trickle-down economics and unpaid internships, summarized in one sentence:

      They break our legs, and we say “thank you” when they offer us crutches.

  51. drs
    drs
    June 9, 2016 at 1:14 am | #

    Nice to see Robin reacting to ‘unpaid’. Still wondering what party she’s in. The real district is currently R but has bounced between D and R.

    Is Robin wearing stocking, zettai ryouki style? Between that and her colors I’m suddenly thinking “Tohsaka Rin.” I wouldn’t vote for someone based on that, but it sure would get my attention.

    • MatthewTheLucky
      MatthewTheLucky
      June 9, 2016 at 1:27 am | #

      R, because trickle-down economics and “family values”.

      • Reltzik
        Reltzik
        June 9, 2016 at 2:52 am | #

        Maybe a blue dog democrat. Or facing a blue dog democrat. Her opponent’s doing the family value thing too, otherwise he wouldn’t be using Roz’s tape against her.

        • DinaWho
          DinaWho
          June 9, 2016 at 7:43 am | #

          Leslie voted for her opponent, so I’d guess Robin’s an R here. Even if she was a Blue Dog, I don’t think Leslie would have voted for her (likely a good bit MORE conservative) R opponent in that case.

        • Whammy
          Whammy
          June 9, 2016 at 11:47 am | #

          As someone working on a PhD in political science and as a result is drowning in papers on ideology of Congress members, I can assure you there pretty much aren’t Blue Dog Democrats anymore. The parties are pretty well sorted on ideology:

          http://voteview.com/political_polarization_2015.html

          And here’s a graph showing distribution of ideology in the current Congress from:

          https://i2.wp.com/k7moa.com/images/png/Hou114_Smoothed_Histogram.png

          https://voteviewblog.com/category/114th-congress/

          Granted, yeah, there’s variation, but even the most conservative Democrat is more liberal than the most liberal conservative.

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      June 9, 2016 at 7:36 am | #

      Needs more twin-tails.

  52. Orion Fury
    Orion Fury
    June 9, 2016 at 1:15 am | #

    Well, I do suppose she does look smarter. but if we’re going to apply that trope, arguably we could continue and dock her for what appears to be a pencil miniskirt and thigh-high boots.

    I think she has the Bro vote though.

  53. Annie
    Annie
    June 9, 2016 at 1:30 am | #

    *sniff* Does anyone else smell hypocrisy?

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      June 9, 2016 at 2:52 am | #

      It’s hard to distinguish that particular stench from the general reek of American politics.

  54. Zaidyer
    Zaidyer
    June 9, 2016 at 1:36 am | #

    Calling it now: Frieda is Mary’s sister. Unlike Mary however, she satiates her need to command and control people with politics.
    She may or may not enjoy blasting contemporary christian music at maximum volume, over and over, which is why Mary is so hellbent on achieving silence. Not that I’d know anything about what that’s like, ha ha…

  55. Bagge
    Bagge
    June 9, 2016 at 1:39 am | #

    Bro-cenomics!!!

    • Disloyal Subject
      Disloyal Subject
      June 9, 2016 at 2:04 am | #

      …Cenomics?

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      June 9, 2016 at 2:53 am | #

      This is properly pronounced as “broken-omics”.

      • Heavensrun
        Heavensrun
        June 9, 2016 at 10:50 am | #

        It’s layered.

  56. BenRG
    BenRG
    June 9, 2016 at 1:46 am | #

    It suddenly occurs to me that Robin is Republican.

    We are also reminded that politics, at every level, is inherently exploitative.

  57. Falcon
    Falcon
    June 9, 2016 at 1:47 am | #

    Robin Desanto is doing a great cosplay of Sarah Palin.

    • Mindset
      Mindset
      June 9, 2016 at 2:23 am | #

      You don’t say…

  58. Larkle
    Larkle
    June 9, 2016 at 2:58 am | #

    I live in Kansas. Can confirm that the trickle down effect does not work. Governor decided hey, let’s do that. Don’t even have budget for school for public school this year now. -.-

  59. LimeSheep
    LimeSheep
    June 9, 2016 at 3:11 am | #

    i didnt even know there were paid internships until like a couple years ago honestly

  60. bryy
    bryy
    June 9, 2016 at 4:25 am | #

    Wait, it’s only been a WEEK?

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      June 9, 2016 at 5:09 am | #

      AND that was with a time skip.

      • Willoughby Chase
        Willoughby Chase
        June 9, 2016 at 10:11 am | #

        “If I could turn back time ….”

  61. Willoughby Chase
    Willoughby Chase
    June 9, 2016 at 4:50 am | #

    It occurs to me that Robin is bi in this universe as well. If she’s running on a Republican “family values” ticket, this maybe a wee bit of a problem.

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      June 9, 2016 at 5:08 am | #

      Nah, what are the odds that a hot gender studies teacher will seduce her in the middle of her election campaign?

      • Willoughby Chase
        Willoughby Chase
        June 9, 2016 at 5:13 am | #

        Risking her career for hot sex … hijinks will ensue!

      • BenRG
        BenRG
        June 9, 2016 at 5:35 am | #

        If Willis is planning to go that way, it will be interesting to see whether Robin’s political career survives. I can’t see the right-wing segment of the GOP tolerating it but, conversely, if she’s previously been a populist rightist in rhetorical and voting terms, then the Democrats might consider her a bit toxic too.

  62. Makkabee
    Makkabee
    June 9, 2016 at 5:12 am | #

    I dub these interns “Moe,” “Larry,” and “Curly.”

    • Bicycle Bill
      Bicycle Bill
      June 9, 2016 at 3:29 pm | #

      “I’m Larry; this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl.”

    • Durandal_1707
      Durandal_1707
      June 10, 2016 at 12:18 am | #

      Naturally curly in Frieda’s case.

  63. Justin Time
    Justin Time
    June 9, 2016 at 5:13 am | #

    Wait, when did Roz release a sex tape?

    • Joey245
      Joey245
      June 9, 2016 at 5:39 am | #

      In-universe: A couple of weeks ago, early in the school year.

      Out-of-universe: A long, long time ago, in a storyline far away…

    • Bagge
      Bagge
      June 9, 2016 at 6:20 am | #

      http://www.dumbingofage.com/2011/comic/book-1/05-media-rumble/newspaper/

  64. BenRG
    BenRG
    June 9, 2016 at 5:42 am | #

    I can’t decide whether Frieda looking so much like Mary is a coincidence or not. Maybe she’s her big sister or even her mother?

    If she is a relative and has a degree of power (maybe a GOP campaign officer or even a Bloomington town councillor) then it could… complicate the current collision between Mary and Carla. The issue could become politicised with Robin demanding Mary and that the girls of the dorm be ‘protected’ from the pervert pretending to be a woman in their midst, hoping that leading a moralistic cavalry charge will boost her poll numbers.

    I’m thinking of the film ‘The President’ where the President falls for an environmentalist campaigner from very much the other end of the political spectrum. Will Robin and Leslie’s eyes meet across the stage in the debating hall or in an ill-tempered Town Hall? Could this turn out to be a redemption story for Robin?

    • TheHorseCouncil
      TheHorseCouncil
      June 9, 2016 at 6:09 am | #

      Oh my glob I was worried i was the only one who saw the resemblance. Was about to ask if we’d met Mary’s parents yet…..

    • DonDueed
      DonDueed
      June 9, 2016 at 6:21 am | #

      If you’re referring to the film “The American President”, they were not at all of opposite ends of the spectrum. The President was a liberal Democrat, but had done a lot of compromising for practical reasons (i.e. to get bills passed) and to undercut his political foes. The relationship with the environmentalist motivated him to return to his core principles (on the issue of gun control, IIRC).

  65. Heather
    Heather
    June 9, 2016 at 6:39 am | #

    Wait half a tick- isn’t ‘Manley’ (the offscreen political opponent) the person Robin had a sex vid with during her cadbury binge in the shortpacked universe?
    …
    Awkward.

    • BenRG
      BenRG
      June 9, 2016 at 6:55 am | #

      All I can say is: Thank heaven for non-communicative parallel universes!

      • Charles Phipps
        Charles Phipps
        June 9, 2016 at 7:09 am | #

        Manley seemed like a nice guy. It’s just Robin cheated on her partner. Or wait, is Manley awful because Robin was affected by toxic amounts of sugar at the time? Did he know? It’s weird I’m actually interested in the answer.

  66. TrueVCU
    TrueVCU
    June 9, 2016 at 7:07 am | #

    I was waiting for Robin to be like “I fucking love this country” *sheds single tear*

  67. Charles Phipps
    Charles Phipps
    June 9, 2016 at 7:10 am | #

    Frieda can’t be Mary’s relative, she’s smiling.

    • Slartibeast Button, BIA
      Slartibeast Button, BIA
      June 9, 2016 at 7:38 am | #

      She’s the family outcast for that.

    • Heavensrun
      Heavensrun
      June 9, 2016 at 10:55 am | #

      Yeah, but she’s smiling while being terrible. Mary smiles when she’s being terrible, too.

  68. JBento
    JBento
    June 9, 2016 at 7:12 am | #

    I loathe everyone in today’s strip. It’s really quite amazing.

  69. Bawkbagawk
    Bawkbagawk
    June 9, 2016 at 7:26 am | #

    I guess Milo wont be invited to this campus any time soon.

  70. Charles Phipps
    Charles Phipps
    June 9, 2016 at 7:38 am | #

    It is to my considerable horror that Robin would actually make an excellent Trump VP.

  71. MrSpkr
    MrSpkr
    June 9, 2016 at 9:01 am | #

    “The Woo Bros” sounds like a decent name for a boy band.

    • Sam
      Sam
      June 9, 2016 at 9:06 am | #

      “The Wooing Bros” sounds like a name for boy band from 18th century.

      • BenRG
        BenRG
        June 9, 2016 at 9:29 am | #

        Or the favourite swing/vocal harmony band of a character in the Fallout universe.

  72. Charles Phipps
    Charles Phipps
    June 9, 2016 at 10:20 am | #

    That will be an interesting situation for Robin. She can claim family values and so on but the whole Toedad incident is about a man using a gun to kidnap his daughter for gay deprogramming. There’s literally no way Robin can parrot the party line without looking like (and being) a monster. It would also kill any Leslie possibilities.

    • Charles Phipps
      Charles Phipps
      June 9, 2016 at 10:21 am | #

      There should be some kind of horrifiying contempt emoji or meme beside the deprogramming line.

    • JBento
      JBento
      June 9, 2016 at 10:30 am | #

      If Carol’s response to the incident hasn’t convinced you that there’s no horrible action fundies won’t excuse to protect one of their own or attack “teh gheys,” you should store that cute faith you have in the human race somewhere safe for when we return to La Porte and go to church. I predict another series of strips where Willis preemptively disables comments.

      • JBento
        JBento
        June 9, 2016 at 10:36 am | #

        *somewhere safe for PROTECTION when we return

        Gaaah, curse the lack of an Edit feature!

      • Charles Phipps
        Charles Phipps
        June 9, 2016 at 11:06 am | #

        Actually, my concern is ROBIN’S moral event horizon being crossed. Is she actually a bad enough person to say this isn’t the fault of homophobia or gun freedom? I’m curious.

        • John
          John
          June 9, 2016 at 2:15 pm | #

          She doesn’t seem happy about the idea of employing slave labor, so maybe there’s still hope for her.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        June 9, 2016 at 1:23 pm | #

        Some Fundies will, but I doubt they’re a majority, even in Robin’s district. She’s got to walk a fine line on this one – not driving off the fundies or those horrified by Toedad.

  73. Guairdean Beatha
    Guairdean Beatha
    June 9, 2016 at 10:54 am | #

    Begun the clone wars have. The automatic “Wooo” tells me they only have one brain between them.

  74. CaptainBatson
    CaptainBatson
    June 9, 2016 at 1:35 pm | #

    Her opponent’s Jake Manley? Well, that’s a good choice.

  75. Potatamoto
    Potatamoto
    June 9, 2016 at 2:59 pm | #

    Finally, Manley’s arrogance will be his undoing. He was warned!

  76. Craig
    Craig
    June 9, 2016 at 3:05 pm | #

    Is anyone else vaugely reminded of the three kevins from Daria?

  77. Sir Robin
    Sir Robin
    June 9, 2016 at 3:43 pm | #

    Is Frieda a returning character? She looks familiar

  78. Spencer
    Spencer
    June 9, 2016 at 3:50 pm | #

    It’s weird to think how many people are assuming Robin is just totally just going to do the worst thing imaginable.

    She’s a gladhandling sleaze, probably even moreso here because she lacks the wackiness that Shortpacked! ran on, but it’s still Robin. She’s a selfish, shortsighted jerk, but she still means well by her loved ones. That her immediate reaction is to be a little shocked at the idea of not paying her interns, she clearly hasn’t gone full-Trump.

    • JBento
      JBento
      June 9, 2016 at 4:33 pm | #

      I might be misremembering, but I didn’t get “means well by her loved ones” from her interaction with Roz so much as “how can I use this person as leverage for my campaign.”

      She also campaigns on a platform of “family values” (and we all know what THAT translates to) and, if her opponent is gaining ground on “that whole gun thing,” it pretty much implies she’s for free gun access.

      So maybe she doesn’t call Mexicans rapists and thieves, but, personally, I set my bar for “this person’s fiery death would leave the world a better place” a little higher than that.

      I am also undecided on whether her shock means “gosh, how can we not pay these people for their work?” or “we don’t pay them? And they work anyways? Dumbasses!,” but I can be persuaded either way.

      • JBento
        JBento
        June 9, 2016 at 4:41 pm | #

        The lack of an edit function will be the death of me yet.

        Saying “it’s okay guys, Robin isn’t as bad as Trump” is like saying “I don’t know why you’re all so against Trump, it’s not like he’s HITLER.”

      • Spencer
        Spencer
        June 9, 2016 at 4:42 pm | #

        Robin’s kind of inextricably tied to Shortpacked!, so I’m basing a lot of my opinion on her character here from that. She was a selfish buffoon but finding out she hurt someone kind of sent her on a crash course to fix things.

        I’m pretty sure this Robin’s just a blowhard who says whatever she wants to get some political power. I doubt she actually believes or cares about anything she says outside of saying it to curry power with her largely white, straight audience, considering she’s a Hispanic bisexual woman who got married to another lady in the Walkyverse.

        • JBento
          JBento
          June 9, 2016 at 4:46 pm | #

          I would like you to reread that second paragraph of yours, and then tell me how that makes it any better. “Sure, she makes and supports shitty laws who fuck people’s lives, but it’s not like she BELIEVES in them.”

          • Spencer
            Spencer
            June 9, 2016 at 5:10 pm | #

            I just have a really hard time thinking Shortpacked!’s foremost wacky screwball is suddenly going to go Full Trump.

            • Commodore Jeep-Eep
              Commodore Jeep-Eep
              June 9, 2016 at 5:12 pm | #

              She’s a fucking *LGBT family values republican*; being absolute bigoted vermin against your own people for power is water well under the bridge.

            • JBento
              JBento
              June 9, 2016 at 5:24 pm | #

              I fear I’m not getting my point across.

              I’m not saying Robin is going to go full Trump. I’m saying that you’d need to climb not only a couple of steps, but the whole Infinite Staircase to get from “full Trump” to “acceptable,” and, at least currently, Robin is a long ways from the latter.

              From the news that cross the Atlantic, I understand how the last decade might have left you Americans with low expectations from your politicians, but ffs, people, if you don’t start setting standards, they’re not going to do it for you.

    • Commodore Jeep-Eep
      Commodore Jeep-Eep
      June 9, 2016 at 4:41 pm | #

      She’s a LGBT family values repub; of course she’s human garbage.

  79. Commodore Jeep-Eep
    Commodore Jeep-Eep
    June 9, 2016 at 4:40 pm | #

    Who’s tasking bets that Mary come in contact with them and will use this for a chance at revenge on Carla and all the other trans women in the state?

    • JBento
      JBento
      June 9, 2016 at 4:43 pm | #

      See Cerberus’s comment either earlier today or yesterday (I forget) on how she’s afraid Robin would support a bathroom law.

      • Commodore Jeep-Eep
        Commodore Jeep-Eep
        June 9, 2016 at 5:03 pm | #

        It’s only a highly edited version of events away from happening – Robin is a family values LGBT republican – kicking us GSMs – especially the red-headed stepchild bringing up the rear – is not something she shows any fucking compunctions in.

        • Cerberus
          Cerberus
          June 9, 2016 at 9:04 pm | #

          According to Willis, she’s not going the full Cruz on that one… That said, I imagine she’s still going to give us some choice moments to go bug-eye over. I suspect Mary’s church may be more involved in her attempt at escalation unless that ends up being a red herring.

          • Commodore Jeep-Eep
            Commodore Jeep-Eep
            June 9, 2016 at 9:34 pm | #

            Where?

  80. Arianod
    Arianod
    June 9, 2016 at 6:00 pm | #

    Oh no, they can produce them industrially now D:

  81. Robin
    Robin
    June 9, 2016 at 6:38 pm | #

    Wow, a coupla months ago was the ten year anniversary of congresswoman DeSanto!

  82. Charles Phipps
    Charles Phipps
    June 9, 2016 at 8:52 pm | #

    Oh God, I can’t believe I missed one of the joke. “The army of UNPAID [college-age] interns will be reminding college students why your ECONOMIC VISION will benefit them.’

  83. CThunder
    CThunder
    June 11, 2016 at 3:19 am | #

    “trickle down”, I hate that sad term used for economic growth. This is one of my biggest pet peeves since I lived through that era of B. S.

  84. Onion
    Onion
    June 11, 2016 at 3:26 pm | #

    Is anyone gonna mention how much Freida looks like a tall version of Dina, or am I missing something?

Who should be the default doodle for Book 14?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive
CONVENTION APPEARANCES


May 3, 2025 - FCBD @ Laughing Ogre Comics in Columbus, Ohio

©2010-2025 Dumbing of Age | Powered by WordPress with ComicPress | Subscribe: RSS | Privacy Policy | Back to Top ↑